The room buzzed with tension, though no one else was in it but her and me. Isabella stood by the window, the city lights painting her in fractured shadows. Her hair was down-wild, untamed, just like the storm in her eyes when she finally turned to face me.
“You think you own me?” she snapped, her voice slicing through the thick silence.
I leaned back in my chair, a slow smirk curving my lips. “Don’t I?”
That did it. She stormed across the room, her heels clicking hard against the marble floor. I didn’t flinch when she stopped inches away, her hand trembling at her side. She wanted to hit me. Hell, I almost wanted her to.
“You arrogant bastard,” she hissed. “You think this little arrangement gives you the right to-”
“To protect what’s mine?” I interrupted, my voice low, dangerous. I stood, towering over her now, my hands sliding into my pockets. “Yes, Isabella. That’s exactly what it gives me.”
Her laugh was sharp, bitter. “Protect? You mean control. Manipulate. Cage.”
“Call it what you want,” I said, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a near-whisper. “But don’t pretend you hate it.”
Her breath hitched, just barely, but I caught it. I always did.
“You’ve got two options, Bella,” I said, circling her now, my steps slow and deliberate. She stayed rooted in place, but I saw her jaw tighten, her hands ball into fists.
“Do enlighten me,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
I ignored it, coming to a stop behind her. Leaning in, I let my breath graze her neck. She shivered, despite herself.
“Option one,” I began, my voice velvet smooth, “you walk out of here, throw away everything we’ve built, and let those vultures outside tear you apart.”
She stiffened, but said nothing.
“Or,” I continued, stepping around to face her again, “you stay. You play by my rules. And you keep what’s left of your precious freedom intact.”
Her eyes burned into mine, the fire in them making my blood heat. “You call this freedom? Wearing your collar, obeying your every whim like some-”
“Careful, Isabella,” I warned, my tone cutting through her rant. “You’re forgetting who holds the leash.”
Her lips parted, a sharp retort on the tip of her tongue, but she stopped herself. Good. She was learning. Slowly, painfully, but learning.
“You think you’re so untouchable, don’t you?” she said, her voice shaking with anger-or maybe something else. “That no one can get to you. To us.”
I chuckled, the sound low and humorless. “They’ve tried, sweetheart. They’ve failed.”
“But what happens when they don’t?” she shot back. “What happens when someone finally outplays the great Alessandro Ricci?”
I stepped closer, my hand reaching out to grip her chin, forcing her to look up at me. “Let them try,” I said, my voice a growl. “I’ll burn the whole damn world down before I let anyone take you from me.”
Her breath hitched again, but this time, it wasn’t just fear. It was something darker, deeper-a mix of rage and something dangerously close to desire.
“You’re insane,” she whispered, but her voice wavered.
“And you’re still here,” I countered, releasing her chin. “So tell me, Bella-who’s really losing their mind?”
She didn’t answer, her silence speaking louder than any words could.
The tension between us was a living, breathing thing, coiling tighter with every passing second. I watched her, waiting, knowing she was close to breaking. Whether it would be in anger or submission, I didn’t care. Either way, I’d win.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “You think this is a game, Alex? That you can keep pushing and pushing without consequence?”
I leaned in, my lips brushing against her ear as I whispered back, “Oh, it’s not a game, Isabella. It’s war.”
Before she could respond, the door burst open. One of my men stood there, his face pale, his words rushed.
“Boss, we’ve got a problem.”
I straightened, my eyes never leaving hers. “What kind of problem?”
His hesitation made my stomach twist. “It’s… your father.”
Isabella’s eyes widened, her expression a mix of confusion and fear. My own blood ran cold, but I didn’t let it show. Not here. Not now.
“Get out,” I barked at the man, my voice like steel.
As the door closed, I turned back to her. “Looks like our little chat will have to wait.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue. Smart girl. For now.
Isabella’s POV
The second Alessandro stepped into the penthouse, I felt the air shift. He brought the storm with him-tension, chaos, and that damn arrogance that filled every corner of the room. He dropped his phone onto the marble countertop with a loud clink, his jaw tight.
I didn’t look up. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. My eyes stayed glued to the papers spread across the table, but my pulse quickened. Alessandro Ricci wasn’t a man who tolerated silence, and the way his leather shoes clicked against the floor told me I’d pay for it.
“You’re ignoring me,” he said, his voice low and edged with danger.
I leaned back in my chair, finally meeting his piercing gaze. “Figured you were busy playing God.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Watch it, Bella.”