The sound of Isabella’s heels clicking on the marble floor echoed through the office, sharp and defiant. She didn’t knock. Didn’t hesitate. She walked in like she owned the place-a move meant to piss me off.
I leaned back in my chair, watching her storm in, her arms crossed, eyes blazing. That look? It could melt steel. But I didn’t flinch. Hell, I liked the fire.
“You think this is funny?” she snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a whip.
“Funny?” I asked, lazily swirling the whiskey in my glass. “No. Entertaining? Maybe.”
Her jaw clenched. “You leaked the photos, didn’t you?”
A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. “What photos, cara mia?”
She slammed her hands on the desk, leaning in so close I could feel the heat of her anger. “Don’t play dumb with me, Alex.”
“Careful,” I said, my voice low, warning. “You’re forgetting who you’re talking to.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, I haven’t forgotten. You’re the man who ruins lives just to prove a point.”
I stood, the chair scraping against the floor as I moved around the desk. Her defiance sent a thrill through me, but I wouldn’t let her think she had the upper hand. Not here. Not ever.
“You’re angry,” I said, my voice calm, dangerous. “Good. Use it. But don’t ever think you can walk in here and accuse me without proof.”
“You don’t need proof when it’s so damn obvious,” she shot back, her voice trembling with fury.
I stepped closer, crowding her space until she had no choice but to back up. “Watch your tone, Isabella.”
Her breath hitched, and I saw it-the flicker of vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. It was intoxicating.
“Why would you do it?” she asked, her voice softer now, almost broken.
“Because I don’t trust you,” I said bluntly. “You’re too smart, too… unpredictable. That makes you dangerous.”
She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Dangerous? To you? That’s rich.”
“You’re underestimating yourself, Bella,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re the only person who’s ever managed to get under my skin. That’s no small feat.”
She shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And you’re breathtaking,” I countered, my voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Even when you’re furious.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, but I caught her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Don’t look away when I’m talking to you.”
“You don’t own me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smirked. “Don’t I?”
Her silence was answer enough.
I released her and turned away, walking to the window overlooking the city. “You want to know why I leaked the photos?” I said, not bothering to face her. “Fine. I did it to remind you who holds the cards.”
Her breath hitched. “You bastard.”
“Maybe,” I said, turning back to her. “But you knew what you were signing up for.”
“This isn’t what I agreed to,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Contracts evolve,” I said simply. “And so do relationships.”
Her eyes widened, and I saw the realization dawn on her. “This isn’t about the deal. This is personal.”
I didn’t deny it. “Everything with you is personal, Isabella. Don’t forget that.”
She stepped back, shaking her head. “You’re insane.”
“Maybe,” I said with a smirk. “But you’re stuck with me.”
The door opened, and one of my men stepped in, his face grim. “Boss, we’ve got a problem.”
I held up a hand, silencing him. “Not now.”
“It’s about her,” he said, his eyes darting to Isabella.
My jaw tightened, and I turned to him. “Speak.”
“She’s been followed,” he said, his voice low. “Someone’s watching her. They know where she’s been.”
Isabella’s face went pale, and for the first time, I saw fear in her eyes.
“Who?” I demanded, my voice cold, lethal.
“We’re still figuring it out, but…” He hesitated. “It’s not one of ours.”
I turned to Isabella, my mind racing. “Go home,” I said, my voice sharp. “And don’t go anywhere without my men.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “This isn’t up for debate, Bella.”
“Alex…” she started, but I was already moving, grabbing my phone to make the necessary calls.
“Go,” I repeated, my tone leaving no room for argument.
She hesitated, then nodded, her fear evident. But as she turned to leave, she glanced back, her voice soft, trembling. “What are you going to do?”
I looked at her, my expression unreadable. “Whatever it takes.”
The meeting dragged on like a bad song I couldn’t turn off. The suits across the table droned about projections, legal strategies, and some merger I’d barely skimmed over last night. My mind? Somewhere else entirely. Specifically, on the woman who’d spent the last seventy-two hours doing her damned best to avoid me. Isabella.
“Mr. Ricci?” one of the executives piped up, voice too eager. “Do we proceed with the acquisition?”
I raised a brow, leaned back in my chair, and let the silence stretch. Control was everything-it hung in the air, thick and deliberate. “We don’t move until I say so,” I said finally, my voice a low drawl. “Meeting’s over.”
They scattered like roaches in the light. Weak. Predictable. All except for one. My lawyer, her, stood in the corner, her arms crossed, lips pursed, daring me to look away first.
“Something to add, Bella?” I asked, letting her name roll off my tongue, slow, deliberate.
She didn’t flinch-she never did. “Plenty. But you don’t care about advice, do you? You only care about winning.”
I stood, closed the distance between us in three strides. “Winning,” I said, my voice dropping, “is why you’re standing here, wearing my collar, instead of drowning under your own pride.”
Her cheeks flushed, but her glare was ice. “You think owning me is your victory? It’s not.”
I chuckled, low and dark. “We’ll see.”
The tension followed us into the elevator. Alone. Just the two of us.
She kept her eyes straight ahead, pretending I wasn’t there. Cute. I stepped closer, crowding her space. She stiffened, her fingers tightening around the leather bag she carried.
“You’re awfully quiet today, Bella,” I murmured, letting my hand graze the bare skin of her wrist. “Something on your mind?”
“Nothing worth sharing,” she snapped, but her voice trembled, just enough to feed my twisted need.
I caught her chin, turning her to face me. “Liar.”
Her breath hitched, her pupils dilating just enough to betray her. She hated this-hated that her body always gave her away.
“You don’t get to play coy,” I said, my grip firm but not cruel. “Not with me.”
Her jaw clenched. “You don’t own my thoughts, Alex.”
I smirked, leaning closer until my lips brushed her ear. “No, but I own everything else.”
The elevator dinged, and she shoved past me, her heels clicking against the marble floor like gunfire.
By the time I caught up with her in the garage, she was fuming, pacing near her car like a caged animal. I leaned against the hood, blocking her path. “Running again? That’s getting old, Bella.”
Her eyes blazed, fiery and full of venom. “You don’t get to talk to me about running. You’ve been hiding behind your money, your power, and your damn contract since the day we met.”
My jaw tightened. “Careful.”
“Or what?” she shot back. “You’ll add another clause? Another rule to keep me in line? Face it, Alex-you’re just as scared as I am.”
The words hit harder than they should’ve. She wasn’t wrong. I hated how she saw through me, stripped me down to the man I’d spent years burying.
“Say whatever you want, Bella,” I said, my voice colder than I intended. “But remember who you’re talking to.”
She stepped closer, her chin lifting defiantly. “And what if I don’t?”
My patience snapped. In one swift motion, I grabbed her wrist, yanking her against me. “You think I won’t remind you?”
Her breath came in short bursts, her chest rising and falling against mine. But instead of shrinking, she tilted her head, her lips brushing against my jaw. “Try me.”
I didn’t think. I didn’t plan. My mouth crushed hers, hard and unforgiving, a collision of anger and desire. She gasped, her nails digging into my arms, but she didn’t pull away.
When I finally broke the kiss, my voice was rough, barely a whisper. “This isn’t a game, Bella.”
She smirked, her lips swollen and red. “Isn’t it?”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed. I checked the screen, and my blood ran cold. One message. Five words.
You can’t protect her forever.
Bella noticed the shift in my expression. “What is it?” she asked, her voice softer now, concerned.
I pocketed the phone, my face a mask. “Nothing,” I lied.
She didn’t believe me. “Alex…”
I grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the car. “Get in. Now.”
Her protests fell on deaf ears as I scanned the garage, the shadows suddenly feeling too thick, too alive.
This wasn’t over. Not even close.