med almost physical. His presence in her personal space was like a storm, always threatening and im

ngs without asking me first? Alex's spe

verything, Alex," she shot back, attempting to stay cool. Her commen

more deliberate, as if he knew precisely what buttons to push to disturb her. Melissa, you're

low and she could feel the heat in her chest.

she retorted, "I'll never be your pawn, Alex." Y

ond. The space separating them grew denser. "You are already mine,

push him away. But when his eyes fixed on hers, a shiver went down her back. He was not joking. Trapped in t

ite dining table was arranged with exact accuracy. The quiet between Ale

d at his food with mechanical precision. His eyes were fixed on her,

individuals who have consented to something? Lik

by putting her fork down. Alex, you are

e crystal to creak beneath the strain. But still you are here. Once

aying anything." You made this agreement, not me. Y

, is because of me. The bargain I gave you. The life you wanted. You will be i

ll the correct buttons. She wished to rise up and go against him. But

coffed, his voice a mocking whisper. "I

onded, "You know nothing about me," gritting her teeth.

is eyes darkened with a menacing inten

her, every little touch, drove tremors through her determination. The burden of the contract, of their forced closeness, h

responsibilities. Every encounter with him now seemed combative. The formerly familiar corridors seemed c

ex hovered at her office door observing her. His gaze was a constant weight on her, a reminder

ding a shudder down her back. Looking up, she found him i

d, her voice strained with

g monitored. Every action you take. Don't

nly here to run things. He wasn't only here to run her c

looked back at him. There was no escape from this, no way

d into her. She had no idea how much longer she could endure

etropolis that felt increasingly unfamiliar, distant, and oppressive. The chill of the night reflected the chill she had grown to anticipate f

un to see something that made her doubt whether he was truly the mon

Driven by curiosity, she crept gently down the corridor before she could stop herself. In the

he picture. In his hand, Alex fingered the edge of a picture frame. His expression, always im

e callous CEO. His tough, frigid surface appeared to

ng him. He had not seen her, and f

a whispered prayer, so she wonde

ly shoved back into the drawer, the photo caused his

ce icy, but Melissa saw the tension in his shoulder

ither of them really grasped. But under the surface, something was changing. Melissa saw it in the way Alex

times, brief ones, when she nearly felt pity for him. She saw flashes of something delicate burie

wanted was to get caught up in whatever complex game Alex was playin

at the window, his back to her. The customary aura of command flowed f

er stomac

thoughts. She froze, but didn't turn aro

erable. Coming from the guy who had been

ded, "I'm not avoiding you." My work

gaze on her. Their weight. It seemed as though he was

? Melissa considered, her

ent with him, however, made that more difficult. The lines separating hat

stion hung in her head like a curse as sh