The air inside the private suite was thick with tension.
Elena sat across from Alexander Reid, her fingers lightly grazing the rim of her wine glass. His sharp, calculating gaze never wavered from her, assessing, testing.
She had crashed his business event, forced her way into a conversation with him, and now she was sitting here, proposing something outrageous.
A contract marriage.
"You're bold, Miss Carter," Alexander finally spoke, his voice low, laced with amusement and something darker. "But tell me why should I waste my time on you?"
Elena met his gaze head-on, refusing to let her nerves show. "Because you don't waste time, Mr. Reid. You invest. And I'm a profitable investment."
A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "And what exactly are you offering?"
Elena leaned forward, dropping all pretenses of modesty. "Power. Control. Revenge."
His expression remained unreadable, but she saw the slight flicker of interest in his cold, dark eyes.
She had him.
A Deal Too Tempting to Refuse
Elena unfolded a document onto the table—a carefully crafted proposal detailing a marriage alliance.
"This benefits you as much as it benefits me," she continued. "You've been dealing with those board members trying to force you into a politically beneficial marriage, haven't you? This will silence them."
Alexander didn't deny it.
"And in return?" he asked smoothly.
Elena's lips curled. "I want protection. From the Sinclair family, from their business empire, from anyone who dares to touch what's mine. I need you to be my shield, just for a little while."
She watched as Alexander leaned back, exuding power with every movement. He swirled his whiskey, deep in thought.
Then, without breaking eye contact, he placed his glass down and said, "What's in it for me if I say no?"
Elena inhaled sharply. He was testing her—measuring her desperation.
She wouldn't let him see her falter.
She stood and walked towards him, stopping just inches away. "Then I walk away, and someone else benefits from what I have to offer."
His jaw tightened. "You're bluffing."
"Try me," she challenged.
Silence stretched between them, the tension electric.
Then, suddenly, he laughed.
Low. Dark. Dangerous.
"You're playing a high-stakes game, Elena," he murmured, standing to his full height, towering over her. "But I like that."
Her breath hitched as his fingers brushed her chin, forcing her to look up.
"But be careful," he warned, his tone dropping an octave. "If I accept, you belong to me. And I don't share."
The Final Offer
He moved back, picking up the contract and flipping through it.
After several agonizing seconds, he finally spoke.
"I'll agree," Alexander said, signing the document with a sharp flick of his wrist.
"But," he continued, his voice deceptively smooth, "don't expect love from me."
Elena smirked. "I don't need love, Mr. Reid. I need power."
Their eyes locked two predators sealing a dangerous alliance.
This wasn't marriage.
This was war.
The moment Alexander signed his name, the contract between them was sealed.
Elena should have felt relief. Instead, a strange weight settled in her chest.
This was what she wanted. Power. Protection. Revenge.
Not love.
Never love.
She kept her expression neutral as she reached for the contract. But before her fingers could grasp it, Alexander's hand closed over hers.
His grip was firm—possessive.
"This isn't just a business deal anymore, Elena." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "From this moment on, you carry my name. My protection comes at a price."
She didn't flinch. "I've already agreed to the terms."
His thumb brushed over the back of her hand, deceptively gentle. "Good. Then let's test how committed you are."
Testing the Boundaries
Alexander reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.
A stunning diamond, set in an elegant platinum band.
Elena's breath caught for a split second, but she quickly masked her reaction. She didn't expect him to be prepared so soon.
"Put it on," he commanded.
Elena lifted her chin. "You don't have to prove anything to me."
His smirk was slow, deliberate. "Oh, but I do."
She took the ring, slipping it onto her finger with steady hands. It fit perfectly.
Alexander tilted his head, studying her. "It suits you."
"It's just a symbol," she replied coolly.
"Perhaps," he mused. "But I wonder… how far are you willing to go to convince the world this marriage is real?"
She held his gaze, refusing to back down. "Far enough to keep both our enemies at bay."
His lips curled slightly. "Then let's begin."
A Deal Sealed with More Than Signatures
Without warning, Alexander stepped closer, invading her space.
Elena stiffened, but refused to move back.
His fingers brushed along her jaw, tilting her chin up.
"You should get used to this, Mrs. Reid."
Before she could react, his lips descended on hers.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't sweet.
It was a claim.
A test of who would surrender first.
Elena's pulse thundered, but she refused to be overwhelmed. She parted her lips, deepening the kiss instead of pulling away. If he wanted to test her, she would show him she wasn't weak.
The moment she responded, a low sound rumbled in Alexander's throat—something close to approval.
His grip tightened, fingers sliding into her hair, angling her exactly how he wanted.
Heat curled in her stomach, but she shoved it down. This was nothing more than an act. A necessary display of dominance.
But when he pulled back, his smirk was full of satisfaction.
"Convincing," he murmured.
Elena exhaled slowly, controlling her breathing. "It had to be."
Alexander's thumb traced the corner of her lips before he finally stepped away. "Then prepare yourself, Elena. Tomorrow, the world will know you belong to me."
The Calm Before the Storm
As Elena left his penthouse that night, she could still taste him on her lips.
Her fingers curled into a fist.
This was just the beginning.
Tomorrow, when the news broke, Dominic Sinclair and his family would know they had lost.
And Elena Carter?
She would no longer be a woman they could discard.
She would be a woman they feared.