The next morning, Elena woke to the sound of her phone vibrating relentlessly on the nightstand.
She blinked, still groggy, before reaching for it. Twelve missed calls.
Six from her stepmother. Four from Dominic. Two from Lily.
Her lips curled as she unlocked the screen. The world had seen the news.
She tapped on the first notification—a headline from the most influential business magazine in the country:
BREAKING NEWS: COLD-HEARTED TYCOON ALEXANDER REID ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT TO ELENA CARTER
Below the headline was a picture of them from last night. Alexander's hand was firm on her waist, their bodies close. And the kiss.
It looked passionate. Intimate. Real.
Elena's fingers grazed her lips.
The memory of his kiss still lingered, warm and unsettling. He had kissed her as if he owned her, as if he was daring the world to challenge his claim.
But it had just been for the cameras. For the contract.
Right?
Before she could dwell on it, the door to her bedroom burst open.
"Elena!"
Her stepmother, Margaret Carter, stormed inside, her face red with fury.
"What the hell have you done?!"
A Family's Panic
Elena remained seated on the edge of her bed, calm. "You should knock, Mother."
Margaret's eyes blazed. "Don't you dare act arrogant! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Elena tilted her head. "Do enlighten me."
Margaret's lips twisted. "You humiliated Dominic. You embarrassed our family! How could you throw yourself at Alexander Reid like some desperate—"
"Careful," Elena cut in, her voice smooth. "You're speaking about Mrs. Reid."
The color drained from Margaret's face.
Elena stood, slowly, deliberately. "Or did you forget? I'm no longer a Carter. I'm no longer yours to control."
Margaret's mouth opened, then closed. She had always seen Elena as weak. As someone easy to manipulate.
But now, there was something different in her eyes—uncertainty. Fear.
Before Margaret could gather herself, the bedroom door swung open again.
This time, it was Dominic.
Dominic Loses Control
Dominic's gaze swept over Elena, dark and livid. "What the hell is this?" He threw his phone onto the bed. The same article stared back at her.
Elena gave a slow, satisfied smile. "A wedding announcement, darling. Didn't you hear?"
Dominic's jaw clenched. "You think this is funny?"
"Quite," she replied.
His hands curled into fists. "You were supposed to marry me."
Elena arched a brow. "Oh? Did you forget the part where you spent years treating me like an afterthought? Or the part where you cheated on me with Lily?"
Margaret gasped. "Elena, that's—"
"True?" Elena finished smoothly. "Oh, don't look so scandalized, Mother. We all know the truth."
Dominic stepped forward. "You're making a mistake. Do you really think Alexander Reid will protect you? He doesn't love you. He doesn't even care about you."
Elena didn't flinch. "I don't need his love, Dominic. I need his power."
Dominic's expression twisted with frustration. "You're playing a dangerous game."
Elena smiled, slow and sharp. "And I'm winning."
Alexander Makes His Claim
Just then, the sound of polished shoes echoed through the hallway.
Margaret and Dominic turned, eyes widening as Alexander Reid himself stepped into the room.
He was dressed in a tailored black suit, his presence commanding. He didn't acknowledge Margaret or Dominic. His gaze was only on Elena.
"Am I interrupting something?" Alexander asked smoothly, his voice low and deep.
Elena turned to face him, her pulse steady. "Not at all, darling."
Dominic stiffened. "So, it's true? You really married her?"
Alexander's expression remained unreadable. Then, slowly, he reached for Elena's hand, lifting it to his lips.
His mouth brushed over her knuckles. Soft. Possessive.
Elena's breath hitched.
Alexander lowered her hand, his gaze locking onto Dominic. "I don't make a habit of discussing my personal affairs," he said, his voice deceptively calm. "But let me make something clear—Elena is mine now."
Dominic's eyes darkened. "You don't even love her."
Alexander's lips curled. "And you did?"
Dominic flinched.
Alexander tilted his head, assessing him like a predator deciding whether his prey was worth killing.
"Don't test me, Sinclair," he murmured. "If you ever try to touch my wife again, I'll ruin you."
The air in the room shifted.
Dominic's breathing turned harsh, his fists clenched at his sides. But for the first time, he had no power here.
Elena watched, satisfaction curling in her chest. This was what she had wanted.
Dominic was finally beneath her.
The Beginning of a New Era
Margaret grabbed Dominic's arm, pulling him back. "Let's go," she hissed. "We'll handle this later."
Dominic didn't move at first. But when he finally turned away, his shoulders were rigid, his fury palpable.
Elena didn't watch them leave. She didn't need to.
She had already won.
Alexander turned to her, still holding her hand. His thumb brushed against her skin, a silent question.
"Are you satisfied?" he murmured.
Elena met his gaze, her heart steady. "Not yet."
Alexander smirked. "Good."
Then he leaned in, his lips grazing the shell of her ear.
"Because I don't intend to make this easy for you, Mrs. Reid."
A shiver ran down her spine, but she forced herself to smile. "Neither do I, Mr. Reid."
The moment Margaret and Dominic left, a heavy silence settled between Elena and Alexander.
She could still feel the warmth of his fingers on her skin, the echo of his words lingering in her mind.
Elena is mine now.
It wasn't love. It wasn't affection. It was ownership.
She turned to him, her expression unreadable. "That was quite the performance."
Alexander smirked, but his eyes were dark, unreadable. "It wasn't a performance, darling. I don't say things I don't mean."
Her pulse quickened, though she masked it with a slow, deliberate step forward. "So, what now?"
Alexander's gaze swept over her, assessing, measuring. Then, without breaking eye contact, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box.
Elena's breath hitched.
He flipped it open with ease, revealing a diamond ring—massive, cold, and breathtaking.
"Now, we make this official," he murmured.
The Wedding—Cold, Beautiful, and Ruthless
The ceremony was arranged within hours.
There were no heartfelt vows. No declarations of love. Only power, status, and a contract that bound them together.
Elena stood before Alexander in a custom-made ivory dress, fitted perfectly to her curves, the diamonds on the bodice catching the light. She looked ethereal. Untouchable.
But beneath the beauty, she was a storm.
Alexander, standing before her in an impeccable black tuxedo, exuded dominance. He was calm, unreadable, but his eyes told a different story.
Possession. Control. Desire.
The priest's words were a blur. Elena barely registered them until the cold weight of the ring slid onto her finger.
Then Alexander's fingers curled under her chin, tilting her face up.
Her heart pounded.
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced.
A slow, deliberate smirk tugged at Alexander's lips. "My pleasure."
Then his mouth claimed hers.
The kiss was different from the first—darker, deeper, dangerous. It wasn't just for show this time.
His grip on her waist tightened, pulling her flush against him, letting her feel the heat of his body through the layers of fabric. He kissed her like he was branding her, making sure there would be no doubt to anyone watching.
Elena felt it.
The sharp bite of dominance, the unspoken warning.
He pulled back slightly, his lips a breath away from hers. "You're trembling, Mrs. Reid."
She forced herself to smirk. "From excitement, of course."
Alexander chuckled, low and deep. "Liar."
But he didn't press further. Instead, he took her hand in his, his grip firm, unyielding. The deal was sealed.
She was his.
And he was hers.
For now.
Their First Night – A Battle of Power
The wedding reception was extravagant. Every influential figure in the city was present, whispering about the unexpected union between Elena Carter and Alexander Reid.
Dominic hadn't attended. Coward.
But Elena didn't care. Her focus was on the man beside her—the enigma she had just married.
Alexander played his role perfectly, his hand resting lazily on her lower back, his touch sending heated awareness through her body.
She was used to men treating her like an afterthought.
But Alexander made her feel like a prize.
Or maybe… a possession.
After the reception, they were escorted to his penthouse.
The moment the door clicked shut behind them, Elena turned to face him.
"Let's get one thing straight," she said, arms crossed. "This marriage is for power. Nothing else."
Alexander chuckled, removing his suit jacket and tossing it onto a chair. He loosened his tie, his movements slow, calculated.
"Power and pleasure don't have to be separate, darling," he mused.
Elena's breath hitched. "I didn't agree to that."
His gaze darkened. "Didn't you?"
He took a step forward. She took a step back.
A dangerous, knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
"You think you can play this game, Mrs. Reid? That you can stand beside me without consequences?"
Elena lifted her chin. "I'm not afraid of you."
Alexander's fingers grazed her jaw, tilting her face up. "You should be."
Her heart pounded, but she refused to break eye contact.
She wouldn't be weak again.
Not for any man.
Not even Alexander Reid.
His thumb brushed her lower lip, the touch feather-light but enough to send a jolt through her.
"You're intriguing, Elena," he murmured. "Let's see how long you can keep up."
She smirked. "I never lose."
Alexander's smirk widened. "We'll see about that."
Then, he stepped away, heading toward the bedroom.
Elena let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.