Alexander rarely invited people to his home.
That was a known fact—by the press, by his staff, by the very family that only remembered him during holidays or shareholder meetings.
So when he told Sienna they'd be having a "casual dinner" with guests that evening, she blinked at him like he'd said the sky was green.
"You're inviting someone here?" she asked.
He nodded without looking up from his tablet. "Just a few people. It's time you meet them."
"Who?"
"My mother, for starters."
Sienna froze. "You never even mentioned her."
"She's not usually part of my life," he said, voice low. "But she's asked to see us. Together."
"Why?"
Alexander finally looked up. "Because she's curious. Suspicious, maybe. Either way, we should handle it now."
Sienna exhaled. "And the others?"
"A few board members. Old friends. Nothing overwhelming."
"That is overwhelming."
Alexander gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. Just be yourself."
She stared at him. "That's not usually good enough for women in billionaires' homes."
He stood, walked to where she sat at the counter and tapped her chin gently. "It's more than good enough for me."
---
By 6:00 PM, the dining room looked like it belonged in a magazine spread.
Fresh flowers. Silver flatware. Low candlelight. A private chef finishes the final touches in the kitchen.
Sienna was in a soft navy dress—not too flashy, not too plain. It was hers, not something chosen by a stylist. She'd insisted on that.
"I don't want to look like someone else," she'd told Alexander.
"Then wear whatever makes you feel steady," he'd replied.
At 6:32 PM, the guests began to arrive.
First was Margaret Knight—Alexander's mother.
She walked in like she still owned half the city, in a sharp beige suit and heels that didn't falter once.
Sienna stood politely, hands clasped, but Margaret's eyes swept over her like she was an exhibit.
"So this is the woman," Margaret said.
"Yes," Alexander replied without hesitation. "This is Sienna."
Margaret offered a thin smile. "We weren't expecting this."
"Life doesn't usually ask for permission," Sienna said softly.
Margaret's eyes narrowed, but she gave a curt nod. "Fair point."
---
The next hour was a whirlwind of introductions—Mr. Reeves from the board, Helen Sharp from the firm handling their merger deals, and two of Alexander's longtime acquaintances: Daniel and Isla.
Daniel was a lean, sharp man with watchful eyes. Isla was warm and curious, far more approachable.
"Don't mind Margaret," Isla said privately to Sienna as they helped themselves to hors d'oeuvres. "She likes to test people. And she's not used to anyone getting under Alexander's skin."
Sienna blinked. "Is that what I've done?"
"Oh, definitely," Isla grinned. "You have him walking around like he has something to lose. That's new."
---
At dinner, the conversation stayed light—talk of markets, global shifts, and technology.
Sienna contributed when she could. She wasn't intimidated—just calculating how much was safe to say.
Margaret, however, wasn't here for small talk.
Halfway through the second course, she leaned forward and said to Sienna, "So tell me, how long have you known my son?"
Alexander's fork paused midway to his mouth.
Sienna swallowed a piece of grilled fish before replying, "Long enough to know what matters to him."
Margaret smiled. "And what would that be?"
"He values loyalty. Control. He's also more compassionate than people realize, even when he doesn't show it."
Margaret blinked.
Daniel whistled under his breath.
Alexander said nothing—but Sienna noticed the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
---
After dessert, guests drifted toward the lounge where a pianist played light jazz.
Sienna slipped away to the terrace for a moment of silence.
She didn't expect Margaret to follow.
"You handled yourself well," the older woman said.
"Thank you."
Margaret joined her at the railing. "I won't pretend to understand your marriage. But I do know my son. He's… careful with affection."
Sienna nodded. "I've noticed."
"And yet he looks at you like he's already made up his mind."
Sienna's brows lifted. "What mind would that be?"
Margaret studied her. "That you matter."
Sienna's reply was soft. "I'm starting to believe that."
Margaret said nothing more. She left without another word.
---
Inside, Alexander found her minutes later.
"You survived," he said with a hint of amusement.
"Barely."
"She didn't scare you too much?"
"She tried."
He chuckled.
Then he looked around and whispered, "Let's sneak out."
Sienna blinked. "You want to ditch your party?"
"I do."
"And leave the board members and your mother alone in your house?"
"They'll be fine."
She grinned. "Okay, Mr. Knight."
---
They ended up in the garage, walking between luxury cars like they were in a private showroom.
"Pick one," he said.
Sienna stopped. "Pick?"
"Whichever one you like."
She raised a brow. "This is not normal marriage behavior."
"I never said we were normal."
She finally pointed to a sleek dark blue Porsche.
Alexander tossed her the keys. "Drive."
Her eyes widened. "You're letting me drive your Porsche?"
"I trust you."
That stunned her more than the keys.
---
Ten minutes later, they were flying down an open road on the edge of the city.
Wind in her hair. Her hands are tight on the wheel.
She didn't say anything, and neither did he.
Until she finally broke the silence. "I needed this."
"I know," he replied.
She glanced at him. "Why are you doing all this?"
He looked at her. "Because I like the woman I married. More than I should."
Her hands tightened slightly. "That's dangerous."
"For both of us."
"But you'd still choose it?"
He looked out the window for a second, then turned back to her.
"Yes."
---
Later that night, back in the mansion, she found herself standing in the doorway of his study.
Alexander was at his desk, flipping through documents.
"I still don't know if we're pretending," she said, quietly.
He looked up.
"Do you want to pretend?"
She hesitated. "Not anymore."
"Then we won't."
He stood.
Walked toward her slowly.
And just like that, without a dramatic pause, without tension or forced romance, he kissed her.
Soft. Real.
It was something he didn't have to think twice about.
And this time, she didn't pull away.