he bed, though luxurious, felt foreign-empty and cold despite its extravagance. The pentho

lungs. Every detail of Alexander's cold touch, his chilling words, seemed to haunt her st

lf in the mirror-pale, exhausted, and with no trace of the life she once had. The confident, ambitious woman who ha

art skipped a beat, but she quickly composed herself. "Co

ith piercing green eyes and dark, sleek hair. She wore a sharp black

irm. "I'll be your personal assistant while you're

to say. "Anything?" she asked,

g within reason, of course. I suggest you prepa

She had spent the night wondering about him-wondering how someone so powerful could be so cold and distant. He

im again made her pulse quic

," she said, her voic

t was elegant but simple, far too modest for someone like her. She realized she didn't even remember pa

d Isabella, then led her through the vast apartment toward the elevator. The silence between t

ned with art-dark, brooding pieces that made the space feel like an extension of Alexander

ge, imposing door. Chloe knock

y, his sharp gaze locking onto Isabella. He was wearing a tailored suit, his sleeves rolled up to rev

mooth voice, but this time, there was somet

ep forward, her heart

his lips curling into a slight, almost

e the unease creeping up her spine. "I'm not nervous," she said, tho

she instinctively backed up,

rom her. He towered over her, his presence overpowering. "There's nothing

rotest, but his gaze stopped her. His eyes-those cold, unyielding eyes

e asked, his voice low

in her voice. She didn't want to admit it, but she

brushing the top of his desk. "Good. Because if you want to survive in my

allowed hard, wondering what kind of world she

commanded, gesturing

wn. He didn't need to ask her again. His wor

y clear: in my world, you'll be nothing but an accessory. A slave to my desires. But you wil

ds, but before she could speak, Alexander's phone rang. Without a glance a

as coming next, but sh