walked behind Alexander, her heart pounding with every step. She had no idea what to expect, but the tens

hand rested on the doorknob for a brief moment before he turned to her

voice cold but firm. "Don't speak unless spoken to, and

el the weight of her situation with every breath she took. She was here because she had no choice, and the

he group of people gathered around a large, sleek conference table. There were at least five men, all dressed in expensive suits, their faces unre

ion like a knife. "These are my associates. Gentle

n. She was the outsider here, the weak link in a room full of dangerous men who didn't care about her past or her statu

a scar running down his cheek, stood up and extended his

, his eyes gleaming with a kind of danger

ced a smile, but it felt like it was painted on, fake and brittle. "The plea

la remained standing, unsure of where she was supposed to go or what she was supposed to do. Sh

as short and sharp. "You'll

ossed her arms, trying to maintain some semblance of control, though she was painfully aware of how small she fel

around the table, watching them closely. They were all different, but they shared a coldness, a cruelty that she could see even in

ciates wanted from her, but she knew it couldn't be good. And as the meeting wore on, she realized that sh

with a smirk. "I hear you're not the kind of woman who takes orders very well," he said, h

arned, but hearing it out loud made it all too real. She was a prisoner in a world she di

ear that he was testing her, seeing how she would react to the pressure, to the subtle th

m the satisfaction. She wasn't going

la sat in silence, her mind whirling with thoughts of escape, of how she could get out of this mess. But every

nds with Alexander before filing out of the room. Isabella stood t

his tone darkening. "Y

ace him, her stomach

, his gaze piercing. "I need to make sure yo

urning back. But she couldn't show fear, not in front of Alexander, not in front of