6

ALEXANDER 

I stood there, arms folded and jaw set, bracing myself for what I knew was coming. I was certain of her answer, and I couldn’t deny that I’d half-hoped for it. She was going to say no. She had every reason to turn me down and refuse any connection between us, especially after the mess my family had made of the evening. I’d let them speak freely, act dismissively—even allowed Vanessa to put her hands on her. It was ugly, but somehow, I’d thought it justified, even deserved.

If I’d known tonight would end with Raina Graham holding my future between her fingers, I’d have planned differently. I’d have orchestrated every move, ensured my family behaved long enough to tolerate her presence if it meant securing her cooperation. But none of that mattered now. Her answer would be a firm, simple no. The way it should be. The way it had to be.

And yet—when she spoke, my certainty shattered.

She agreed. Just like that, she agreed, as though it meant nothing to her, as if she had nothing at stake in it at all. My chest tightened, a strange, uncomfortable feeling settling over me. What was her angle? This wasn’t the Raina I’d expected to face tonight. She was plotting something, I knew it. This had to be some new scheme, a way to pull me in and ruin me when I was at my most vulnerable.

But I kept my face impassive, swallowing back any reaction as the wheels turned in my mind. I couldn’t allow myself to get distracted by her games. For now, all that mattered was the deal. I’d sort out her motives later, pick apart whatever trap she was laying for me after I’d secured what I needed. Until then, I would play along.

Dominic’s gaze was cold as he watched me, a silent challenge behind his stare. He didn’t seem convinced by my agreement either. I could see the subtle tension in the way he held Raina’s arm, almost protectively, as if to shield her from any further confrontation. The way he looked at her—it was protective, possessive even. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing my mind not to stray to the thoughts simmering just below the surface. It was beneath me to dwell on the past, to let old betrayals resurface.

Without warning, he pulled her to the side, his grip firm on her arm. They spoke in low, urgent tones, their words too hushed for me to catch, but I didn’t need to hear. The way he leaned close, the way she looked back at him—it all told me enough. I’d seen that look on his face before, that fierce, unwavering need to protect. And her? She looked so at ease with him, almost as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Fine. They could play this game all they wanted. I knew her well enough to recognize when she was scheming. The years apart hadn’t erased the woman she’d been when we were married, nor had it changed the way I knew her down to her core. She was ruthless, resourceful, and if I had learned one thing in our years together, it was that Raina would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Maybe that was the reason I’d been so drawn to her, once upon a time. But tonight, it only served as a reminder that she was not to be trusted.

When they returned, she spoke with that same detached calmness, a tone that nearly made me forget everything that had happened between us. Almost. “Working together is no problem for me, Alexander…as long as I don’t have to deal with your family.” Her voice was cool, unyielding. It wasn’t a request. It was a condition, one that cut sharply through the tension still hanging in the air.

Relief surged through me, stronger than I anticipated, and before I could contain it, the words spilled out of me. “Deal.” It was impulsive, unguarded, and I knew immediately I’d shown too much. But I needed this partnership. The success of everything I’d worked for depended on it. And for once, just this once, I couldn’t let my pride get in the way.

“When can we set up a meeting?” I said, my gaze fixed on her, hoping—damn it, almost hoping she’d soften. She’d let something slip, something that would make this arrangement less of a calculated transaction and more of an actual alliance. I knew it was foolish, that wanting anything from her would only lead to disappointment, but here I was, hoping anyway.

Before she could answer, Dominic stepped in, his voice slicing through the fragile silence. “What’s the rush, Alexander? We’ll need to review everything on our end first.” His gaze hardened, challenging, as if daring me to disagree.

“And actually,” he continued, “I’ve decided on one condition.” He gave a small, almost smug smile, savoring every word as he turned to look at Raina. “For us to move forward, Raina will have to oversee the project.”

I felt the anger rise, slow and sharp, filling every inch of me. My jaw clenched, a muscle ticking as I forced myself to remain still. This was absurd. Ridiculous. Did they honestly think I’d agree to something so unreasonable? Raina wasn’t capable of handling something of this scale. She had no experience, no training. Hell, she didn’t even know how to balance a checkbook, much less a multi-million-dollar deal. The only thing she’d ever mastered was her charm, the art of seduction. And it had worked—once.

I struggled to keep my tone neutral as I responded, my voice low and even. “That won’t work.” I let the disdain seep into my words. “When I was married to her,” I continued, my eyes locked on Raina, “she was nothing more than a housewife. For a project like this, you’re going to need someone with real experience, someone who understands the complexities—”

Dominic cut me off with a scoff. “Didn’t you divorce years ago?” he said, his tone mocking, condescending. “And who’s to say she hasn’t learned something since then?” He leaned forward, voice dropping to a murmur. “You assume she can’t handle it. But that’s your problem, isn’t it?”

His smile was calculated, a silent message that he knew he had me cornered, that he was enjoying every second of watching me squirm. I felt the walls closing in, the opportunity slipping away even as I stood there, clenching my fists so hard my knuckles went white. But I couldn’t walk away. Not now. Not when I was this close.

Raina’s face was impassive, giving away nothing as she watched me, her silence as damning as her words had been. She didn’t care what this meant for me, didn’t care that I was practically being forced into a corner, with no option but to accept her as my equal—no, as my superior—in this partnership. She was relishing every second of it, and I hated her for it. Hated the way she could stand there so calmly, knowing full well that she’d backed me into a position I couldn’t refuse.

Dominic’s voice cut through the silence again, his tone almost taunting. “Well, Alexander?” he asked, feigning innocence, a cruel glint in his eyes. “Do you agree?”

I didn’t answer right away. For the first time in a long time, I could feel myself hesitating, the weight of this decision pressing down on me, suffocating. Every instinct screamed at me to walk away, to take back control and refuse to let her have this kind of hold over me again. But I couldn’t. I’d worked too hard to let this opportunity slip. 

Slowly, begrudgingly, I nodded. “Fine,” I said, the word burning on my tongue. It felt like defeat, like I was handing over some part of myself I’d fought so long to protect. But I had no other choice.

---

The next day came far too soon. I could hardly sleep, replaying the events in my mind, trying to make sense of why she’d agreed, of what her motives could possibly be. And now, as I sat across from her, the documents laid out in front of us, I could feel the tension thickening, a silent reminder that this was only the beginning of what I suspected would be a long, bitter battle.

Just as I reached for the pen, she lifted her hand, stopping me. I glanced up, a flash of irritation sparking in my chest, her silent audacity almost laughable. What was it now? Just when I was about to take the step she had practically forced me into, she had another demand. Of course. Because nothing with Raina could ever be simple—she would always have to have the final word.

She held my gaze, her eyes cold, unwavering. “I have one condition,” she said, her voice smooth, each word deliberate.

A wave of resentment pulsed through me, rising sharply and settling like a stone in my chest. This was her way of reminding me that she had the upper hand, that every choice I made was a concession to her, another inch of power I’d lost. I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to laugh at the irony of it. Just when I thought I could close this chapter with her, she tightened the noose, making it clear that this would never end—not with Raina.