CHAPTER 4

​At 5:30 PM, Elena’s apartment looked like a war zone of silk, lace, and designer shoe boxes.

​Chloe was pacing back and forth across the hardwood floor, holding a glass of Pinot Grigio in one hand and a bottle of expensive perfume in the other, babbling so fast she was barely taking breaths.

​"This is insane," Chloe shouted for the fifth time, slamming her glass onto the kitchen counter. "This is literally the plot of a trashy romance novel, Elena! You slept with your ex's billionaire uncle, left him three hundred dollars, and now he’s taking you to a family dinner as his executive date to crush your ex’s soul? Is this real life?"

​"It’s not a date, Chloe. It’s a strategic corporate maneuver," Elena said, standing in front of the full-length bedroom mirror as she zipped up a deep burgundy, floor-length silk gown.

​The dress clung to her curves like a second skin, featuring a subtle square neckline, long fitted sleeves, and a high slit along her right leg. It was sophisticated, ridiculously expensive, and radiated pure, undeniable power.

​"Strategic corporate maneuver my ass!" Chloe laughed, stepping into the bedroom to help align the gown's invisible back zipper. "The man looked at your note, saw that you insulted his stamina, and instead of firing you or suing you, he bought you an executive wardrobe and invited you to ruin his nephew's life! He is totally obsessed with you!"

​"He isn't obsessed with me," Elena insisted, fastening a pair of diamond teardrop earrings—a loaner from Chloe’s high-end jewelry collection. "Alexander Vance is a cold-blooded corporate predator. He’s using me to teach Mark a lesson about entitlement, and I’m using him to take back my dignity and my career. It's a mutually beneficial business arrangement."

​"Right. A business arrangement where you end up naked in his St. Regis penthouse again by midnight," Chloe smirked, picking up a makeup brush to touch up Elena’s winged eyeliner. "Look at yourself, El. You look like a woman who owns half of Wall Street."

​Elena looked into the glass. The tired, overworked girl who spent four years staying up until midnight editing Mark’s reports was gone. In her place stood a woman with sharp eyes, flawless porcelain skin, bold red lips, and an aura that demanded total submission.

​Bzzzt-bzzzt.

​Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. An unknown number appeared on the screen.

​“My driver is downstairs. — A.V.”

​Elena took a slow, deep breath, feeling her heart give a heavy, nervous thud against her ribs. She picked up her black velvet clutch, turned to Chloe, and offered a sharp, fearless smile.

​"Wish me luck."

​"Don't need it," Chloe grinned, raising her wine glass. "Go destroy him, Boss."

​A sleek, black Maybach pulled up to the curb outside Elena’s apartment building. The back door opened instantly, and Julian, Alexander’s sharp executive assistant, stepped out in a crisp tux, holding an umbrella over the rain-slicked pavement.

​"Good evening, Miss Hayes," Julian said with a polite, professional bow. "You look stunning."

​"Thank you, Julian," Elena said, stepping into the warm, leather-scented interior of the luxury vehicle.

​The door clicked shut behind her, sealing off the noise of the city.

​Sitting in the far corner of the spacious leather backseat was Alexander. He was wearing a classic black tuxedo with a dark bow tie, looking like a sovereign king returning to his court. A crystal tumbler of scotch rested in his hand.

​As Elena settled into the leather seat beside him, Alexander’s eyes swept over her. The silence in the car stretched, thick and suffocatingly hot. His gaze lingered on the curve of her neck, traced the line of her collarbone, and settled on her scarlet lips.

​For a second, the cool, calculating CEO mask slipped, revealing a raw, unadulterated flame in his dark grey eyes that made Elena’s breath hitch.

​"Burgundy," Alexander murmured, his baritone voice low and thick in the quiet space of the car. "An acceptable substitute for green."

​"I aim to please, Mr. Vance," Elena replied smoothly, smoothing down her skirt. "Are you sure your family is ready for an uninvited guest?"

​Alexander raised his glass to his lips, taking a slow sip of scotch without breaking eye contact. "My family is a pit of vipers, Elena. They are never ready for anything they cannot buy or manipulate. You are going to do exceptionally well."

​He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a small black velvet box, and tossed it into her lap.

​Elena looked at the box, then back up at him. "What's this?"

​"Consider it an advance on your executive signing bonus," Alexander said casually.

​Elena popped the latch. Resting inside on white velvet was a vintage Cartier diamond wrist cuff, sparkling brilliantly under the interior car lights. It was easily worth fifty thousand dollars.

​"I can't accept this," Elena said, immediately closing the box. "It's too much."

​Before she could hand it back, Alexander reached out, his long fingers wrapping around her wrist. His touch was warm, firm, and sent a jolt of electricity shooting straight up her arm. He took the cuff from the box and gently, deliberately fastened it around her left wrist, his fingers lingering against her pulse point.

​"You are attending a Vance family gathering on my arm, Elena," Alexander whispered, his face inches from hers, his dark eyes holding her captive. "In my world, my women want for nothing. Now keep it on—and remember who you belong to tonight."

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