The Heat Of Possession

~~Alejandro~~

From the street junction, I caught Carlos speaking quietly with his mother. I didn’t need anyone to tell me what they were up to, I already knew about his dealings. Illegal imports. Shady exports. He thought he was clever, but I wasn’t blind. Still, I needed more proof before I could move against him.

The moment his mother’s eyes landed on my car, she slipped into hers and rode past me .

The car rolled inside the gate and Carlos hurried into the house, opening the door before the driver could.

“Hello, uncle,” he said.

I gave him a slow nod. I had to clear up any misunderstanding with the old man before I found myself sitting in a hospital, nursing whatever mess came next.

I made my way inside, stopped at the figure coming downstairs.

She shifted when her gaze met mine, the slight change in her face shows how uncomfortable she was around me.She stood at the staircase, Damn, she was stunning.

The light touch of makeup made her glow, delicate yet irresistible, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe.

“Hi,” she said softly.

I nodded and forced myself past her, but halfway up the steps, I stopped and turned back. She was still standing there, tempting, and I hated myself for looking.

That dress… it clung to every curve, hugged her body like a second skin, and the bare expanse of her back was a sin no man should be allowed to see. She had no idea what she was doing to me.

She should never wear something like that for anyone but me.

Carlos didn’t deserve her. He could never deserve her. She was a rare jewel, and the thought of another man’s eyes on her made my blood burn with jealousy. I was her first,and God help me, I wanted to be her last.

I watched her take a few steps toward the door.

What the hell am I doing?

I took a deep breath and went to meet my father. He was on the front balcony; dusk had already started to settle.

“Hello, Dad,” I said as I joined him at the balustrade.

“Alejandro, I noticed the news has been taken down and the stock prices weren’t affected,” he said, relief softening his voice.

Of course. His empire was his oxygen, and I had bled for it as much as he had.

“Thank you, Alejandro.”

“You’re welcome, Dad.”

We stood in silence until my eyes betrayed me again, drifting towards her standing below. Carlos’s attention was fixed on her, his gaze shameless, and something hot twisted in my chest.

“Elena is a beautiful girl, with her, Carlos might change.”my father said

The Truth is that, Carlos doesn’t want love. He wants power. He’ll crush her, like he does everything else.

“Where are they going?” I asked.

“Oh, just a gathering with his friends. I told him to take her along,” he said with a small laugh.

Great. Just perfect. He’s dragging her into the worst place possible.

He kept talking-something about the Morales family visiting tomorrow-but I was no longer listening.

“Alright, Dad. We’ll continue this later,” I said, my voice low with impatience. Without waiting for his reply, I turned and walked out, my mind already set on her.

The driver moved to open the car door as soon as he saw me stepping forward, but I stopped him.

“Start the car,” I said, and slid in.

Because Elena was walking into Carlos’s world tonight. And I wasn’t going to sit back and watch her get burned.

I took out my phone and dialed my assistant’s number.

"Give me Carlos’s location,"

"Alright sir", he said

I sighed, fingers pressing at my jaw.

I’d already sworn it: if even one hair of hers is touched, Carlos will pay.

Mateo’s call came quickly.

“Sir, Carlos is at the villa near the construction site.”

I ended the call without another word.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly.the air felt suffocating despite the cool hum of the AC.

For the first time in my life, fear crawled into my veins, not fear of losing power, not fear of enemies, but fear of losing her.

**********

Rodriguez 's private villa came into view, bursting with lights and deafening music. The moment I stepped out of the car, I knew. Something was wrong.

The front door was a mess-bottles, trash,all over.

I opened the door. The foyer was chaos, cups, strewn roses,and some awkward smells.

The music cut off like a snapped wire. Silence slammed into the room. Every head turned. Every face went pale when they recognized me.

“Mr. Rodriguez, we… we were invited by Carlos,” someone stammered, voices shaking.

I didn’t answer. My gaze swept the hall,

"Where is Carlos?” I asked in a sharp voice, cutting through the heavy silence.

One of the men shifted uneasily, his face paling. “His…” he stuttered, scanning the room with desperate eyes, as though begging someone else to complete the sentence for him. No one did.

"But I actually…."

A scream cut him off.

“I don’t want it!”

It was her voice. Elena’s voice.

A cold fury rolled through me. My steps quickened as I pushed forward,I stormed toward the door,I didn’t hesitate then shoved it open.

The sight that greeted me was enough to make my blood boil.

Two girls were forcing a glass of wine into her mouth while Carlos laughed, phone in hand, recording her humiliation.

“Stop!” My voice thundered through the room.

I stepped forward. Each movement was enough to make both of them shrink back.

Elena coughed violently, her eyes wide with tears.

“Uncle, I’m sorry! Please, I didn’t mean to," Carlos begged, dropping to his knees at my feet.

Pathetic.

I didn’t even look at him. My arms went straight for her. She was trembling, coughing, eyes red. And the second I pulled her up, she clung to me,like she had been waiting for me all along.

Her arms locked around my neck, her face pressed into my shoulder.

Without a word, I grabbed her bag and carried her out.

The foyer was totally silent. Everyone had already fled, too scared to stay and witness what was about to happen.

Outside, the driver rushed and open the car door. I placed her inside carefully, lowering myself to fasten her seat belt. But she reached up, dragging me closer with shaky arms looped around my neck.

“Alejandro,” she whispered, voice heavy with wine.

My breath hitched. “What is it?”

Her unfocused eyes searched mine. “You… You look like Alejandro. But you’re not him.”

I let out a low chuckle, brushing her nose with my finger. “You’re drunk, little bunny.”

I slid into the car beside her, and wrapped an arm around her trembling frame.

“Straight to my mansion,” I ordered.

The driver froze. I saw it in his eyes-he knew no one had ever been taken there. Not even my father.

“Drive,” I snapped.

“Yes, sir.”

The car pulled away, my chest ached, my head spinning with anger and something else I couldn’t name.

Carlos thought this was a game.

He thought humiliating her would make him powerful.

He had no idea what he just started, she might be his fiance, but she belongs to me.

She curled into me, her head on my chest, fingers brushing lightly as they toyed with the buttons of my shirt. Every touch was soft, almost innocent, but it lit a dangerous fire in me.

“Alejandro,” she breathed out.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice low.

“I don’t want to resist anymore. I think I like you."Her voice broke in, soft but clear.