Chapter Three

Edward's grip on the bedroom doorframe seemed to tighten.

His eyes stared straight into mine, sending a powerful tremor through my chest. But before his lips could touch my neck, the ringing of a phone from inside Edward's suit pocket cut through the silence between us.

Edward stopped.

He let out a quiet sigh, pulling back a few inches before brushing his thumb across my cheek.

“Go inside first,” he whispered in a low voice.

Then he answered the call as he walked away toward the balcony.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my erratic heartbeat.

Our first night together passed without much physical contact because Edward had to deal with an emergency call from the board of directors that lasted late into the night.

The next morning, I stood before the large mirror in the main lobby of the Turner Group building.

A fitted black dress with sharp, structured lines clung to my figure, emphasizing my new status.

As Mrs. Turner, I was no longer walking into this building as a low-ranking design staff member.

I was here as the official owner of the license.

The meeting room door swung open violently.

James stormed in, fury written across his face. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, a clear sign that he hadn't slept all night after Edward had frozen his accounts and cut off his privileges.

Rose hurried in behind him.

“Allana!” James shouted, slamming his fist onto the glass table in the center of the room. It rattled loudly beneath the impact. “Stop this ridiculous act! Give me back access to my accounts and hand over the patent documents for the project right now!”

I leaned casually against the edge of the table, folding my arms across my chest.

“Your whining is getting rather pathetic, James. Have you already spent your allowance from Daddy?”

James's face turned crimson.

“You conniving woman! Do you think marrying my father means you can steal my position?! You're nothing but a trophy wife!”

Rose stepped forward, glaring at me with pure hatred.

“Allana, wake up. Mr. Edward is old enough to be your husband. You're selling yourself for luxury and revenge? Have you no self-respect?”

I walked toward Rose.

My footsteps echoed rhythmically across the cold granite floor.

“Of course I have self-respect, Rose,” I replied calmly, looking her up and down.

“Can't you see? The man standing beside you had to steal someone else's work because he doesn't have the brains to create anything of his own.”

I paused, letting my gaze settle on her.

“And you... you only got the secondhand prize I had just thrown away.”

“You—”

Rose raised her hand, preparing to slap me across the face.

With a quick reflex, I knocked her hand away, sending her stumbling backward.

SLAP!

My palm landed squarely against Rose's smooth cheek, much harder than the slap I'd given James the day before.

Rose screamed, clutching her cheek as it immediately turned red.

“James! Look what this bitch did to me!”

James growled furiously.

He stormed forward and grabbed my shoulder roughly, shoving me until my back collided with the edge of the table.

“How dare you touch Rose in front of me, Allana?!”

“Take your hands off my wife, James.”

The deep, cold voice cut through the air of the meeting room.

Edward stood in the doorway.

His black suit was perfectly fitted, and his eyes carried a dangerous glint capable of freezing the entire room within seconds.

James jolted in shock, instinctively pulling his hand away as though he'd just touched red-hot metal.

“D-Dad... Allana started it! She slapped Rose!”

Edward ignored him.

He walked into the room, paying no attention to Rose, who was still wincing in pain, before stopping directly beside me.

His arm naturally wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his body.

“I gave Allana full authority over this project,” Edward said flatly, his gaze locked onto James.

“And I just signed the board's official resolution.”

Edward pulled a single sheet of paper from his black folder and tossed it onto the table in front of James.

“Effective today, your position as project team leader is officially revoked,” Edward continued without hesitation.

“All management and decision-making authority now falls under Allana's control.”

He paused.

“You're relieved of your duties.”

James froze.

His eyes widened as he stared at the board resolution lying on the table.

“Dad... You're firing me because of this woman?! I'm your son!”

“A son who has forgotten his place,” Edward cut in coldly.

“Get out of my office before I order the guards to throw you out.”

James clenched his fists tightly.

Resentment and fury burned in his eyes as he looked between Edward and me.

Without another word, he grabbed Rose's hand and stormed out of the meeting room, slamming the door behind him.

I finally exhaled the breath I'd been holding.

Satisfaction surged through my veins, but I knew this wasn't over yet.

Edward released his arm from my waist and turned to face me.

“You've won the first round, Allana,” Edward said quietly, his fingers gently smoothing a strand of hair near my ear.

“This is only the beginning,” I replied firmly.

Edward's lips curved into a rigid, mysterious smile.

He lowered his head, closing the distance between our faces until his warm breath brushed against my lips.

“How about we celebrate your little victory in my office?”

His voice was low, his gray eyes fixed on my lips with unmistakable anticipation.