Chapter 5 : Say you are mine

The library was supposed to be safe

Alex got there at five in the morning, before anyone, before the sun, before Troy could wake up

He sat in the back of the economics section with a wall of books around him, folders spread everywhere, trying to focus

It didn’t work

His phone was face down on the desk, it buzzed and he jumped

_Devil Brother_

He didn’t open it, he deleted it, but he could still see the words

He reached up and checked his collar, every button done, fabric rubbing against the mark on his neck

His hips still hurt

"you’re losing it" Alex whispered "just focus"

The chair across from him scraped

Alex looked up, ready to see Troy

It was Stolas

Of course it was Stolas

Dark suit, glasses, perfect, Harrison Industries heir, the only person who ever beat Alex for first

"you’re early" Stolas said "doors just opened and you’re already camped"

"I have a meeting at Morrison Global" Alex said "I didn’t want distractions"

"distractions" Stolas smiled a little "wise, especially with the rumors this morning, Silas fast-tracked you to the board, that’s new for a stepson"

Alex’s jaw tightened "Silas values results, it has nothing to do with family"

"of course" Stolas said, setting his bag down "discipline is your thing, you’re predictable, precise, that’s why I like competing with you"

He paused and looked at Alex’s collar

"which is why you’re interesting today"

"What" Alex said

"You didn’t touch your coffee" Stolas nodded to the cup "it’s cold, you’re sitting like you’re bracing for impact, and it’s eighty degrees and you’re buttoned to your throat, you look like you’re holding something together"

"I’m tired" Alex said "didn’t sleep"

"I bet" Stolas leaned forward "I was at The Vault Saturday, hosting investors upstairs"

Alex went cold

"I didn’t see you downstairs" Stolas said, voice low "but I did see Troy, leaving the VIP hallway with Paxton, he looked like a man who just claimed something he’d been hunting"

Alex couldn’t breathe "Troy’s business isn’t mine"

"isn’t it" Stolas picked up a paper from Alex’s stack, his fingers brushed Alex’s hand, cold "you’re a bad liar Alex, you look like you’re carrying something heavy, and we both know Troy doesn’t leave things whole, if he’s the reason you look like this you need to be careful, he doesn’t want you to succeed, he wants you to break"

Alex pulled the paper back "I’m not breaking, and I don’t need your warnings, focus on your own internship"

Stolas sat back "if you say so, but when walls fall the foundation doesn’t usually survive"

Silence

For two hours they didn’t talk, Stolas wrote, Alex stared at numbers he couldn’t read

_he claimed territory, he wants you to break_

By noon Alex couldn’t take it, he packed his briefcase and stood

"leaving" Stolas asked without looking up

"meeting at two" Alex said "I’m going early"

"good habit"

Alex walked out, down the steps, into the heat

He needed the train, thirty minutes alone to put his mask back on

Tires screeched

A black sports car skidded to the curb at the bottom of the library steps

The window rolled down

Alex stopped breathing

Troy

One hand on the wheel, sunglasses off, dark polo, jaw tight

He had never come to campus, not once

"get in little brother" Troy said "we’re going to the meeting together"

Alex just stared

Students were watching

"did you hear me" Troy said "get in"

Alex walked down the steps slowly

As he got to the curb the library doors opened behind him

Stolas

He stopped on the top step, briefcase in one hand, and saw it

Troy saw him too

Their eyes met

It was instant, sharp, rivalry

Stolas’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes went cold

Troy’s mouth twitched, like he knew exactly who was watching

"problem" Troy called up to Stolas, casual "or are you just here to watch"

Stolas didn’t answer, he just looked at Alex, then back at Troy

"Alex" Stolas said "you don’t have to go with him"

Alex froze

"actually he does" Troy said, still looking at Stolas "family meeting, right Alex"

Alex didn’t move

Stolas took one step down "you look tired Alex, are you sure you’re okay"

"I’m fine" Alex said fast

"you don’t look fine" Stolas said

"he’s fine" Troy said, voice dropping "get in the car Alex, now"

Alex looked between them

Stolas was offering an out, Troy was offering a cage

He hated both of them for it

Alex opened the passenger door and got in

Troy peeled away from the curb

In the mirror Alex saw Stolas still standing on the steps, watching

---

The car was silent for a block

Then Troy laughed "that was fun"

"What was that" Alex said

"what" Troy glanced at him "just saying hi to your academic rival"

"You did that on purpose"

"maybe" Troy said "you didn’t have to get in, you could’ve gone with Prince Harrison"

"I don’t owe him anything"

"good" Troy said "because you owe me"

Alex turned to the window "I don’t owe you anything either"

Troy reached over and grabbed Alex’s chin, turned his face back "look at me when I’m talking to you"

Alex jerked away "don’t touch me"

"or what" Troy said "you’ll tell Stolas, you’ll tell dad, you’ll cry in the library"

"shut up"

"make me" Troy said

Alex didn’t

They hit a red light

Troy took off his sunglasses "you looked good in there, all buttoned up, very responsible, very Alex"

"stop"

"stop what" Troy said "complimenting you, noticing you"

"you know what"

"I don’t" Troy said "say it"

Alex stared straight ahead "don’t touch me at work"

Troy laughed "we’re not at work yet"

"we will be in twenty minutes"

"then I guess we have twenty minutes" Troy said and put his hand on Alex’s thigh

Alex slapped it off "I said don’t"

Troy put it back "and I said we have twenty minutes"

The light turned green

"pull over" Alex said

"no"

"pull over Troy"

"why, you want to fight" Troy said "fine, fight me, but you’re still coming to the meeting"

Alex grabbed the door handle "let me out"

Troy locked the doors "no"

"you’re insane"

"I’m your stepbrother" Troy said "that’s worse"

They drove in silence again until they hit the gates of Morrison Global

The building was glass and steel, forty floors

Troy parked in the executive garage

He killed the engine and turned to Alex "here’s how this works"

"I don’t want to hear it"

"You’re going to hear it" Troy said "you’re going to walk in there, you’re going to be perfect, and you’re not going to look at anyone but me"

"that’s not—"

"it is" Troy cut him off "because last night you were mine, and this morning you were mine, and right now you’re mine, got it"

Alex didn’t answer

Troy grabbed his tie and pulled him in "I said got it"

"got it" Alex said

Troy let go "good boy"

They got out

The elevator was empty

Troy hit 40

Silence

Then Troy stepped behind Alex and leaned in, mouth by his ear "you’re shaking"

"I’m not"

"you are" Troy whispered "is it because of me or because of Harrison seeing us"

"neither"

"liar" Troy said "you liked that he saw, you liked that he knows you’re not as clean as you pretend"

Alex turned fast "I don’t—"

Troy pinned him to the elevator wall "shh, cameras"

Alex froze

The doors opened

The executive floor

Silas was there, talking to two board members

"ah, there you are" Silas smiled "Alex, Troy, perfect timing"

Alex stepped away from Troy and straightened his jacket "morning Silas"

"morning son" Silas said "this is Daniel from risk, and Mara from strategy, they’ll be working with you this summer"

"nice to meet you" Alex shook hands, voice steady

Troy leaned against the wall "I’m just here to observe"

"you don’t work here Troy" Silas said

"I know" Troy said "but little brother might need supervision"

One of the board members laughed "family business"

Alex wanted to disappear

They walked into the conference room, glass walls, long table

Alex sat down and opened his briefcase, hands steady

Troy sat next to him

Under the table Troy’s foot found Alex’s ankle

Alex kicked it away

Troy put it back

The meeting started

Silas talked about quarterly projections, risk models, expansion plans

Alex took notes, answered questions, he was good, he was sharp

Troy didn’t say anything, he just watched

Every time Alex looked up Troy was looking at him

Halfway through Mara said "Alex, what do you think about the exposure in sector 4"

Alex answered, clear, precise

"impressive" Daniel said "Silas wasn’t exaggerating"

"he never does" Troy said

Silas shot him a look

After an hour the meeting ended

"great work Alex" Silas said "you’ll shadow Daniel this week"

"thank you" Alex said

Everyone stood, started filing out

Troy hung back

When it was just them Troy turned to Alex "you did good"

"I know"

"you’re welcome" Troy said

"for what"

"for not embarrassing you" Troy said "I could’ve"

Alex grabbed his briefcase "I have to go, Daniel wants me to look at files"

"fine" Troy said "but we’re riding home together"

"I’ll take the train"

"No you won’t" Troy said "car’s downstairs, be there in ten or I’m coming up here to get you"

Alex left without answering

He spent the next hour with Daniel, going over reports, trying not to think about Troy waiting

At 4:30 he went down

Troy was in the car, engine running

Alex got in

"was it fun" Troy asked "playing perfect employee"

"yes" Alex said

"good" Troy said "keep doing it"

They drove

Halfway home Troy said "Harrison texted me"

Alex looked over "what"

"said he’s concerned about you" Troy said "said you looked like you were being forced into something"

Alex’s stomach dropped "what did you say"

"I said you’re exactly where you want to be" Troy said "and then I sent him a picture"

Alex went cold "what picture"

Troy held up his phone, screen facing Alex

It was from last night, Alex on the couch, shirt open, blindfold around his neck, face turned away

Alex lunged for it "delete that"

Troy pulled it away "no"

"delete it now" Alex said "Troy please"

"say please again" Troy said

"please"

"louder"

"please delete it" Alex said, voice breaking

Troy looked at him "no"

Alex sat back, shaking

"You wanted to play" Troy said "this is the game, you wanted to be ruined, now you live with it"

"We’re at a stoplight" Alex said "people can see"

"let them" Troy said

The light turned green

They drove the rest of the way in silence

At the house Troy parked and got out

Alex sat there

Troy opened his door "you coming"

Alex got out

Inside the house was empty, Bridget and Silas were out

Troy followed Alex upstairs

Alex went to his room and closed the door

Troy opened it "we’re not done"

"We are" Alex said

"We’re not" Troy said "not until you say you want this"

"I don’t"

"then why didn’t you get in Harrison’s car" Troy said "why didn’t you tell Silas, why didn’t you run"

Alex didn’t have an answer

Troy stepped in and closed the door "that’s what I thought"

He walked to Alex and cupped his face "say it"

"say what"

"say you’re mine"

Alex shook his head

Troy’s thumb brushed his cheek "say it Alex"

Alex closed his eyes "I’m yours"

"good" Troy whispered "now we can stop pretending"