Chapter 4: Living with the Enemy

He just stood there.

I pressed my ear against the door, breath held tight. Alexander’s shadow stretched under the gap at the bottom. Then his footsteps finally moved away. Slow. Heavy.

I let out a shaky breath and changed into the silk nightgown someone had packed for me. Sleep didn’t come easy. Every time I closed my eyes I saw his face when he read that contract.

Morning light hit the huge windows. I woke up early, heart already racing. I slipped on a simple white blouse and black pants I found in the closet. Nothing fancy. I wanted to disappear.

I crept out of the guest room and headed toward the kitchen. The penthouse smelled like fresh coffee. Alexander stood at the marble island in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up, typing on his laptop.

“Morning,” I said quietly, reaching for a mug.

He didn’t look up. “You’re supposed to stay in your room until I leave.”

I froze with the mug halfway to the machine. “I’m just getting coffee. I won’t bother you.”

Alexander finally glanced at me. His grey eyes were flat. “Rule number one was clear. Separate everything. That includes mornings.”

I poured the coffee anyway. My hands shook a little. “I’m not a prisoner, Alexander. I still need to eat and breathe.”

He closed the laptop with a snap. “You’re whatever I say you are right now. Yesterday you were the wrong bride. Today you’re the inconvenience living in my house.”

I set the mug down hard. Hot coffee splashed over my fingers. “I didn’t ask to be here. You could at least act civil.”

“Civil?” He laughed once, sharp. “You tricked me in front of three hundred people. You made me say vows to the wrong woman. Civil is the last thing you deserve.”

I wiped my hand on a towel. “I told you why I did it. My family—”

“Your family can rot for all I care,” he cut in. “Right now the only thing keeping them afloat is me not kicking you out on the street.”

The words landed like a slap. I stared at him. “You really enjoy this, don’t you? Making me feel small.”

Alexander walked around the island until he stood right in front of me. Close enough that I had to tilt my head up. “I enjoy control, Emma. And you took that from me yesterday. So yes. I’m going to enjoy reminding you every single day that you’re the mistake I’m stuck with.”

My chest hurt. I looked away. “Fine. I’ll stay in the room. Happy?”

“No.” He caught my chin and forced my eyes back to his. “I want you uncomfortable. I want you to feel exactly how trapped we both are.”

I jerked my face free. “Then why didn’t you just annul it and take the loss? You’re rich enough.”

“Because losing two hundred and fifty million dollars isn’t something even I laugh off,” he said. “And because watching you squirm feels better than money.”

I stepped back until I hit the counter. “You’re cruel.”

“Welcome to your new life, wife.”

He grabbed his suit jacket and headed for the door. “Marcus is coming by later to drop off some papers. Don’t talk to him longer than necessary. And stay out of my office.”

I followed him a few steps. “Wait. What am I supposed to do all day?”

Alexander paused at the door. “Whatever rich wives do. Shop. Paint. I don’t care. Just don’t make headlines.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

I stood there in the huge empty penthouse. My coffee had gone cold. I dumped it in the sink and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city stretched out below like it belonged to him.

My phone buzzed. Dad.

I answered fast. “Hey.”

“Emma, sweetheart. How’s the honeymoon?” His voice sounded tired but hopeful.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s… fine. Alexander is busy with work.”

“Good, good. The merger papers went through this morning. We’re safe because of you. I’m so proud.”

Proud. The word made my stomach twist. “Dad… this is harder than I thought.”

He went quiet for a second. “I know, baby. But you’re strong. Just play along for a while. Everything will settle.”

Play along. That’s what everyone wanted me to do.

I ended the call and wandered into the living room. A big canvas leaned against one wall with some paints beside it. Someone must have put them there for me. I touched the brushes but couldn’t bring myself to pick them up.

Hours passed. I stayed in my room most of the time like he wanted.

The front door opened around four. Marcus walked in carrying a folder, grinning like always.

“Hey, Mrs. Voss! How’s married life treating you?”

I forced a small smile. “It’s… different.”

Marcus dropped the folder on the table. “Alexander asked me to bring these. Just some updated merger docs. He said you don’t need to read them.”

I glanced at the folder. “Of course he did.”

Marcus studied me. “You okay? You look like you haven’t slept.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just adjusting.”

He leaned against the counter. “Look, I know Alexander can be intense. But he’s not all bad. Give him time.”

“Time?” I let out a bitter laugh. “He told me this morning he wants me to feel trapped. Those were his exact words.”

Marcus rubbed the back of his neck. “Damn. He’s still pissed about the switch, huh?”

“Pissed is an understatement.”

The door opened again. Alexander walked in, loosening his tie. His eyes landed on me and Marcus standing close.

“What are you doing?” he asked, voice low.

Marcus straightened. “Just dropping the papers like you asked, man.”

Alexander looked at me. “I told you not to talk to him longer than necessary.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Save it.” He turned to Marcus. “You can go.”

Marcus gave me a sympathetic look and left.

The second the door closed Alexander turned on me. “Can’t even follow one simple rule on the first day?”

“I was being polite,” I said. “He brought papers for you.”

He stepped closer. “Polite gets you in trouble here. Remember that.”

I lifted my chin. “You can’t keep me locked away like some doll, Alexander. I’ll go crazy.”

“Good,” he said softly. “Maybe then you’ll understand what you did to me.”

He walked past me toward his office.

I stood there, fists tight at my sides. “I hate this. I hate you.”

He stopped at the office door and looked back. “Keep telling yourself that, Emma. Maybe one day it’ll be true.”

Then he shut the office door. The sound echoed through the penthouse.

I sank onto the sofa and buried my face in my hands.

Tomorrow he was taking me to the office for some board thing. I already dreaded it.

But right now I heard him on the phone through the wall. His voice carried.

“Yes, move the board meeting to ten. And make sure Emma sits in. I want her to see exactly what she married into.”

My stomach dropped.

He wasn’t done punishing me. Not even close.