All Chapters of UNDER HIS RULES: Trapped in his game: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Mr. Sanders... Mr. Sanders..." I lifted my eyes to the man sitting across from me. He'd been talking for the last ten minutes, repeating the same numbers in different ways, hoping one of them would impress me. He let out a nervous laugh and adjusted his tie. "I'm sorry... maybe I wasn't clear." "I can go over it again if you'd like.” Of course you would. I leaned back and watched him. His fingers moved nervously against the leather file in his lap. His eyes moved between me and the expensive, minimalist design of my office, as if the walls themselves could give him approval. He wanted my approval. I wasn't interested in giving it. He was the type of man who would worship me if I gave him the chance. “I’ll get back to you,” I said flatly, closing the file in front of me with a deliberate snap and waving my hand dismissively. Relief flooded his face instantly, lifting the tension from his shoulders. “Oh sure, absolutely! We look forward to hearing from you,” he said eagerl

When the elevator doors slid open on the third floor, the ambient sound of ringing phones, clicking keyboards, and low, hurried murmurs hit me like a physical wall. Marcus didn't say a word as he led me down the central carpeted aisle.As we walked past the rows of modular desks, the busy chatter of the floor systematically died down.Heads turned. A heavy, collective silence followed us down the corridor. I could feel the weight of their stares pressed against my skin—apprehensive, deeply curious, and laced with a distinct, wicked hostility. In a global empire like Kael Industries, news traveled at terminal velocity. They knew exactly who I was. They knew about the ruined record, the trail of terminations, and the fact that I had bypassed every standard corporate protocol to end up here.The looks they gave me made it clear they thought I didn't belong in their pristine tower.I didn't flinch. I kept my stride smooth and my gaze fixed straight ahead.If they expected me to shr

I reached for the folder, my fingers hovering over its cold surface. What game was Kaelen Sanders playing? And why did I have the feeling I was walking straight into a trap? I don't know what I was expecting. Encrypted files, evidence of bribery tucked between the pages. Instead, I found page after page of ordinary corporate records. I flipped through the pages while Kaelen stared at me without saying a word. The silence stretched long enough to become uncomfortable. ​When I reached the last page, I closed the folder and looked up. ​"These numbers are clean," I said, my voice deadpan. ​"Go on," Kaelen urged. ​"That's the problem. They're too perfect." I tapped the report. "No company this size has books that look like this. There are always small mistakes, rounding errors, damaged inventory, exchange-rate differences. But this?" I looked back at him. "Someone polished these records until they looked flawless. That's what makes them suspicious.” ​A minute passed. ​"S

By nine o'clock, word had already spread that Kaelen Sanders was in one of his moods.The door to his office had been left open all morning, a habit that usually meant someone was about to have a very unpleasant day.Marcus knocked once on the glass door."Come in."He stepped inside with a thick file tucked beneath his arm."You asked for the overnight access reports."Kaelen was standing by the window with his back to the room. He reached for the file without turning around.For a while, the only sound in the office was the soft rustle of paper.Marcus shifted his weight.Kaelen finally looked up."Three people accessed the logistics floor after business hours.""Yes.""Who approved it?"Marcus hesitated."The system logged it as scheduled maintenance.""Hm."Kaelen flipped another page."And the server room?""There was a cooling spike around nine-fifteen."He looked at Marcus again."Does that happen during routine maintenance?""...No."Another page."Three hard copies of the reg

Kaelen drove through the gates, following the familiar path toward the mansion.He didn't come here often. Every visit reminded him why. The mansion hadn't changed. It still stood there, cold and imposing, like it had been waiting for him all along.The incidents at Kael Industries had left him with only one conclusion. If anyone was behind them, Adrian was the first person he'd look at.He parked the car, killed the engine, and walked up the stone steps.Before he could reach the knocker, the heavy door swung open.An older butler stood in the doorway, dressed in a neatly pressed black suit. He stepped aside as soon as he saw Kaelen."Good evening, Master Kaelen," the butler said, stepping aside.Kaelen unbuttoned his suit jacket and handed it over. "Is he in, Victor?”"Master Adrian is in the study, sir," Victor said as he took the coat. "Would you like something to drink?”"No. Just give us the room.”"Of course, sir." Victor took the coat and left.Kaelen made his way upstairs and