All Chapters of The Cage Between Us : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Alex Rivera stormed through the revolving glass doors of Vale Tower at 7:42 a.m. briefcase gripped tightly like a weapon. The marble lobby shone under lights but the atmosphere already felt heavy on his chest. He had not even sat at his desk yet and the knot in his stomach told him this job might kill him before the first paycheck cleared."Mr. Rivera." A crisp voice cut through the morning rush. A tall woman in a tailored suit blocked his path. "Mr. Vale wants to see you away. Top floor. Do not keep him waiting."Alexs jaw tightened. "I start at eight. My contract says orientation first." He thought to himself _What is going on here?_The womans expression did not change. "Mr. Vale does not care what your contract says. Elevator on the left. Now." She seemed to be enjoying the power she had over him.He exhaled sharply. Headed for the private lift. His heart was racing. He stepped inside. Watched the numbers climb. Forty floors of steel and silence. When the doors opened another assi

Alex did not sleep much. He could still taste Rowan on his lips. It was a sharp reminder of the man. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling of his apartment thinking about what happened in the office. He thought about the way Rowan grabbed his tie and the way their mouths crashed together. He thought about the look on Rowans face the one moment when he seemed human.By five thirty Alex got out of bed. Headed back to Vale Tower. The city was still dark. The building was already busy. Alex kept his head down in the elevator trying to avoid the glances from his coworkers. They had probably heard the rumors by now.Soon as he sat down at his desk the phone rang."Rivera, my office bring the files " Rowan said, his voice firm and cold.Alex gripped the receiver tightly. " Morning to you too " he said, trying to sound calm."Do not test me today " Rowan. Then he hung up.Alex gathered his things. Headed to Rowans office. The private floor was quiet. It felt heavy. When he got to the office Ro

Alex stood frozen in the penthouse bedroom. The glow of Rowans phone cast shadows on their faces. The video played on loop in his mind even after the screen went dark. Their bodies were entangled against the desk. The raw sounds were captured clearly. It was not just evidence it was a weapon. It was aimed at the heart of whatever they had started building.Rowan stared at the device in his hand. It was like it had grown fangs. His usual steel composure was cracked open. "Elias " he whispered. The name scraped out like gravel. "He is alive. That message. Little brother. Only he called me that."Alex set the phone down on the nightstand. He reached for Rowans shoulder. The muscle beneath his fingers felt rigid. "We do not know that for sure " Alex said. "It could be someone using his name to mess with your head."Rowan shrugged the touch off. He paced to the window. City lights stretched below like an audience. "You do not understand " Rowan said. "The phrasing. The timing. He always kn

The penthouse was really quiet at night. It was like every little sound was louder than it should be. The fridge was. I could hear the traffic way down below. The building would creak sometimes like it was settling in. Alex was lying on his back in the bed staring at the ceiling. There were patterns of light on it from the city outside. Rowans arm was across his waist, warm and heavy. They were not asleep yet.Rowan. Said, "You are thinking too much." His voice was rough from the day.Alex turned his head to look at Rowan. In the light Rowans face looked softer. He did not look as sharp as he usually did. "It is hard not to think " Alex said. "Yesterday I was in my small apartment. Now I am in the CEOs bed because someone is blackmailing us with videos."Rowan laughed quietly. It was not a happy laugh. He pulled Alex close until their foreheads were almost touching. "Say it like this: it is our bed for now. It does not sound so bad then.""It still feels like a trap " Alex said quietl

Rowan opened the penthouse door after midnight. His shoulders felt heavy from an evening of meetings with security consultants. The board had been asking a lot of questions about the leaks. Victor had been smiling much. Rowan was worried that Elias would do something while he was away.The living room was dark. Rowan stopped in the doorway. Loosened his tie. Then he saw Alex sleeping on the couch. Alex was still wearing his work clothes. His arm was hanging off the edge of the couch and his fingers were touching the floor. His face looked peaceful. He had lines on his forehead from worrying. There was a glass of water and a laptop on the coffee table. Alex had been waiting up for Rowan.Rowan felt something in his chest. He stood there for a while watching Alex breathe. No one had ever waited for him like this before. They had always been waiting because they had to not because they wanted to.Rowan took off his jacket. Put it on a chair. He knelt down beside the couch. Gently brushed