After she calmed down, Anna sat awkwardly on Alexander's lap, her body tense and trembling. She had resisted at first, insisting she could sit elsewhere, but he had silenced her protests with a firm look and effortlessly pulled her onto him. His arms wrapped securely around her, enveloping her in warmth she hadn't known in years.
"Relax," he muttered, his voice low and commanding.
But relaxing was the last thing she could do. She stared at her hands, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress as she tried to steady her breathing.
"Speak," Alexander said, his tone soft but leaving no room for hesitation.
Anna hesitated, her lips trembling as she struggled to find the words. The memories she'd buried deep were clawing their way to the surface, threatening to overwhelm her. She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath before finally speaking.
"When I was younger," she began softly, her voice barely audible, "I was so hungry one night. My uncle and aunt… they refused to feed me because I hadn't finished all my chores."
Alexander's arms tightened slightly around her, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he listened.
"I couldn't take it anymore," she continued, her voice trembling. "So, I snuck into the kitchen and stole a piece of bread. Just one piece. I thought… I thought no one would notice."
Her body began to shake as the memories became more vivid. Alexander's hand moved to her back, rubbing soothing circles as she spoke.
"But they did notice," Anna whispered, her voice breaking. "They caught me. And instead of scolding me or… or punishing me like normal people, they…" She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "They brought out a dog. A big one. They let it loose in the dark compound and told it to chase me."
Her body trembled violently, and Alexander's arms tightened around her protectively. "Keep going," he urged, his voice low and calm, though his jaw clenched with suppressed anger.
"I ran as fast as I could," Anna said, her voice cracking. "But it caught me. It bit me so hard… I thought it was going to kill me." Her small hands clutched at Alexander's shirt as she buried her face against his chest, the shame and fear of that night consuming her. "They didn't even treat me. They didn't care. It was an old woman from the neighborhood who found me crying the next morning. She cleaned the wound and gave me some food."
Alexander's hand moved up to her hair, his fingers gently brushing through the strands as he hugged her closer. "That's enough," he said softly, his voice laced with quiet fury.
Anna shook her head, her voice barely a whisper now. "I never forgot the fear. The pain. I can't… I can't be near dogs now. They terrify me."
She tilted her head up slightly, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting his. "Please, Mr. Boss," she pleaded. "Can your dog never come near me again? I know it's just an animal, but—"
"You don't have to justify your fear," Alexander interrupted, his tone sharp but gentle.
Anna buried her face back against his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. "Thank you," she whispered. "I… I don't want to be a burden, but—"
"You're not a burden," Alexander cut in, his voice firm. He paused for a moment before sighing deeply. "No one will treat you like one again. Not while you're here."
She nodded slightly, her body still trembling. Alexander reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone with one hand while keeping her securely cradled in his lap.
With one swift motion, he typed a message and sent it. Anna didn't notice at first, too lost in her emotions, but when he placed the phone down, she glanced up at him, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"What did you do?" she asked hesitantly.
He looked down at her, his piercing gaze unwavering. "The dog is being dealt with," he said simply.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Dealt with? What do you mean?"
"It's being put down," Alexander replied bluntly.
Anna gasped, her hands clutching his shirt tightly. "No! You don't have to do that! It's not the dog's fault!"
Alexander leaned closer, his face mere inches from hers as he spoke in a low, commanding tone. "It doesn't matter. Nothing that frightens you or causes you pain will remain in this house. Not as long as you're here."
Anna stared at him, her heart pounding. She didn't know how to respond. His words were both comforting and terrifying.
"Now," he said softly, his arms adjusting to hold her more securely, "rest."
She hesitated, unsure of what to do, but his steady embrace and the warmth of his presence made it impossible to resist. Slowly, she let herself relax against him, her head resting on his chest as his hand moved to her back once more.
As her tears began to subside, Anna mumbled softly, her voice barely audible. "Thank you… Mr. Boss."
Alexander's lips twitched at her nickname for him, but he said nothing. He simply held her, his gaze darkening as he thought of the pain she had endured.
Anna felt a small sense of safety. And for the first time, Alexander realized just how much he wanted to protect the fragile girl trembling in his arms.