Luna's POV
The days continued to pass in tense silence. I avoided Alexander as much as I could, burying myself in books, long walks in the garden, and anything that kept me far from his suffocating presence. But no matter how hard I tried to block him out, his words lingered, gnawing at my resolve.
You're mine for as long as I decide you're useful. Nothing more.
They replayed in my mind like a cruel mantra, each repetition tightening the knot of anger and hurt in my chest. I had told myself I didn't care anymore, but the truth was, I did. I cared far too much.
That evening, Helen brought a note to my room.
"Mr. Cole requests your presence in the study," she said, her tone cautious.
I stared at the slip of paper in her hand, my pulse quickening. He never "requested" anything. His orders were always blunt, unyielding. This was different, and that difference set me on edge.
With a nod, I took the note and rose, smoothing my dress before following Helen down the hall.
When I entered the study, Alexander was seated at his desk, his attention on a stack of papers. He looked up as I closed the door behind me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.
"You called for me," I said, keeping my voice neutral.
He leaned back in his chair, studying me in that unnervingly thorough way of his. "Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.
I obeyed, my heart pounding as I sank into the leather seat.
For a moment, he said nothing, his eyes flickering over me as though trying to gauge my mood. Then he folded his hands on the desk, his expression unreadable.
"I've been reviewing the terms of our arrangement," he said, his tone cool and businesslike.
I stiffened, my mind racing. "What about them?"
He tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into a faint, almost mocking smile. "You've been distant, Luna. Detached. That's not what I agreed to."
I bristled at his words, my temper flaring despite my best efforts to stay composed. "You agreed to treat me like a possession, Alexander. That's exactly what you're getting."
His jaw tightened, but his calm demeanor didn't falter. "And yet you seem intent on punishing me for it."
I leaned forward, my voice shaking with suppressed emotion. "Punishing you? Do you even hear yourself? You stripped me of every ounce of dignity I had and reduced me to nothing more than a toy for your amusement. Forgive me if I'm not exactly enthusiastic about playing my role."
His eyes darkened, and I saw the flash of anger there before he leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't forget why you're here, Luna. You made this choice. You came to me, knowing full well what you were agreeing to. If you're unhappy with the arrangement, you're free to leave."
The words hit me like a slap, but I refused to back down. "Do you think it's that simple? That I can just walk away and pretend none of this ever happened? You've trapped me, Alexander. You've made sure I have no other choice."
For the first time, his mask seemed to crack, and I thought I saw a flicker of something—guilt, maybe, or regret. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Then stop fighting me," he said quietly. "Accept what this is."
I stared at him, my heart aching at the coldness in his tone. "And what is this, Alexander? What am I to you, really?"
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the desk for a fraction of a second before meeting mine again. "You're exactly what you agreed to be. Nothing more."
The finality of his words was like a dagger to my chest, and I felt my composure slipping. I rose abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor.
"Then maybe you should find someone who's better at playing the part," I said, my voice trembling with emotion.
I turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me before the tears could fall.
Alexander's POV
The door slammed shut, and I sat there in the silence, the echo of her words ringing in my ears.
You've trapped me… You should find someone better at playing the part.
She didn't understand. How could she?
I had built walls around myself so high, so impenetrable, that no one could break through. And yet Luna—defiant, infuriating, captivating Luna—was chipping away at them without even trying.
Every argument, every tear, every flash of fire in her eyes made it harder to keep her at a distance. But I had to. Letting her in would mean exposing the parts of myself I had spent years hiding.
And that was a risk I wasn't willing to take.
I picked up the glass of whiskey on my desk, the amber liquid swirling as I stared into the firelight.
She'll come around, I told myself. She always does.
But a nagging voice in the back of my mind whispered a different truth.
What if she doesn't?