~LEXI~
Alessandro 'Alex' Esposito moved with a lethal kind of grace—tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair falling messily over his forehead, as though he had little concern for the usual polish of his appearance. His olive skin gleamed under the dim lighting, his jawline sharp and strong—features that, despite his youth, carried an unmistakable weight of authority. His green eyes scanned the room with a calculating, almost predatory intensity.
He wore a tailored black suit, the fabric sharp, the cut smooth, clearly a product of his father's taste for luxury and power. But there was something more dangerous about Alex—a coldness that seemed to seep from his every movement. His steps were purposeful, controlled. Without speaking, he commanded the room, and the men around him seemed to shrink in his presence.
When his gaze flicked over me, I felt the weight of it—like he could see every thought in my head, every lie, every hesitation. His eyes lingered, assessing, coldly calculating. I swallowed hard, trying not to show how much his stare unnerved me.
He said nothing for a moment, letting the tension hang heavy in the air. Then, in his deep, clipped voice, he spoke:
"So," he said, colder than ice, "what's this about you getting lost near my office? Who are you?"
I lifted my chin, summoning courage I didn't feel. "Just a guest who got a little turned around," I replied, keeping my tone steady.
Alex's lips twisted into a faint smirk. "Funny, because I don't remember inviting you."
"Maybe I'm just good at crashing parties," I replied, even as my pulse hammered.
His smirk flickered, but only for a moment. He stepped closer, his gaze locked on mine, as if he could read every secret I'd ever kept. The distance between us felt like an ocean, and yet somehow, suffocatingly small. "You don't seem like the type to wander into private quarters by accident. So let's try this again... who sent you?"
I forced a casual shrug, trying to mask the pounding in my chest. "I'm here alone. Is it such a crime to want a little adventure?"
His eyes narrowed. "In my world, curiosity can get you killed."
A shiver ran through me, but I held his stare. "Then maybe you should let me go," I replied, keeping my tone light, despite the cold sweat starting to form. "I'll forget I ever wandered into your fancy mansion."
He chuckled, dark and low, as though the idea of me simply walking out was absurd. "I don't think it's that simple."
He glanced at the men behind me. "Search her."
Panic flared in my chest as two of the henchmen stepped forward, their hands rough and unrelenting as they began patting down my dress. Their fingers grazed the fabric, their touch like fire against my skin, and my stomach twisted into knots. In seconds, one of them held up my phone triumphantly, his grin wide with victory.
"Look what the lady was carrying," he said, handing it to Alex.
Alex's face darkened as he inspected the phone, his gaze flicking between the device and me. "Seems our 'lost guest' was doing more than admiring the decor," he murmured, his gaze returning to mine, colder than before.
My stomach twisted, but I fought to keep my expression calm. "I'm here alone," I repeated, desperately trying to keep my voice steady.
He studied me, his eyes cold, calculating. "You're lying. But maybe… we can find a use for you."
I blinked, caught off guard. "A... a use?"
Alex ignored my words, turning instead to his men, and a chill ran down my spine.
My heart raced, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. He didn't want me dead—not yet. If I played this right, maybe I'd get out of here alive. He gestured to his men. "Keep a close eye on her. If she tries anything… you know what to do."
They nodded, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of control. I clenched my fists, searching for any shred of hope, even as the reality of my situation sank in. I was surrounded, outnumbered, and deep in enemy territory. But if Alex thought he'd broken me, he was wrong.
—
The room felt like it was closing in on me, the darkness pressing closer with every second that ticked by. I had been left here for hours, alone with nothing but the cold, sterile walls and the heavy weight of silence to keep me company. I shifted against the ropes binding my wrists to the chair, the rough fibers digging into my skin as I tried to ease the ache that had settled deep in my bones.
Alex Esposito—the man who thought he could use me as a pawn—was about to learn the hard way that I wasn't the type to be easily manipulated.
The door creaked open, and I turned my head just as Alex strode in, his every movement radiating the kind of detached confidence that only someone like him could pull off. He barely spared me a glance, his eyes sweeping the room like he was appraising a piece of his personal collection. Immaculate suit. Ice-cold demeanor. He looked every bit the ruthless heir to the Esposito empire—and he knew it.
"Comfortable?" he asked, his lips twisting into a mocking smile that didn't reach his cold eyes.
I snorted, rolling my eyes despite the ache in my wrists. "Could use a drink. Mind untying me?"
Alex didn't answer. He just leaned against the wall, crossing his arms like he had all the time in the world. The quiet in the room was thick, pressing in on me. The only sound was the soft creak of the wall behind him. The smell of old leather mixed with a faint trace of cigar smoke hung in the air, making the space feel even heavier.
His silence dragged on, each second more unnerving than the last, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of looking away. The tension between us was palpable, thick enough to choke on. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice smooth, calm—too calm.
"You want to play this game, Lexi?" He let the name roll off his tongue like a dare. "Or should I call you… Agent Thompson?"
My pulse skipped a beat, and for a moment, the sound of my heart pounding in my ears nearly drowned out his words. So, he knew. My cover was blown, the lie I'd been holding onto shattered in an instant. The weight of it hit me, cold as the air surrounding us. A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I fought to keep my composure.