Chapter Seven: Bound to Him
1095 Words
Alina gripped the edge of the table so hard her knuckles turned white.
Nicholas Vaughn had done the unthinkable.
He had bought the company she worked for.
It wasn’t enough that he had haunted her thoughts for the last four years. That the very sound of his voice still had the power to send shivers down her spine.
No.
Now, he was in control of her career, her livelihood, her entire future.
She forced herself to breathe, her mind scrambling for an escape. There had to be a way out. A loophole.
Something. Anything.
Nicholas watched her carefully, his expression unreadable. “You look like you’re about to pass out, sweetheart.”
Alina snapped her gaze to his, anger bubbling in her chest. “You had no right.”
Nicholas tilted his head. “Didn’t I?”
Her nails dug into her palms. “You can’t do this.”
“I already did.”
Her heart pounded. “I’ll quit.”
Nicholas exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “You won’t.”
“I will.”
He leaned forward, his eyes glinting with amusement. “You love your job, Alina. You worked hard to get to where you are. Are you really willing to throw all of that away?”
Her throat tightened.
He wasn’t wrong.
She had sacrificed for this job. Late nights, early mornings. She had climbed her way up, proving herself in an industry that wasn’t kind to women.
She had built a life.
And now, Nicholas had placed himself at the center of it.
He was playing a game she couldn’t afford to lose.
Alina’s hands trembled as she reached for her purse. “This is insane.”
Nicholas smiled. “You should know by now, sweetheart—I don’t play fair.”
She pushed her chair back and stood. “I’m leaving.”
Nicholas didn’t stop her.
Didn’t reach for her.
But just as she turned to walk away, he spoke, his voice dangerously soft.
“You walk away from me now, and tomorrow morning, you’ll find out just how ruthless I can be.”
Alina froze.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest.
Slowly, she turned back to him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Nicholas leaned back in his chair, exuding effortless control. “It means, Alina, that I hold all the power now.”
A chill ran down her spine.
“You wouldn’t—”
Nicholas arched a brow. “Try me.”
Alina sucked in a sharp breath.
He would do it.
If she walked away, he would destroy her career.
Ruin every chance she had of making it in her field.
And the worst part?
There wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
Her legs felt weak as she lowered herself back into the chair.
Nicholas smiled, satisfied. “That’s better.”
Alina swallowed the lump in her throat. “What do you want from me?”
Nicholas took his time answering, his gaze burning into her. “Dinner. Drinks. Time.”
Alina stiffened. “You want me to spend time with you?”
Nicholas smirked. “I require it.”
Her stomach twisted. “And if I refuse?”
His expression darkened. “You won’t.”
Alina hated him.
Hated the way he could manipulate situations in his favor. Hated that, no matter how much she wanted to escape him, he always found a way to pull her back.
But most of all?
She hated the small, traitorous part of her that still wanted him.
She exhaled shakily, glaring at him. “This is blackmail.”
Nicholas merely shrugged. “Call it what you want.”
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Alina spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
“How long?”
Nicholas’s gaze flickered with something unreadable. “Three months.”
Her chest tightened.
Three months.
Three months of pretending like she wasn’t affected by him. Like she wasn’t still drawn to the intensity in his eyes, the commanding presence that had once made her weak.
Three months of walking a fine line between hating him and wanting him.
She clenched her jaw. “Fine.”
Nicholas’s smirk deepened. “Good girl.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
She had just made a deal with the devil.
---
The Next Day
Alina arrived at the office with her head held high, determined not to let Nicholas’s presence shake her.
But the moment she stepped inside, whispers surrounded her.
“Did you hear? The new owner is in today.”
“I saw him in the conference room. My God, he’s even hotter in person.”
“I heard he’s ruthless. Fired half his staff at his last company.”
Alina’s stomach twisted.
Nicholas Vaughn had officially taken over.
She made her way to her desk, ignoring the curious glances from her coworkers.
The last thing she needed was speculation.
She had barely settled into her chair when her phone buzzed.
A message.
From him.
Come to my office. Now.
Alina stared at the screen, her pulse hammering.
She should ignore him.
Should make him wait.
But she knew better.
With a sigh, she grabbed her notebook and made her way to the top floor.
Nicholas’s office was sleek, modern, and far too big for one man.
He sat behind a massive glass desk, looking completely at ease.
The moment she stepped inside, he glanced up, a smirk playing on his lips.
“You’re late.”
Alina crossed her arms. “I didn’t realize I was on a timer.”
Nicholas chuckled. “Everything with me is on a timer, sweetheart.”
She exhaled sharply. “What do you want?”
He stood, walking around the desk until he was mere inches from her.
Her breath caught.
Even now, after all this time, he still towered over her.
Still exuded an air of dominance that made her stomach twist in ways she refused to acknowledge.
“I have a new position for you,” he said casually.
Alina’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”
Nicholas leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“You’re going to be my personal assistant.”
Alina’s blood ran cold.
“No,” she said immediately.
Nicholas arched a brow. “No?”
She clenched her fists. “I won’t do it.”
Nicholas smiled, slow and lethal. “You already agreed to my terms, Alina. Three months. My rules.”
Her stomach churned.
She had walked into his trap.
And now?
There was no way out.
---
- Writer
