Chapter 14
971 Words
The room, bathed once again in its dim, pink glow after a brief flicker of brightness, felt suffocating.
Alexander, unfazed, zipped up his pants, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
He casually sat down across from Serena, picking up a glass of whiskey from the table and downing it in one swift motion.
The air in the room remained heavy with lingering tension, a sort of debauched energy that hadn't fully dissipated.
Yet Serena, quiet and still, might as well have been invisible, sitting like a shadow in the corner, observing but saying nothing.
The silence was oppressive, almost choking.
Finally, Alexander broke the tension with a smirk. "Do you always interrupt people when they're having a good time?"
"Not usually."
His laugh was sudden and sharp, like he'd just realized something absurd.
The whole performance—this little scene—felt like a joke. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag, eyes flicking up through the haze of smoke to study her.
She was wearing a sleek black dress that clung to her figure in all the right ways, her cool, aloof beauty somehow more pronounced under the sultry lights.
"You look sexy tonight," he said, extinguishing the cigarette and leaning back on the couch, arms crossed as he gazed at her.
"Can we get on with it?" Serena's tone was cool, distant.
She wasn't there for whatever game he was playing. She was here for the contract—nothing more, nothing less.
"Aren't we already talking?" Alexander shifted closer, unable to resist the magnetic pull she seemed to have on him.
Every time he saw her, the attraction grew stronger, despite knowing she was as elusive as a wisp of smoke, a thorny rose he couldn't quite grasp. Yet, he couldn't help but sink deeper.
"Is the contract ready to sign or not?" Serena's voice was cutting.
She didn't want to be tangled in this web any longer than necessary.
She had no desire to rehash old memories or the darkness they'd stirred.
"It depends... How much are you willing to offer in return?" His arm snaked around her waist, his intentions laid bare.
"Offer?" Serena's lips curled into a bitter smile. "So, this is what you really wanted all along?"
Alexander didn't confirm or deny it. He just stared, his eyes transmitting everything his words didn't need to. "You don't have to, of course. But... the contract."
"And what exactly is the price for this little arrangement?" she asked, a voice tinged with mockery.
"To me, you're priceless. But about this contract? One million dollars should do." His fingers traced the outline of her lips, his voice low and hypnotic, as if trying to seduce her with words alone.
"Well, aren't I lucky to be valued so highly?" Serena said quietly, her voice hollow as her arm slid around his neck.
An icy sadness bloomed inside her—had she really become just another woman willing to trade her body for what she wanted?
"In my eyes, you're worth far more than that," Alexander whispered, his hand slipping through her hair, reveling in its silky texture. "Rena, be my lover. Just mine."
Her face grew cold, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Is that part of the contract? An extra clause?"
Alexander shook his head, sensing the sharp edge in her words. "No, this has nothing to do with the contract. I want it to be because you want it too."
"Do I?" Serena's smile was inscrutable. "Do you say this to every woman? Or am I just the next in line?"
"You're the first," Alexander replied, his voice turning serious, his eyes hardening. "The rest don't matter."
"Should I feel honored?" Serena chuckled bitterly. "Tell me the real reason. Don't feed me some nonsense about love. That's a fairytale, not for us."
"Love? No." He smiled softly, appreciating her bluntness. He liked that about her—straightforward, no games.
"But if I told you I'm obsessed with your body... would you believe me?" His eyes raked over her, taking in every curve, every angle. His gaze was hungry, filled with desire, possession, and a hint of something more dangerous.
"Sure. Plenty of men have said that before." She nonchalantly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile light but distant, as if she were floating above the conversation, untethered to it.
"How many men have there been?" The question came out of nowhere, the edge in Alexander's voice betraying his attempt to keep it casual.
"Does it matter?" Serena shot back, eyes flashing with disdain. Did he think he was special? That he'd be her first?
He was silent, caught off guard.
"Alexander, can we sign the contract now?" she pressed, steering the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"I can sign it anytime, but, darling..." He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "Right now, I want you more." His words dripped with desire as he nibbled on her earlobe, his voice thick with need.
Serena froze for a moment, but then, with steely resolve, she began to unbutton her blouse. If this was the price of the deal, so be it. She would pay for it.
As she stripped, revealing her flawless, soft skin, Alexander swallowed hard. The sight of her rendered him momentarily speechless.
"You're absolutely stunning," he murmured, his fingers tracing her skin reverently, as if touching something sacred.
He'd been with countless women, but none had ever stirred him like this. Her body was a masterpiece, and he couldn't help but want to worship it.
"Tonight, I'm yours," Serena whispered, her voice devoid of emotion.
She leaned forward, her hands gliding up his chest as she nipped at the buttons of his shirt, undoing one... then another... then another.
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