The Mistress’s Game

Chapter 5 – The Fire Spreads

Ethan grabbed Cassandra’s wrist tight. The penthouse door closed with a bang behind her. His eyes were dark and his jaw was tight.

You think I am going to let you walk away after that? he said sharply.

"It wasn’t a stunt," she said, trying to pull her arm away. "You can’t just keep me on a leash."

"Watch me," he said, stepping closer and pushing her back into the wall. "You went to Damian and you think I wouldn’t find out?"

"You followed me?" .She breathed fast as her chest were rising and falling

"No," he said coldly. "I don’t have to but Damian talks too much when he is trying to make me angry."

Her heart raced fast and wild. "You are out of control."

Ethan leaned in, his voice low. "You are damn right because every time I let my guard down with you, you slip right through my fingers."

She swallowed hard as her throat was tight. "Maybe it’s because you don’t own me.”

His eyes burned like a storm she couldn’t understand. He leaned in close as his forehead almost touched hers. His voice was a whisper shaking with anger and something she didn’t know. "Try me."

She pushed him back harder than she wanted and he stumbled. "I’m not one of your things, Ethan. I’m not some contract that you can lock down and shelve when you are done."

He stopped as his chest went up and down as he looked at her. His eyes were sharp like he was breaking down every word she said. Then he said softer but still sharp like a knife, "Then stop acting like one."

Her stomach twisted. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"You give just enough to keep me wanting, then you shut every door in my face like I am the damn enemy." He stepped closer again, slowly and not sure touching her but close enough she could feel his heat. "What are you so afraid of, Cassandra?"

His voice changed something inside her, something she had locked up years ago and she hated it. She hated how raw he made her feel and hated that the answer wasn’t him, it was her.

"Ethan"

"No." His voice cut through hers low and dangerous shaking with something dark. "You don’t get to run from me tonight, Not after Damian, Not after the way you looked at him."

She looked up fast. "How did I look at him?"

"Like he could give you something I can’t," Ethan said lower as he stepped closer so close that his breath touched her lips.. "So tell me, Cassandra, what do you want from me? Money? Power?" His eyes burned into hers with his voice dropping to a whisper like fire. "Or something else?"

Before she could answer, his phone buzzed on the counter. He grabbed it and looked at the screen, and his jaw tightened even more.

"What is it?" she asked carefully.

He threw the phone on the counter, the screen still bright.. Headlines screamed: ETHAN ASHFORD: WOMEN HE BROKE AND EMPIRES HE TORE DOWN.

There were pictures of Ethan with different women and most of them with blurred faces but one clearly sobbing outside a hotel.

"This is what Damian wanted you to see, isn’t it?" Ethan’s voice was low and sharp like a knife cutting through the silence.

Cassandra’s throat tightened so much it hurt. Her voice barely came out. “Is it true?”

He stared at her like she had slapped him. "I’m not a saint, Cassandra but I don’t destroy women and I don’t need to."

"Then why are there so many of them?"Her words shook, looking for an answer she wasn’t sure she wanted.

"Because people like Damian love their stories. They love painting me as the villain." He stepped closer with his expression softening just enough to hurt. "You believe them?"

"I don’t know what to believe," she whispered.

His hand touched her face gently like she had never felt before and his thumb moved soft on her cheek like he was scared she would disappear. His voice was low and rough. "Believe me when I say this ,whatever I am to the world, I am not that with you."

Her chest hurt so much she almost gasped. She should push him away or she should remember her plan as her father was locked in a cell because of men like him because of him. But her hands didn’t listen, they grabbed his shirt like she needed him to stay so she could breathe.

"Ethan, this isn’t"

"Shut up," he cut her off, and then his mouth crushed hers.

There was nothing soft in that kiss, no care , no gentleness. It was raw desperation like he wanted to burn every lie she told every wall she built to keep him out and somehow she let him even when she knew she shouldn’t.

Revenge fell away like ash when he picked her up off the floor. Loyalty broke when her back hit the bedroom door hard. All she could think about was his mouth, his hands and the way he said her name like it was his but he was scared to lose it.

"You make me crazy," he breathed against her neck with his voice soft and almost weak as he held her tight closer and closer until she could barely breathe.

"You do not even know me," she whispered but her voice broke like glass showing every secret she promised to hide.

His forehead touched hers with his eyes dark, he said with a raw voice. "Then let me." After that there was no control left for either of them.

Aftermath

The sheets were all messy and the room was quiet except for their breaths. Cassandra lay on her side looking at him. What have I done?

He reached for her and pulled her close like he didn’t care about her walls or secrets. "You are not leaving tonight," he said quietly. "Not after this."

For the first time since she came into his life she didn’t know if she was using him or if she gave him something real and that scared her more than anything.

---

Ethan was already in the bathroom when her phone buzzed again on the nightstand. She picked it up and stopped.

Unknown Number: Nice performance tonight, Cassandra. Ethan looks almost convinced you are in love with him. Almost.

There was a photo attached. It was her the night she first broke into Ethan’s penthouse to steal files for Damian. Proof of her plan from the start.

Another message came: You have 24 hours to deliver Ashford’s financial access codes or I will tell him everything.

Her blood went cold.

Damian.

"No," she whispered.

A final message popped up: Your move, Cassandra.

She sat shaking and staring at the door Ethan had just gone through.

"What do you get yourself into?" she whispered to herself.

The door opened behind her as Ethan stepped out, still damp from the shower with his eyes soft for once. "Who was that?"

She hid the phone fast, forcing a smile. "No one is important."

"You are lying," he said quietly as he stepped closer.

"Ethan"

He took her chin gently, forcing her eyes up to his. "If there is something you are not telling me… you better say it now."

Her phone buzzed again in her palm, Damian’s final text flashing bright: 24 hours, Cassandra Or I burn you.