Claimed By The Man I Betrayed

EPISODE 2: HIS RULES

Alexander Kane had never believed in second chances.

Yet at nine thirty that morning, he was about to give one to the woman who had shattered his heart.

Not because he had forgiven her.

But because he wanted to know what she was hiding.

Aria stood outside his office, staring at the gold lettering on the glass door.

ALEXANDER KANE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

Her phone was still in her hand.

If you love him, leave now.

She had read the message so many times that the words seemed burned into her mind.

Who had sent it?

And how did they know she was here?

"Miss Laurent?"

She nearly dropped her phone.

A tall man in a navy suit stood beside her, holding a tablet.

"I'm Daniel Brooks, Mr. Kane's executive assistant. He's ready for you."

Aria slipped her phone into her handbag.

"Thank you."

Daniel opened the door.

"Good luck."

Something about his tone made her pause.

"Does he usually conduct interviews himself?"

Daniel gave her a professional smile.

"Only when he's particularly interested in a candidate."

Aria's stomach tightened.

"Interested in my qualifications?"

Daniel's smile faded slightly.

"You'll have to ask him that."

She entered the office.

Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to her. Below him, the city stretched into the distance, bright and busy beneath the morning sun.

He didn't turn around.

"Close the door."

Aria did.

"Sit down."

She took the chair opposite his desk and placed her folder on her lap.

Alexander finally turned.

His gaze swept over her face before settling on the folder.

"You came."

"I was told to."

"That sounds familiar."

She looked at him sharply.

He walked to his desk and sat down.

"Let's begin."

He opens her résumé.

"Graduated with honors. Excellent references. Three years of experience in corporate communications. Fluent in French and English."

He looked up.

"Impressive."

"Thank you."

"Your last employer closed its doors six months ago."

Aria's fingers tightened around her folder.

"Yes."

"Financial difficulties?"

"Yes."

"Your family was affected."

It wasn't a question.

She hesitated.

"My family has had some difficulties."

Alexander leaned back.

"How unfortunate."

His voice was polite.

His eyes were not.

Aria felt the sting of his words, but she refused to let him see it.

"I'm here to discuss the position, not my family's circumstances."

"Then let's discuss the position."

He closed the résumé.

"The job requires discretion, loyalty, and the ability to work under pressure. You'll have access to confidential information, attend executive meetings, and coordinate communications with our most important clients."

"I understand."

"You'll report directly to me."

"You mentioned that yesterday."

"And you accepted."

"Because I need the job."

The words came out more sharply than she intended.

Alexander's expression changed.

For a moment, she saw the young man she had loved, the one who could read every emotion in her face.

Then the moment vanished.

"At least you're honest about something."

Aria looked down.

"Can we please finish the interview?"

He studied her for a long moment before sliding a document across the desk.

"Six-month contract. Competitive salary. Benefits begin immediately. Your performance will determine whether the contract is extended."

She stared at the figures.

The salary was more than she had expected.

Enough to cover her rent, settle the most urgent bills, and finally stop calculating every purchase before making it.

She should have felt relieved.

Instead, she felt trapped.

"There's a condition," Alexander said.

Of course there was.

"What condition?"

"You follow my instructions. You don't discuss company business outside this office. You don't share confidential documents. And if I ask you a question directly, I expect an honest answer."

Her eyes lifted.

"About work?"

"About anything I consider relevant."

"That's not a reasonable employment condition."

"Then don't sign."

He pushed a pen toward her.

Aria stared at him.

He was giving her a choice, but they both knew how little freedom she had.

She needed this job.

And he knew it.

"You're enjoying this," she whispered.

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"You have no idea what I've enjoyed over the last five years."

The words silenced her.

He looked away first.

"Read the contract."

Aria picked up the papers and began reading.

Everything appeared standard until she reached the section concerning termination.

Either party could terminate the agreement with notice, subject to the company's confidentiality and security policies.

Nothing unusual.

She signed.

Alexander took the document and examined her signature.

For one strange second, his thumb rested against her name.

Then he placed it in a folder.

"Welcome to Kane Enterprises."

The words sounded more like a sentence than a welcome.

"When do I start?"

"Now."

He pressed a button on his desk.

"Daniel, bring in the onboarding documents."

A moment later, Daniel entered with a stack of folders and a company phone.

He explained her schedule, introduced her to the internal systems, and handed her an access card.

By the time he finished, Aria had almost convinced herself that she could handle this.

She could do her job.

She could keep her distance.

She could survive seeing Alexander every day.

"One last thing," Alexander said.

Daniel glanced between them.

"Should I leave?"

"Yes."

Daniel left immediately.

Aria stood beside the desk.

"What is it?"

Alexander rose and walked toward her.

"You will not discuss our personal history with anyone in this company."

Her stomach tightened.

"I have no intention of doing that."

"Good."

He stopped in front of her.

"And you will not use this position to get close to me."

Aria stared at him in disbelief.

"You think I came here because I want you back?"

"I think you have a talent for making me believe whatever suits you."

She flinched.

His expression hardened further.

"If you want this job, keep your personal life out of my office."

Aria lifted her chin.

"Gladly."

She turned toward the door.

"Aria."

She stopped, but didn't look back.

"One more question."

"What?"

"Why didn't you contact me after you left?"

Her fingers curled at her sides.

There it was.

The question she had feared since walking into the building.

"I couldn't."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Silence filled the office.

Alexander moved closer.

"Couldn't?"

She closed her eyes briefly.

"I mean, I didn't."

"Those are two very different answers."

She turned to face him.

"Please don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Dig up something that happened five years ago."

His eyes darkened.

"You don't get to decide what I ask about the woman who disappeared from my life."

"And you don't get to demand every answer simply because you can!"

The words rang through the office.

They stared at each other.

Aria's breathing was uneven. Alexander's expression had gone frighteningly still.

Then he spoke.

"You're right."

She blinked, surprised.

He returned to his desk.

"I can't force you to explain anything."

Relief flickered through her.

Then he added, "But I can decide whether I trust you."

Her relief disappeared.

"And right now, I don't."

He opened a file.

"Daniel will show you your office."

Dismissed.

Aria walked out without another word.

She didn't look back until she reached the corridor.

Alexander was already working.

As if she had never mattered.

As if five years ago had meant nothing.

She swallowed the ache in her throat and followed Daniel to her new office.

It was smaller than Alexander's, with a desk, two chairs, a computer, and a narrow window overlooking the neighboring building.

It was perfect.

It was safe.

Or it should have been.

"Your access card opens the executive floor and the staff entrance," Daniel explained. "If you need anything, call me."

"Thank you."

He handed her the company phone.

"Your work contacts are already loaded."

Then he left.

Aria sat down slowly.

She had a job.

She had a salary.

She had a chance to start over.

All she had to do was keep her head down and avoid making the same mistakes again.

Her personal phone vibrated.

She pulled it from her handbag.

An unknown number.

Another message.

He hired you. Exactly as we expected.

Aria's breath caught.

A second message arrived before she could respond.

Now stay away from his family.

She stared at the screen.

His family?

What did they have to do with this?

Her fingers trembled as she typed a reply.

Who are you?

She pressed send.

The message failed.

She tried again.

Failed.

The number had already been disconnected.

Aria stood and walked to the window, searching the street below.

Nothing seemed unusual.

Cars moved through traffic. Pedestrians hurried along the pavement. A delivery truck stopped outside a café.

Then she noticed a black sedan parked across the street.

Its windows were tinted.

Her heart began to pound.

She had seen that car before.

She was almost certain of it.

The sedan pulled away from the curb.

As it passed the building, the rear window lowered just enough for someone inside to lift a hand.

A small, deliberate wave.

Then the car disappeared into traffic.

Aria stumbled backward.

"No," she whispered.

Her office door opened.

She spun around.

Alexander stood in the doorway, holding a folder.

His gaze moved from her face to the window.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

He didn't believe her.

He stepped inside and closed the door.

"You're shaking."

"I'm fine."

"Stop saying that."

His voice was sharper now.

"Something is wrong, and you've been hiding it since you walked into my office yesterday."

Aria looked at him.

For one reckless moment, she considered telling him everything.

Then she remembered the message.

Now stay away from his family.

She forced herself to meet his gaze.

"I said I'm fine, Alexander."

He studied her in silence.

Then he placed the folder on her desk.

"These are the files you'll need for tomorrow's board meeting."

She nodded.

He turned to leave.

But before he reached the door, he stopped.

"Aria?"

"Yes?"

His eyes held hers.

"If someone is threatening you, tell me."

Her heart nearly broke.

Because five years ago, she had been given a choice between telling Alexander the truth and keeping him alive.

She had chosen silence.

And she had no idea whether she could survive making that choice again.

"I'll remember that," she whispered.

Alexander watched her for another moment before leaving.

Aria waited until the door clicked shut.

Then she opened her handbag and pulled out her personal phone.

One final message had appeared.

You have been warned. If he discovers what happened five years ago, neither of you will be safe.

Her blood ran cold.

This time, the message included a photograph.

Not of her.

Not of Alexander.

It was a photograph of a man standing outside Kane Enterprises.

A man Aria recognized immediately.

Alexander's father.