CHAPTER 1: THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT
(Alex’s POV)
The entire De Salva garden is a sea of youth drowning in alcohol and loud EDM. This is my territory. While Daddy is away, I run this world. I’m standing on the balcony, vodka in hand, watching my classmates descend into chaos below.
"Alex, take a shot!" Marco yells from downstairs, holding up a bottle of expensive whiskey.
I give a wicked smirk. Inside, I’m buzzing with excitement. I have a surprise for tonight. But my smile slowly vanishes when I spot a white Porsche pulling into the gate. The roar of the party becomes nothing but background noise against the hum of that engine.
Louise has arrived.
Even in the dark, her blonde hair seems to glow under the spotlights. She’s wearing black tailored pinstripe slacks that hug her long, toned legs perfectly. Her silk blouse billows slightly with every step, and the black tie hanging around her neck is loose and mocking.
Louise walks like she owns the air we breathe. Every strike of her stilettos on the grass feels like a slap to my ego. I can’t stop staring at the curves of her body—something I hate, but can't deny is incredibly hot.
I head down to confront her. "You're home early, Mother," I sneer as she approaches.
Louise stops and looks at me, her blue eyes scanning the mess. "I see you've turned the mansion into a dumpster, Alexandra. Where is your father?"
"None of your business. But since you're here..." I lean into her face, close enough to catch the scent of her favorite perfume. "Don't you dare ruin this. Stay inside, stay invisible, and maybe I won't tell Daddy how much you spend on those designer bags."
Louise lets out a small, chilling laugh. "You think I'm afraid of your petty threats? I manage your father's companies, Alex. I don't care about bags. But fine, I’m tired. Just keep the noise down."
"Whoa, chill out!" Marco interrupts, carrying the glass of whiskey I spiked earlier. "Ma’am Louise, before anything else, let's have a shot! For the 'happy' family!"
I grin. I stare at Louise’s tie before looking at my friends. "Stop it, Marco. She doesn't drink with people like us. She's too 'classy' for this. She only drinks the blood of old men... like my father."
The students erupted. "Whoaaa! That’s harsh!" they laughed.
Louise doesn't flinch. She snatches the glass from Marco and looks at me with a strange glint in her eyes. "Is that what you think of me? That I’m just a parasite?"
"Aren't you?" I challenge.
"Well, then," Louise smiles—a dangerous, beautiful smile. "If this is the only way to prove I'm part of this... family." She downs it in one go. Bottoms up. I watch the movement of her throat. Even the way she drinks looks like art.
She walks toward the mansion, but before she can enter, I see her stagger. Slowly, she collapses onto the grass.
"Enjoy the party, guys!" I shout to the crowd. I order two guys to carry her up to the master bedroom. I’m going to send the video of this to Daddy, and by tomorrow, this slut is out.
Twenty minutes later, I practically fly up to the master bedroom, trembling with excitement. Phone in hand, I kick the door open. "Surprise, Step—"
I freeze. The two guys? They’re on the floor, fast asleep. And on the edge of the bed sits Louise. She’s cross-legged, her tie still perfectly in place, looking at me with a calculating smile.
"What... why are you awake?!" I stammer.
Louise stands up, her eyes gleaming with intelligence. "You really thought it was that easy, Alex? Your father and I might be older, but darling, we are much, much smarter than you."
I step back. "I saw you drink it!"
"You saw what I wanted you to see," Louise laughs softly, a low, melodic sound. "The glass was switched by my butler before it even reached the garden. I drank plain water, Alex. While you were busy insulting me, I was making sure your little plan would backfire."
She looks toward the window. My gaze follows. My eyes widen. The entire garden—all my friends—are slumped over, fast asleep on the grass.
"What did you do?!"
"I had the staff serve a special batch of drinks for your friends," Louise whispers, her voice dangerously calm. "A special sedative, just for them. Now, there’s no one left to film, Alex. No one to witness your little prank. It's just... you and me."
Louise locks the door. Click.
"You want to try a little game, Alex?" Louise steps closer, her presence suffocatingly dominant. "Do you want to feel what I do to your father? How I make him... surrender?"
I feel my face heating up rapidly. "Shut up! You're disgusting!" I try to shove her away with all my strength.
But Louise is faster. She brushes my arms aside and, in one sudden move, pins me, her hand gripping my throat just enough to force me to look at her. She thumps me lightly against the door, her body pressed flush against mine.
"I'm gonna f*ck you harder," Louise whispers, her voice husky and dark. "Since you wanted a show so bad... let’s give you one."
My eyes go wide. My heart feels like it’s going to jump out of my throat. She’s going to... what? My plan for her has backfired so completely that I’m hearing those words from her!
"You b***h!" I scream, trying to fight back, but my knees go weak from her proximity.
Louise laughs—that mocking, elegant laugh. "Is that the best you can do, Princess?"
Suddenly, she shoves me toward the bed. I fall onto the soft mattress, my body bouncing from the impact. Before I can even scramble up, I see Louise standing at the foot of the bed, staring at me with a challenging smirk.
Slowly, she loosens her tie, her eyes never blinking as she watches me.
"Now," she whispers. "Let the real punishment begin."
