Under Her Rule

CHAPTER 5: THE PRICE OF THE CROWN

Alex’s POV)

The silence inside the study room was more painful than the sharp slap that had landed on my cheek. I could feel the heat, the pulse of blood where Dad hit me, but I remained standing tall. My chin was up. My shoulders were squared. I am Alexandra De Salva, and I was raised to never show weakness—especially not in front of people who want nothing more than to see me fall.

"Apologize to her, Alexandra. Right now!"

Dad’s voice crackled with rage—a sound that used to make me nervous, but now, it only hardened my resolve. I looked at Louise. She was playing her role to perfection. Her head was bowed, her hair slightly veiling her face, and her shoulders seemed to tremble. She looked like a wounded bird, an innocent victim of my "spoiled brat" tendencies. But I knew the truth. I saw the way she looked at me before Dad walked in.

She wasn't looking at me now. She looked away, as if she were disgusted by the tension, or perhaps she was just hiding the victory in her eyes.

"I will never apologize to her," I said coldly. Every word was like ice—hard and devoid of emotion. "You can slap me a thousand times, but it won't change the fact that she doesn't belong here."

"Alexandra! Enough!" Dad screamed. He took a step forward, perhaps to hit me again, but I took a step back. The distance between us wasn't just physical; I could feel the bridge connecting father and daughter finally crumbling.

"I hate you!" My voice finally cracked, the first sign of the dam breaking. "I hate you both!"

I turned around and walked out quickly. I didn't wait for him to call me again. I slammed the study door—a loud BANG! echoed through the hallway, a symbol of the end of my respect for him. I could still hear Dad shouting my name, his voice full of the authority I used to follow without question, but I didn't look back.

I ran up the grand staircase, each click of my heels on the marble echoing my racing heartbeat. The moment I entered my room, I locked the door. There, behind that door, was the only place I allowed myself to break.

I sank to the floor, my expensive silk gown sprawling around me. I hugged my knees and finally let it all out. I sobbed—not because of the physical pain, but because of the betrayal. The nerve of him. The nerve to choose a stranger, a social climber, over his own daughter.

I reached for my phone on the vanity table. The screen was blurry from my tears, but I quickly opened the group chat that served as my sanctuary in this world of pretenders.

[GROUP CHAT: THE ELITES ONLY ]

Alex: He slapped me. My dad slapped me because of that b***h.

Sofia: WHAT?! Is he insane?! Oh my god, Alex, are you okay? I’m going to kill that woman. The audacity to let your dad do that! She’s literally a witch!

Miguel: The nerve! Lex, please tell me you didn’t give in. Don't let them win. She’s just a parasite trying to rattle your cage. Focus, Lex. You are the heiress; she’s just an employee with cheap perfume.

Sofia: Exactly! My god, the disrespect! They make me sick. Don’t you dare apologize, Alex. I swear, she’s going to lose some hair when I see her at the Foundation event next week.

Miguel: Sofia, chill. We need to be strategic. Lex, are you still showing up tomorrow for the internship? Remember, it’s the Magazine Publishing house. One of the crown jewels of De Salva Enterprises.

Sofia: That's right. Business Publishers is our core course, Lex. We can’t afford to fail that internship or have a bad evaluation, even if your Dad is being a jerk right now. Can you handle seeing them in the office? Especially her?

Alex: (I took a deep breath, wiping my tears with the back of my hand) I'll be there. I won’t let her take over my place in the company. If she wants a war, I’ll give her one. In my own territory. I'm a De Salva. I don't hide.

THE NEXT DAY...

I walked into the lobby of De Salva Publishing House as if nothing had happened last night. My makeup was perfect—heavy concealer to hide any trace of swelling on my cheek, and my brightest red lipstick acting like armor. I was wearing a power suit that shouted "Executive," even if I was just an intern on paper.

Sofia and Miguel met me at the entrance. Their eyes were full of worry, but they immediately straightened up when they saw my hardened expression.

"You look lethal, Lex," Miguel whispered, handing me an iced Americano. "That’s my girl."

"I told you, she won't just give up," Sofia added, linking her arm with mine. "Let's show them who really runs this place."

As we walked toward the elevators, the main office doors swung open. Dad stepped out, and as expected, Louise was trailing behind him. She was carrying an expensive leather planner—the very planner I had picked out for Dad’s birthday.

They stopped in front of us. The air in the hallway turned to ice.

"Alexandra," Dad called out. No "sweetie," no trace of regret in his eyes. Instead, they were full of warning. "Since you are here for your internship, you will follow the protocol. You will be assigned to the editorial board, and you will report directly to the Executive Office for your final outputs."

"Understood, Sir," I replied. I didn't call him Dad. I saw his eyes flicker with slight irritation at the formality, but I didn't look away.

"And since Louise handles my schedule and the board's coordination," Dad continued, "you will be coordinating with her for your deadlines. I expect professional behavior, Alexandra. No more scenes like last night."

I looked at Louise. She gave me a small, professional nod. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Alexandra. I've already prepared the guidelines for the publishing cycle."

I wanted to laugh. The nerve of this woman to act like she’s my boss. I glanced at Sofia and Miguel. I saw Sofia’s knuckles turn white.

"Don't worry, Louise," I said, my voice sweet but laced with a blade. "I know exactly how to handle 'guidelines.' Especially when they come from people who are... just temporary in their positions."

I didn't wait for a response. Sofia, Miguel, and I walked past them, the sound of our heels echoing through the entire building.

The moment we entered the elevator, I felt my hands start to shake again. But before Sofia could see, I quickly hid them in my blazer pockets.

The crown might be broken, and the king might have turned his back, but the heiress is just getting started.