Under His Dominion

CHAPTER FIVE

Anna’s Pov

“Trina,” Alexander said sharply, “you’re not welcome here.”

She ignored him, crossing her arms as she stared me down. “So, you’re the new fiancée. How adorable. Does she even know how to use silverware, Alex?”

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. “I’m not here to impress you, Trina.”

Her lips curled into a mocking smile. “Good, because you’re failing miserably.”

“Enough,” Alexander barked, his voice cutting through the tension. “Trina, leave. Now.”

She hesitated, her gaze flicking between us before she huffed and turned to leave. “This isn’t over,” she muttered as she slammed the door behind her.

I let out a shaky breath, my hands still clenched. “She’s… delightful.”

Alexander smirked. “Don’t let her get to you. She thrives on making others feel small.”

“I noticed,” I muttered.

He stepped closer, his expression softening slightly. “You’ll have to get used to people like her, Anna. This arrangement will put you in the spotlight, and not everyone will be kind. Are you ready for that?”

I met his gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“No,” he said simply.

Later that evening, I sat in my apartment, going over everything that had happened. Jack was asleep in his room. The soft sound of his breathing was a reminder of why I was doing this.

My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it, expecting another message from Alexander. Instead, it was a text from an unknown number.

“You’ve made a mistake. He’s not who you think he is. Watch your back.”

My heart raced as I read the message. Who was this person? And why were they so determined to warn me about Alexander?

Before I could dwell on it further, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Sarah, my best friend, standing there with a bottle of wine and a curious look on her face.

“I thought you could use some company,” she said, stepping inside.

“Thanks,” I said, closing the door behind her.

She set the wine on the table and turned to me. “Alright, spill. What’s going on?”

I hesitated, debating how much to tell her. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated how?” she pressed.

I sighed. “I’m… engaged.”

Her eyes widened. “What? To who? And since when?”

“It’s not real,” I admitted. “It’s… a business arrangement.”

Sarah stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “Anna, what are you talking about? What kind of business arrangement involves getting engaged?”

“It’s a long story,” I said, avoiding her gaze.

She frowned. “Anna, this doesn’t sound like you. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“No,” I said honestly. “But I don’t have a choice.”

Sarah studied me for a moment before sighing. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? Whatever this is, it sounds risky.”

“I will,” I promised, though I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.

As Sarah poured us each a glass of wine, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was standing on the edge of a cliff, about to take a leap I might not survive.

************

The following day, I arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, my heart pounding in rhythm with the clacking of my heels against the marble floor. The air smelled of wealth and power, a heady mix of polished wood and expensive cologne. I clutched my purse tightly, the weight of the signed contract pulling at my conscience. This is real now. There was no turning back.

I gave my name to the concierge, who led me to a private suite on the top floor. When the elevator doors opened, Alexander was already there, seated on a sleek leather couch, sipping a glass of red wine.

“Right on time,” he said, standing as I walked in. His eyes, as piercing as ever, swept over me.

“I didn’t know what to wear for something like this,” I admitted, smoothing down my dress.

“It’s fine,” he said curtly, though his gaze lingered a second longer than necessary. “Sit.”

I obeyed, settling into the chair opposite him. The room was luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city lights, but the tension between us was suffocating.

“So,” I began, trying to fill the silence, “what happens next?”

“We establish the rules,” he said, placing his glass on the table.

“Rules?”

“Yes,” he replied, his tone firm. This arrangement needs structure. You will accompany me to events, dinners, and any public appearances. You will answer questions about our engagement, but you will not disclose the terms of our contract. Your job is to play the role convincingly, nothing more, nothing less.

“And what about… personal interactions?” I asked hesitantly.

His lips curved into a faint smirk. “Don’t worry. I have no interest in crossing boundaries. This is strictly professional.”

I nodded, relief washing over me. “Alright. I can handle that.”

“Good.” He leaned forward, his expression serious. “But there’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Under no circumstances will you contact or engage with Trina. She will try to provoke you, to create drama. Do not give her that satisfaction.”

I nodded again, though I couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. “Understood.”

Before we could continue, the door opened, and a server walked in, carrying a tray of food. Alexander gestured for him to set it on the table, then dismissed him with a wave.

“Eat,” he said, motioning to the plates.

“I’m not starving,” I replied, but my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “You’ll need your strength for what’s ahead. Eat.”

Reluctantly, I picked up a fork and took a bite. The food was exquisite, a far cry from the diner meals I was used to.

As we ate in silence, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Alexander was watching me, studying me. It was unnerving, but I forced myself to focus on the meal.

When we finished, Alexander stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the city. “Do you know why I chose you for this arrangement, Anna?”

I hesitated. “Because I’m… unremarkable?”

He chuckled, though there was no warmth in the sound. “Partly. But there’s more to it than that.”

I waited, unsure if he would continue.

“You remind me of someone,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Who?”

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “That’s irrelevant. What matters is that you’ve agreed to this, and now you’re part of my world. I suggest you adapt quickly.”

The cryptic response left me with more questions than answers, but before I could press him further, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening.

“I have to take this,” he said, striding toward the door. Wait here. I’ll be back shortly.

As the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled a shaky breath. Being around Alexander was like navigating a minefield, one wrong step, and everything could explode.

I glanced around the suite, my eyes landing on a small folder on the coffee table. Curiosity got the better of me, and I reached for it, flipping it open.

Inside were photographs, dozens of them. Some were of Alexander and Trina at various events, smiling and holding hands. But others were… different. Darker.

One photo showed Alexander standing in a shadowy alley, his expression cold and calculating. Another depicted him shaking hands with a man who looked dangerously familiar.... Detective Harris.

My heart raced as I flipped through the images, each one raising more questions. Why did Alexander meet with a detective? And why had Harris warned me about him?

Before I could think further, the door burst open, and Alexander stormed in, his expression thunderous.

“What are you doing?” he demanded, his voice like ice.

“I...I wasn’t....”

He snatched the folder from my hands, his eyes blazing. “You had no right to touch this.”

“I’m sorry,” I stammered, my cheeks burning. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Leave,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I stood, my legs trembling as I grabbed my purse. As I reached the door, I turned to look at him one last time. “Alexander… who are you really?”

His expression softened for a fraction of a second before hardening again. “Someone you don’t want to cross. Now go.”

Later that night, as I sat in my apartment, I couldn’t shake the image of the photos from my mind. What was Alexander hiding? And why did I feel like I was in over my head?

Just as I was about to call it a night, my phone buzzed with a text.

Unknown Number: “You think you know him, but you don’t. Look deeper, Anna. The truth is closer than you think.”

A chill ran down my spine as I stared at the message. Who was sending these warnings? And why did they sound so… personal?

Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. My heart leaped into my throat as I approached cautiously, peeking through the peephole.

To my shock, it wasn’t Alexander or anyone I recognized. It was Detective Harris.

I opened the door at a c***k, my voice trembling. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk,” he said, his tone grave.

“About what?”

He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder before meeting my gaze. “About Alexander. And the real reason he chose you.”