A Game of power
1015 Words
Sofia froze in Alejandro’s office, a war drum pounding in her chest.
Hector was here.
The man she had spent years running from had just barged into Alejandro’s life —her new life.
A nauseating epiphany settled into her stomach. This was no accident. Hector was making a point.
But Alejandro's reaction was more frightening to her than Hector being there.
His fury had been total, his tone crisp. "Stay here."
Then he was marching as if to blow everything in front of him off the face of the earth.
Sofia gasped for breath. The air in the office was too heavy, too close. She balled her hands into fists, willing herself to stay calm.
Should she stay?
Should she go after him?
No. She had to know what was going on.
Her feet carried her before her mind could catch up. Quietly, she left the office and walked down the dim hall. The scent of leather and high-end perfume hung heavy in the air and didn’t soothe her.
At the front, voices were more clear.
Alejandro’s was smooth, but somehow poisonous. Deadly control.
Hector's was menacing. Confident.
Sofia's stomach twisted. She peered around the corner.
Hector stood propped against what remained of his car, arms crossed, a self-satisfied grin curling his lips. He had always been like this — reckless, arrogant, dangerous.
Alejandro loomed over him, flanked by his two bodyguards. He was calm, too calm. That nonchalance was scarier than outright rage.
Sofia shook.
Alejandro’s words reached her from across. “You should not have come here.”
Hector chuckled. We both know I’m not one to make mistakes.’
Alejandro continued to stare at him, head cocked to one side. “I’m sorry, you’re dumber than I thought you were.”
Hector's grin widened. "Relax, Monteverde. I don't come to start a war. I just wanted to see what the big deal is with the woman you kidn*pped away from me.”
Sofia bristled.
Alejandro’s shoulders instinctively jerked. It was the only slip he permitted himself emotionally. "She doesn't belong to you."
Hector shrugged. "She did once." His eyes swept over Alejandro, and on to her.
Sofia's breath caught.
Hector smiled slowly and knowingly. "And maybe she still does."
Alejandro didn't move. But there was a difference in the air, crisp and merciless.
Then, out of nowhere, Alejandro punched Hector.
The sound was ghastly — a visceral c***k as Alejandro’s fist connected with Hector’s jaw.
Hector took a step back, his smirk disappeared.
Sofia gasped.
Alejandro rubbed his hand flat as if he’d just brushed at a bug. His voice stayed steady when he said, “I don’t feel like repeating myself, but let me make something very clear. Sofia isn't yours. She never was."
Hector dabbed blood from his swollen lip, then chuckled, dark and low. "Interesting."
Alejandro moved closer, loomed over him. “You have 60 seconds to get off my property before I make this personal.”
Hector held Alejandro’s gaze for a solid minute before exhaling dramatically. "Fine. I'll go."
He turned, but not before looking back once at Sofia.
“I’ll catch you soon, princesa.”
The tone was gentle, but it felt like a noose around her neck.
Alejandro’s guards moved to escort Hector away, but Alejandro raised a hand. He wasn’t done yet.
His voice was ice-cold. “Hector.”
Hector hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder.
Alejandro’s next words were a promise, not a threat.
“If you ever come close to her again, I will ruin everything you cherish.”
Silence.
Then, Hector smiled.
A slow, knowing smile.
Like he was loving this.
Sofia felt her stomach lurch with fear. This was far from over.
Not even close.
The door of Alejandro’s office went slam behind them and the sound brought echoes in the room.
Sofia turned out to him, but he had already turned away, walking across the room, his fists clenching and unclenching.
He was enraged.
And when Alejandro Monteverde was upset, but for a different reason, things rattled all over the world.
Sofia gulped. "Alejandro—"
"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice was deep and restrained, but just barely.
Sofia tensed. "Tell you what?"
“That Hector still was a part of your life.”
Her breath hitched. “I didn’t believe he was going to try to find me.”
Alejandro laughed, humorlessly. "You didn't think?" He looked at her, his eyes glittering. “That guy trespassed on my property, barged into my life, and attempted to steal you out from under my nose.”
Sofia folded her arms around herself. “I did not want to pull you into my trouble.”
Alejandro breathed hard, running a hand through his hair. “No, Sofia, you already are my problem.”
Her breath caught.
He leaned in, eyes clouded with something unreadable. “Have you any idea what this job is, and why I hired you?”
Sofia raised an eyebrow. “Because you had to have a secretary?”
Alejandro smiled. But it was not a smiling face.
“Because I wanted you near me,” he breathed.
Her heart stopped.
He leaned even closer to her, perfume wrapping around her. “Because the moment you walked into that ball, I knew you’d be trouble.”
Sofia's throat constricted. "Alejandro—"
I don’t like complexities, Sofia. His fingers paved a slow, searing trail down her arm. "But you? You are the deadliest complication of all.”
Her heart thudded.
This wasn't protection.
This wasn't about Hector.
This was about them.
Alejandro gazed at her lips. “Do you know what the worst part of all this is?”
Sofia shook her head, gasping for air.
He leaned in, his lips nearly on hers.
"I don't even care."
And then, as she was sure he was going to kiss her—
He pulled away.
And left her standing there trembling.
Broken.
In need of more.
Was Alejandro about to kiss her? Or was he just making his point? And why does Hector feel so confident about it?
- Writer
