Chapter 8
859 Words
The door slammed shut behind her just as Alexander’s voice rang out, sharp and cold.
“Sofia.”
Her breath caught as she turned to see him standing in the doorway, his expression a mask of fury and something else—fear? The air between them crackled with tension as he stepped into the room, his piercing gaze locked on her.
“What are you doing in here?” he demanded, his voice low but laced with anger.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she shot back, gesturing toward the wall of photos. “What is all this? Why do you have pictures of me—of my life—before we even met?”
Alexander exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You shouldn’t have come in here.”
“Stop avoiding the question!” Sofia’s voice trembled, her emotions a mix of confusion and betrayal. “Have you been stalking me? Is this some kind of sick game to you?”
“No,” he snapped, his voice cutting through the room like a whip. “It’s not what you think.”
“Then explain it to me,” she challenged, her fists clenched at her sides.
Alexander paced the room, his usual composure unraveling. After a moment, he stopped and looked at her, his expression softened slightly by a flicker of vulnerability.
“I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he admitted. “But since you’re here, you deserve the truth.”
Sofia crossed her arms, her resolve firm. “I’m listening.”
He gestured toward the wall of photos. “I’ve known about you for a long time, Sofia. Not because I was stalking you, but because someone else was. These photos, the surveillance—it’s not mine. It belonged to someone I had to… remove.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Remove?”
“He was dangerous,” Alexander continued, his voice grave. “A rival who had his sights set on you for reasons I’m still trying to uncover. When I discovered what he was doing, I stepped in to protect you.”
Sofia’s mind raced as she tried to process his words. “Protect me? Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because the less you knew, the safer you were,” he said, stepping closer. “I’ve been cleaning up his mess ever since. This room, these files—they’re part of that.”
She shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. “You expect me to believe that? That you swooped in like some kind of savior and decided to insert yourself into my life?”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Believe what you want, but everything I’ve done has been to keep you safe. If you want to hate me for it, fine. But don’t question my intentions.”
The sincerity in his voice was undeniable, but it only left Sofia more conflicted. Part of her wanted to believe him, to see him as the protector he claimed to be. But another part couldn’t ignore the sheer invasion of her privacy—or the fact that he had kept her in the dark for so long.
“I need time,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander nodded, his expression unreadable. “Take all the time you need. But know this—I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if you hate me for it.”
The next morning, Sofia woke up to find Alexander already gone. A note on the kitchen counter read:
I’ll be out of town for a few days. Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. A.
The emptiness of the penthouse felt suffocating. As much as she wanted to sort through her feelings, her mind kept returning to that locked room and Alexander’s cryptic explanation.
Determined to find answers, she decided to dig deeper. She spent the day combing through the files in the room, piecing together a puzzle that seemed to grow more complex with every document she read.
It wasn’t just about her—there were files on other people, names she didn’t recognize, and connections she couldn’t make sense of. But one name kept appearing over and over: Ethan.
Her stomach sank as she recalled the man from the gala—the one who had seemed so charming yet instantly set Alexander on edge. Who was Ethan, and how was he connected to all of this?
By the time Alexander returned that evening, Sofia had more questions than answers. She met him at the door, her expression resolute.
“We need to talk,” she said, holding up one of the files.
His eyes darkened as he stepped inside. “I told you to stay out of that room.”
“And I told you I deserve the truth,” she shot back. “Who is Ethan, and why is his name all over these files?”
Alexander’s expression hardened, and Sofia knew she was about to uncover another piece of the puzzle—whether she was ready for it or not.
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