Reclaimed By Love

Seven

Leaving the company, Ellie looked at Alex gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Ramsey."

"Don't thank me yet," Alex said, his voice cool and measured. "We're not done. You have a lot to learn if you want to be the chairman of a company like Sterling Enterprises. It requires more than just good intentions."

"You said you'd take me on as your apprentice," Ellie reminded him, her voice hesitant. "Will you… teach me?"

"That was merely a figure of speech. I don't take apprentices." Alex's tone was dismissive.

Ellie felt a flicker of disappointment.

"So, what do I need to learn?" she asked, determined to push forward.

She was painfully aware of her lack of knowledge and experience.

"I'll have my assistant enroll you in some business courses," Alex said. "You'll need practical experience as well. There's a lot to cover. But as per our agreement, I'll guide you."

"Thank you, Mr. Ramsey. I appreciate your help." Ellie's voice held genuine gratitude.

Something in her tone, in the way she looked at him, triggered a memory.

"Don't call me that!" Alex snapped, his eyes hardening. The resemblance to Isabelle was unnerving.

That damned woman!

He abruptly opened the car door and pushed Ellie inside.

Ellie stumbled, fear gripping her. Alex's sudden shift in mood was unsettling.

She looked at him nervously.

"Mr. Ramsey—" she began, instinctively using the more formal address.

But the words seemed to enrage him further. He got into the car, slamming the door behind him.

The enclosed space felt suffocating.

Ellie didn't understand what she'd done wrong. She only knew that Alex was terrifying, his eyes dark and stormy, his anger palpable.

She was terrified.

"Are you afraid of me?" Alex's voice was low and menacing. He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Why are you afraid? Who gave you permission to be afraid?"

"I… I'm not," Ellie stammered, her voice trembling.

She'd never encountered anyone like him.

He held her completely in his power, his fingers like a vise around her chin. She felt like a fragile bird, one wrong move away from being crushed.

One minute he was calm, the next he was exploding with rage.

His unpredictable mood swings were terrifying.

No wonder they called him volatile, especially with women.

"Take off your clothes," Alex commanded, his voice cold and sharp.

"But… we're in the car…" Ellie's eyes filled with tears.

There was a driver outside. Even if she was selling herself to him, she didn't want to be exposed like this.

"The contract was clear. Anytime, anywhere. If you want to break it, get out now." Alex's voice was devoid of emotion.

"I..." Ellie shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't break the contract. She wouldn't.

"Then let me help you." Alex reached out and ripped Ellie's blouse open, exposing her bare shoulders and the lacy straps of her bra.

Her scent, a delicate mix of vanilla and something uniquely her, ignited a spark within him.

He gripped her chin, his fingers digging into her skin.

Ellie winced, fear coursing through her.

She looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of terror and defiance.

The driver, focused on the road ahead, pretended not to notice the unfolding drama in the backseat.

"Touch me," Alex commanded, his voice rough.

Ellie hesitated, her body trembling.

Alex's gaze hardened. Her defiance, her vulnerability, it was all a mirror of Isabelle.

"You're just like her," he muttered, his voice laced with bitterness. "All of you."

He couldn't tell if he was looking at Ellie or the ghost of Isabelle.

He grabbed Ellie's hand, forcing it onto his chest.

Ellie's cheeks flushed, a wave of shame washing over her.

She couldn't resist. She'd signed the contract; her body was no longer her own.

Alex watched her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

He ordered her to obey, to follow his commands.

Ellie, terrified, complied, tears streaming down her face.

Her tears fueled his anger.

Wasn't this what she was supposed to do? To submit, to serve?

He wouldn't stop. He couldn't.

"It hurts…" Ellie whimpered.

"Hurts?" Alex's eyes were filled with a mixture of loathing and desire. He saw Isabelle in Ellie's face, the woman he both loved and hated. He held her tightly, his actions a mixture of passion and punishment.

Ellie's tears flowed freely, the pain unbearable.

She clung to him, her body wracked with sobs.

Alex continued his assault, his control slipping with each passing moment.

After what felt like an eternity, the car finally stopped in front of Alex's mansion.

Ellie was limp, her body spent, her clothes disheveled.

Alex looked at her, his desire still burning. She ignited a fire within him, a primal urge he couldn't control.

"It hurts…" Ellie sobbed, her eyes glazed with pain and confusion.

Alex frowned, a flicker of concern crossing his face. He covered her with his jacket and carried her into the house.

He deposited her in a guest room, instructing the housekeeper to take care of her.

Then, he retreated to his study, the image of Ellie's tear-stained face burned into his memory.

He had work to do, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Ellie was more than just a substitute for Isabelle. He hated her for reminding him of the woman who had betrayed him, yet he couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her.