Isabella

I entered Devereux Industries with my head held high, though my hands were cold.

I wouldn’t let Lucian control me. I wouldn’t allow him to believe, not even for a second, that he had won.

The elevator doors opened to the top floor, and there it was — his vast office with a stunning view of Manhattan that reflected his dominance over the city.

And there he was.

“Isabella,” his voice was smooth, yet it carried something that made my skin prickle, as if he were claiming something deep inside me that I wasn’t ready to give.

I swallowed the irritation rising in my throat, but my gaze didn’t waver. “Lucian.”

He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. “Sit.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to be so easily controlled. “I’m fine standing.”

A small smile crept onto his lips. “Still stubborn.”

I didn’t respond, but the tension in my body was unmistakable. I walked toward his desk and threw the signed contract down in front of him, the paper crinkling in the silence.

His eyes gleamed with something dark, something I hated to see — satisfaction.

“You signed it,” he said, his voice low, reverberating with power.

I lifted my chin defiantly. “With conditions.”

Lucian picked up the papers, flipping through them slowly, his fingers tracing each clause with deliberate care, as if he could dismantle my plan with a single glance.

“You altered the contract,” his voice dropped to a dangerously low tone, filled with a sharp edge.

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady despite the tension coiling inside me.

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “Sweet illusion, Isabella. You lost the moment you stepped into my world.”

My jaw tightened, my eyes narrowing as I met his gaze. “You wanted a wife? Now you have one. But I’m not your possession.”

Lucian didn’t move, his gaze fixed on me, as if weighing my words. The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken power.

Then, without warning, he **moved.**

In a flash, he was standing in front of me, one hand braced against the desk while the other reached for my chin, lifting my face to meet his eyes.

Those same eyes — the ones that had consumed me that night.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin.

“Haven’t you been thinking about that night at the club?” His voice was low, a husky whisper that sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard, doing my best to maintain composure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He smiled knowingly, his lips curling in satisfaction. “Don’t lie to me, Isabella. I remember the way you looked at me. The way you moaned for me, even without knowing who I was.”

A flush of heat spread across my cheeks, but I refused to look away.

“We have dinner tonight,” he said, his voice calm and controlled.

I frowned, confusion lacing my expression. “What?”

“Our first official engagement as a couple.”

My stomach twisted in protest. The very idea of a public engagement, of being tied to him in any way, filled me with dread.

“I don’t remember agreeing to that,” I replied, my voice tinged with frustration.

Lucian smirked, the expression full of self-assurance. “My driver will pick you up at eight. Be ready.”

I stared at him, my defiance still present. “And if I’m not?”

He leaned in even closer, his eyes darkening with something dangerous.

“Oh, Isabella,” he murmured, his fingers slowly tracing the line of my jaw. “You don’t want to test the limits of my control.”

For some reason, those words made me shiver more than I wanted to admit. The power in them, the promise behind his tone, was undeniable.

The sound of the doorbell brought me back to reality when I returned to my apartment.

I already knew who it was.

Lia, my best friend, had insisted on seeing me the moment she heard about the agreement with Lucian. As always, she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

I took a deep breath before opening the door.

Lia wasted no time, pushing the door open and stepping inside. Her sharp eyes scanned my face, taking in every detail.

“Tell me you’re not serious,” she said, her arms crossed in disbelief.

I sighed, closing the door behind her. “Good morning to you too.”

“Don’t distract me with politeness, Isabella,” she snapped, her voice urgent. “Did you sign the contract?”

I looked away, unable to meet her gaze.

Lia gasped, her hands running through her blonde hair in shock. “My God! You really did it!”

I walked over to the kitchen table, pulled out a chair, and dropped into it. “I had no choice.”

Lia sat across from me, her shock still apparent. “Everyone has a choice.”

“Not when Lucian Devereux is involved. He’s a very powerful man.”

She shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. “You’re going to marry the man who destroyed your family! Do you realize how insane this is?”

“I do,” I murmured, rubbing my temples, trying to ward off the headache that was beginning to form.

“Then why? What did he offer that’s worth your freedom?”

I let out a hollow, bitter laugh. “He offered me a way out. And I’m going to use it to find out what he really wants… and destroy him.”

Lia studied me for a long moment, her eyes softening slightly. “You’re playing with fire, Bella.”

“I know,” I admitted, knowing how dangerous this game could be.

She sighed, finally relaxing a little. “And… how was the meeting with him?”

A shiver ran down my spine as the memory of the meeting returned.

I closed my eyes for a second, trying to push away the memories. The imposing office. Lucian’s sharp gaze. The way he provoked me until I lost control.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” I lied, forcing a calm tone into my voice.

Lia raised an eyebrow, not believing me for a second. “Isabella.”

I sighed, knowing I couldn’t keep the truth from her. “He… he knows.”

She frowned, her confusion deepening. “Knows what?”

My chest tightened, my words faltering. “About that night at the club.”

Lia’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait… you mean…”

“Yes.” I pressed my lips together, the weight of the truth settling in. “The masked man at the club… was him.”

She gaped at me for a moment before muttering a curse under her breath. “This has to be a nightmare.”

“I wish it were.”

Lia rubbed her face, trying to process the information. “And he mentioned it?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes. And he’s using it against me.”

My friend leaned forward, her concern evident. “What are you going to do?”

I lifted my chin, determination settling in. “I’m going to play his game. But on my terms.”

Lia sighed, still looking worried. “If you need me…”

“I know.”

She held my hand for a moment before standing up, her concern still evident in her eyes. “Be careful, Isabella.”

I didn’t respond.

Because deep down, I knew that no amount of caution could save me from the storm that was Lucian Devereux.

And…

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be saved at all.