His thumb brushed her jaw, a possessive touch.
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“I don’t have time,” she muttered, avoiding his eyes. “I need to go back to the office after lunch.”
He didn’t even blink.
“I will wait for you,” he said quietly, the certainty in his voice leaving no room for argument. “And then I will take you to dinner tonight.”
Mia didn’t answer him. She didn’t even look his way.
Arguing with Alexander was pointless. He never backed down—never compromised. Pushing against him only made things worse, like throwing herself against a wall that wouldn’t move.
So she drew in a slow breath, forced her voice to stay flat, and muttered dismissively, “Alright,” without paying him any attention.
She reached for the car door, wrapped her fingers around the cold metal handle, and pushed it open. Cool air rushed in. But the second her feet touched the ground—
A strong hand locked around her waist.
Before she could react, Alexander yanked her back. Hard.
Mia gasped as she was pulled straight into his lap again, the door still open, the world tilting for a split second. Her hands flew up instinctively, landing on his shoulders to steady herself.
He didn’t give her time to breathe.
His fingers slid up, gripping her jaw firmly, forcing her face toward him—and then his lips crashed against hers in a quick, unapologetic kiss. And then he released her.
Mia pushed off him instantly, scrambling out of the car with sharp, frantic movements. The moment her feet hit the pavement, she whipped her head toward him, eyes blazing as she shot him a glare.
Unaffected, Alexander was already climbing out, but she pivoted on her heel and bolted toward the company building, refusing to give him even a chance to grab her again.
Less than ten minutes later, her phone rang at her desk.
“Lunch delivery for you,” the receptionist said as Mia reached the lobby, holding out a paper bag. “Did you order something?”
Mia shook her head, frowning. “No, I didn’t.” She looked down at the bag—and saw a note clipped to it.
‘Don’t even think about going hungry. Finish this, or after dinner, you’re staying by my side until I know you’ve eaten properly.’
Mia’s jaw tightened, a spark of anger igniting instantly. Only one man would have the audacity to threaten her like this. Her fingers curled around the bag, and she strode back toward her office, every step sharp with irritation.
She ate in silence, seething with each bite.
The day crawled forward, heavy and exhausting. Papers piled on her desk, emails pinged endlessly, and her shoulders ached from tension. Somewhere in the middle of it, she started to miss her old office.
“It really was the dream job,” Mia whispered as she closed her eyes and exhaled under her breath. “I really don’t like working. I want to go home.” A tiny sob threatened to slip out, but she forced a deep breath in and wiped the corner of her eye before it could fall.
There was still one hour left. So she pushed through it—working until the clock finally struck six.
When she stepped outside, she froze.
Alexander stood by his car, arms crossed over his chest, the fading light of evening casting stark shadows across his face. The sky was deepening into indigo, but a faint strip of sunlight lingered behind him, accentuating his sharp silhouette.
‘Has he been waiting for me this whole time?’ Her heart lurched. ‘What does he want? I… I have nothing to give him. Why is he still so relentless?’
As Mia walked closer to the main road, she noticed a woman stepping into Alexander’s space, standing just a little too close. The woman tilted her head, smiling as she spoke to him in a soft, coaxing tone.
When Mia drew nearer, she caught the last few words, breathy and bold.
