bChapter /bb20 /b

“I wasn’t aware Alejandro went back to used goods,” Nivera said sweetly, tilting her head. “But I guess everyone has a charity project now and bthen /b

Carmen’s face stiffened and she knew she had hit a sensitive spot.

Nivera smiled wider, stepping forward. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m sure someone out there finds value in recycled stic.”

The silence around them thickened.

Carmen’s lips thinned, and for a second, it looked like she might retaliate. But Alejandro finally stepped between them with a casual, “That’s enoughb,” /baimed more at Carmen than at Nivera.

Oh so now he could interfere!

Carmen shot Nivera onest venomous look and spun on her heel, retreating in a huff.

The moment she was gone, Alejandro turned to Nivera with a spark of amusement in his eyes.

“I’m impressed,” he praised, his voice low, almost pleased. “Didn’t think you had ws.”

Nivera stared at him, heart still pounding, the insult still burning.

b“/bYou let her talk to me like that.”

い

“I let you handle it. And you did.” He smiled.

“You shouldn’t have let her start!” she hissed. What the hell was wrong with him?!

“Would you rather I told her to y nice? Or defend your honour like some idiot prince?”

“My honour? You fucked her and dumped her but I’m the one who was being insulted!” She silently yelled.

“You’ll face more and the party so keep those retorts handy,” he smiled casually as though it wasn’t a serious matter.

If Nivera thought that what Carmen did was bad, she would experience more at Antonio’s wedding and he wasn’t going to be jumping to her defence

every time which was why he let her take care of Carmen.

And she had done exceedingly well, making him proud of his decision to take her.

It was that smile–that smugb, /bself–satisfied smile–that made her snap.

She lunged forward without thinking, shoving him hard in the chest. “You asshole!”

He didn’t move much–just stumbled a step, then caught her wrists effortlessly before she couldnd another hit.

“Oh, we’re back to this again?” he said in a low voice.

“Let go of me!b” /b

b“/bYou keep swinging bfirst/b.”

“Because you keep being an asshole.b” /b

“bYou /bshould be thanking me,” bhe /bresponded tone still maddeningly bamused/bb. /bb“/bThat bwas /bbquite /bbthe /bdebut.”

b“/bDebutb? /bbI’m /bnot your bshow pony/bb!/b”

She twisted against his hold, but he was stronger. She struggled, but he tightened his grip–not painfully, just enough to show her who was stronger

Then, in a sudden movement, he spun her and pinned her to the wall behind them, one arm braced beside her head, the other bstill /bholding bher /bwrist-

Her breath caught.

Alejandro stood inches from her now, holding her wrists pinned between them. His eyes burned into hers–not amused nowi, /ibut dark. Focused.

The air shifted.

Their bodies were too close. His breath was warm against her cheek.

She froze.

“Try that again,” he murmured, voice a low warning.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Her pulse thundered.

But he wasn’t hurting her. Wasn’t taunting her.

He was watching her.

Tension curled in the space between them like a live wire. Her pulse thundered. His jaw clenched.

There was anger there. Frustration. But something else too…a flicker of something he didn’t want to name.

“You shouldn’t attack people stronger than you,i” /ihe murmured, his voice low.

“You shouldn’t underestimate people who are tired of your bullshit,” she shot back, though her voice came out softer than she meant.

She hated the way the heat curled low in her belly. Hated the way her skin prickled with awareness. Hated the flicker of something unspoken in his eyes -control, yes, but something darker beneath it. Something raw.

His eyes dropped briefly to her lips before flicking back up.

Nivera didn’t move. Neither ‘did he.

For a heartbeat, neither of them breathed.

Then Alejandro let go as the spell broke.

He stepped back, smoothing his shirt like nothing had happened.

“I’ve got a meeting,” he said coolly. “You’ll wait in my office.”

“You said five minutes,” she reminded him.

“You’re a fool to believe I was telling the truth,” he insulted once again and she went red in the face.

“You’ll wait in

my

“I’m not your pet.”

office.”

“No,” he said tly. “You’re something much more dangerous.”

He led the way through the ss doors, and once again, she followed.

bBut /bthis time, she knew everyone was watching. And bunlike /bbeforeb, /bbshe /bbno /bblonger /bbcared/b. bLet /bbthem /bbtalk/b. Let bthem /bbwonder /b

As they entered his private office–a massive space with a city skyline view–Nivera walked over to the floor–to–ceiling windows, arms folded.

“You know,” she muttered, not looking at him, “they all think you’re the charming one. The golden boy. Jovial. Funb./b”

Alejandro nced up from his desk, dropping his phone on the table.

She turned to face him fully. “If only they knew the truth.”

He smirked. “They won’t. That’s the fun of it.”

“You’re a snake.”

“And you’re here in my den.”

“Only because you dragged mei./ii” /iShe scowled.

Alejandro leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin. “Look at you, already practicing how to chase away women who will try what Carmen did,” he changed the subject.

“I wasn’t doing it for you.”

“Yeah, sure,i” /iAlejandro rolled his eyes as he grabbed a file.

Outside the window, the city moved on, iblind /ito the war brewing in this office.

Nivera watched Alejandro rise and reach for his suit jacket.

“It’s time for my meeting. Stay here and don’t cause any trouble,” he warned her after which he left.