Lila Hart's skin still burned from Alexander Knight's public kiss at the gala, the memory of his lips claiming her in front of everyone searing her mind. The way he'd pressed her against the pillar, his thigh between hers, had left her trembling with a mix of shame and unwanted desire. Now, back in his penthouse, she paced the opulent study, her heart pounding with defiance. She wasn't his—not truly—despite the contract she'd signed to save her family. That night two years ago, when she'd dragged him from a burning car, had been her curse, tying her to his obsession.
Desperate for a way out, Lila rummaged through the desk, her fingers brushing against a hidden drawer. Inside, she found a copy of the contract, its pages crisp and menacing. Her eyes scanned the familiar terms—her role as his "fiancée" for a year, her family's debts erased—but then she froze. Buried in the fine print were clauses she hadn't seen before. Her blood ran cold as she read: Complete authority over personal decisions, including attire, social engagements, and travel. Non-compliance results in immediate foreclosure of family assets and legal action. Another clause, even more chilling: Subject agrees to remain in Alexander Knight's primary residence and adhere to his directives in all matters.
Her hands shook, the paper crumpling in her grip. This wasn't just a contract—it was a leash, giving him total control over her life. Every choice, every move, belonged to him. The weight of his obsession, born from that rainy night when she'd saved him, pressed down like a noose.
The door creaked open, and Alexander stepped in, his tailored suit accentuating his powerful frame, blue eyes glinting with predatory amusement. "Snooping, little flame?" His voice was smooth, but the edge of danger made her pulse spike.
Lila spun, clutching the contract, her voice trembling with fury. "This… this is slavery! You didn't tell me you could control everything—my clothes, my life, where I go! You tricked me!"
He smirked, closing the distance with slow, deliberate steps. "You signed it, Lila. Willingly." His fingers brushed her cheek, trailing down to her throat, where her pulse raced under his touch. Heat flared, unbidden, her body betraying her even as her mind screamed in protest. "You were so desperate to save your family, you didn't read the fine print."
"I'll tear it up!" she snapped, ripping the contract in half, the pieces fluttering to the floor. Her chest heaved, defiance blazing despite the fear coiling in her gut.
Alexander laughed, a low, dark sound that sent shivers through her. He stepped closer, caging her against the desk, his hands gripping her hips. "You think that changes anything?" His lips hovered over hers, his breath hot, stirring the same traitorous desire that had consumed her at the gala. "I have copies, Lila. And you have nowhere to run."
His hand slid up her side, teasing the edge of her blouse, fingers grazing the curve of her breast. She gasped, her nipples hardening against her will, a pulse of need throbbing low. "You can't own me," she whispered, but her voice wavered, her body leaning into his touch despite her rage.
"Oh, but I do," he murmured, his lips brushing her ear, sending sparks down her spine. "Every choice, every breath—it's mine." His hand slipped beneath her skirt, tracing her inner thigh, teasing but not taking, a cruel reminder of his power. She bit her lip, stifling a moan, hating herself for the way her hips shifted toward him.
The air crackled with tension, his control absolute, her defiance crumbling. Then, his eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You didn't read the fine print, sweetheart. I own you."
A sharp buzz from the intercom broke the spell. "Mr. Knight, Ethan Caldwell is at the entrance," a guard's voice crackled. "He's demanding to see Miss Hart. He says he has evidence to break your contract."
Lila's heart lurched. Could Ethan free her, or was this just another trap? Humanize it and break sentence and don't change tone or plot of this chapter and word count will remain same and repetitive sentences change break paragraphs