CHAPTER 12
ALEXIA P.O.V
"How can someone be so immature?!" I snapped, pacing the room.
"It's not like he even needs the money. He just wants to get under my skin—so annoying!" I continued, running my hand through my hair in frustration. "And to think I believed I'd never see him again… yet I keep bumping into him. That expressionless robot!"
I scoffed loudly.
"Always trying to intimidate me… well, too bad for him. I'm not scared of anything. In fact, I think he's just an insecure man who hides behind threats and power."
I crossed my arms, frowning.
"Hmph."
After a moment, I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to calm down.
"Whatever… at least I won't have to see him again. Hopefully."
I turned to leave the room—I needed coffee, badly—but before I could take another step—
THUD.
I slammed straight into something solid.
Hard.
My nose stung instantly.
"What the—" I winced, rubbing it. "Since when did we install a wall here? Don't tell me those lazy idiots—"
"Done whining?"
The voice.
Cold.
Familiar.
My entire body froze.
Slowly… I looked up.
And there he was.
Standing right in front of me.
My heart skipped.
Then dropped.
It felt like someone had poured ice water over my head.
Had he—
Heard everything?
A wave of heat rushed to my face. I could feel it burning.
Not fear.
Definitely not fear.
…Just embarrassment.
And something else I hated even more—
Guilt.
"Cat got your tongue?" he smirked. "Where's the brave girl from a minute ago? The one who wasn't afraid of me?"
"I—I…" I stammered, then quickly straightened. "Mr. Slade, shouldn't you be leaving by now? Why are you eavesdropping on people's conversations? That's very rude."
"Not when the conversation involves me," he replied calmly.
I clenched my jaw.
"So what if it does?" I shot back. "Was anything I said untrue? Aren't you an expressionless robot? Or do you not enjoy bullying people?"
If I was exposed, then so be it.
I'd face it head-on.
"Hm."
That was all he said.
Then—
He started walking toward me.
Instinctively, I stepped back.
He kept advancing.
Step by step.
Until—
My back hit the wall.
Trapped.
He was too close.
Way too close.
His face hovered inches from mine, his emerald eyes locking onto mine with that same intense pull that always left me… unsettled.
There was something about those eyes.
Something dangerous.
"I'm letting you off this time," he murmured, his voice low, "because of the successful contract we just signed."
His fingers brushed against my cheek.
My breath hitched.
"But next time…"
His eyes darkened.
"I won't be so kind."
The air around us turned cold.
He chuckled softly, then pulled away as if nothing had happened.
Before leaving—
He patted my head.
"Good girl."
And just like that…
He walked away.
I stood there, frozen.
Only when he disappeared completely did I realize—
I had been holding my breath.
I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself.
"What… was that?" I whispered.
"Ma'am?" Nadia's voice snapped me back.
She walked in, then paused when she saw my face.
"Are you alright?"
I forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just… a little tired. Today's been exhausting."
"Oh," she said gently. "I'll handle things for now. Please get some rest."
"Don't need to tell me twice," I muttered, already heading out.
—
The Following Weeks
They were… uneventful.
Work.
More work.
Endless work.
And for me—
Work… and avoidance.
After that encounter, I did everything I could to stay far away from him.
Not because I was scared.
Absolutely not.
I just… didn't want trouble.
Otherwise, it would feel like everything from the villa had been pointless.
—
The villa…
Naomi and Clara had insisted on it.
They said I needed to escape—escape society, responsibilities, expectations.
No eyes watching.
No one tracking us.
No pressure.
And that's how we ended up in the Cloud Forest.
A region covered in towering trees so dense, it felt like the world disappeared beyond them. There were even rumors of werewolves lurking in the shadows.
Ridiculous.
We stayed there for days—
And saw nothing unusual.
Just baseless stories.
After all, werewolves were nothing but myths… right?
Well—
Not entirely peaceful.
We stumbled across a group of dangerous mafia operatives causing chaos in the city's underworld.
At first, Naomi and I ignored it.
Not our problem.
But Clara?
She was determined.
"Let's take them down!"
She wouldn't stop.
After a lot of persuasion…
I agreed.
Clara had never been a fighter. I'd known her since kindergarten—she was always cheerful, innocent, full of life.
Not made for that kind of world.
And honestly?
I didn't want to drag her into it.
But she insisted.
Relentlessly.
And eventually…
She proved herself.
It was hard for her at first—painful, even—but she adapted quickly.
Determined.
Strong.
Naomi, on the other hand, needed no training. By eleven, she already had a black belt in taekwondo.
As for me…
Three years ago, Old Man Will sent me to a military camp.
No warning.
No explanation.
Just—
"It's for your own good."
I still remembered the look on his face that night.
Fear.
Urgency.
Something was wrong.
Even though I didn't want to go…
I agreed.
And that same night, he sent me away.
Quietly.
Secretly.
Even Clara and Naomi had no idea.
They thought I had gone abroad to visit family.
—
The villa had been… freeing.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
And coming back to the city now—
Something felt off.
I just couldn't explain it.
"Ma'am? Ma'am?" Nadia called, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry… what were you saying?"
"Your attention is needed at the entrance."
"For what?"
"There seems to be… a situation."
"Can't you handle it?"
She hesitated.
"Ma'am… I think this is something only you can deal with."
That was… unusual.
"Alright."
I walked toward the entrance.
And then—
I saw it.
A massive banner stretched across the front:
WELCOME HOME
And below it—
An extravagant display of flowers arranged into the shape of a BMW.
Over-the-top.
Ridiculous.
Attention-seeking.
I didn't even need to think.
Only one person would do something like this.
My expression darkened.
"…Tyler," I growled.