seat at the table

Sophia stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing the fabric of her dark pencil skirt, her fingers trembling slightly. Today wasn't just another day in the endless, luxurious charade she had been thrown into. Today, she was going to attend her first real business meeting with Alexander, and she couldn't shake the nervousness creeping up her spine.

The fitted white blouse she had chosen clung perfectly to her form, but it didn't make her feel any less exposed. This wasn't her world—corporate boardrooms, powerful men in suits, and business deals that could make or break entire empires. She had never imagined she'd be part of such high-stakes negotiations, let alone beside a man like Alexander Maddox, whose mere presence could command a room without him needing to say a single word.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She glanced up as the door swung open, revealing Alexander, already impeccably dressed in his tailored navy suit. He didn't ask for permission to enter—he never did. He simply existed in her space, filling it with an unspoken authority that made her pulse race.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice clipped. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, lingering for just a moment longer on her bare legs before flicking back to her face.

Sophia forced a tight smile, trying to suppress the tension in her chest. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Good. Don't overthink it." He strode towards her, his cologne filling the air—sharp, masculine, and impossible to ignore. "This is business. Stick to the facts, follow my lead, and you'll be fine."

She nodded, but her mind was already spinning. The pressure of walking into that meeting as not just a pretty face but as his *partner* weighed heavily on her. What if she said the wrong thing? What if she embarrassed him?

"You look nervous," Alexander remarked, stepping closer, his voice lowering as his eyes softened, just barely. "You shouldn't be. I wouldn't have brought you into this if I didn't think you could handle it."

It was the closest thing to reassurance she had ever gotten from him. But it wasn't enough to dispel the fear clawing at her. "What exactly is my role in this meeting?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly. "Your role is to support me. You're my fiancée, but today, you're also part of my team. I need you to back me up in front of these men. We're discussing a major merger, and you being there sends a message."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "A message?"

"That I'm not just the ruthless businessman they know me as, but someone who has stability. A future. You're part of that." His words were laced with something deeper, though she couldn't quite figure out what. Was he talking about the deal or something else entirely?

Sophia swallowed hard, nodding once more. "I understand."

"Good." Alexander took a step back, his hand brushing against her arm as he moved past her. The touch was fleeting but electric, sending an unexpected jolt through her body. "We're leaving in five minutes. Don't be late."

***

The boardroom was even more intimidating than she had imagined. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline, but the tension inside the room was palpable. The long glass table was already surrounded by men—executives from other corporations, all of whom looked like they belonged in some Forbes cover spread. They stopped their quiet conversations the moment Alexander entered, the air immediately thick with respect, fear, and a hint of jealousy.

Alexander didn't hesitate. His presence dominated the room as he strode forward, not bothering with formalities. The men all stood, their eyes darting curiously to Sophia, who followed just behind him. She could feel the weight of their stares—wondering who she was, why she was here, and what role she played in Alexander's empire.

"Gentlemen," Alexander said smoothly as he took his seat at the head of the table. He gestured for Sophia to sit beside him, his hand resting briefly on her back as she did. "I'd like to introduce my fiancée, Sophia Hart. She's joining us today to provide insight on the merger. She's got a sharp eye for detail."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. *Provide insight?* That wasn't what he had said back at the apartment. She was supposed to support him, stay quiet, follow his lead. Now he was throwing her into the deep end, and she could feel every eye in the room boring into her, waiting for her to speak.

The first man to break the silence was David Langston, CEO of one of the companies they were merging with. He smiled politely, but there was a hint of condescension in his eyes as he spoke. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Hart. I didn't realize Alexander's personal life had such a… business-oriented element."

Sophia could sense the veiled insult, and for a moment, she was too stunned to respond. But before she could let the silence stretch too long, Alexander's hand found hers beneath the table, squeezing it in warning.

"I find that business and personal life often overlap," Sophia said, her voice steady despite the knots in her stomach. She turned her gaze toward David, giving him a polite but pointed smile. "And Alexander trusts me to understand that balance. I'm here to offer another perspective. I hope you won't mind."

David raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by her composure. "Of course," he replied, though the tone of his voice made it clear he wasn't convinced.

The meeting pressed forward, and Sophia tried to follow the conversation about the merger, but her nerves were getting the best of her. The men spoke in rapid, clipped sentences, discussing valuations, shareholder concerns, and regulatory issues that were miles above her head.

She kept glancing at Alexander, hoping for some signal, but he remained stone-faced, his focus entirely on the task at hand.

Finally, the conversation took a turn toward marketing strategy. Alexander had suggested they rebrand the merged companies under one unified banner, which made sense from a business standpoint, but something about it rubbed Sophia the wrong way.

She hesitated before speaking up, her voice interrupting the flow of the meeting. "I think that might be a mistake."

All eyes turned to her, including Alexander's. His icy blue gaze bore into hers, warning her silently, but she pressed on.

"Rebranding might alienate your existing customer base. If both companies have loyal customers who identify strongly with their respective brands, combining them under one name could cause confusion or resentment."

There was a beat of silence, and Sophia's stomach twisted. Had she overstepped? But then, one of the executives across the table nodded thoughtfully. "She has a point."

Sophia could feel Alexander's hand tighten against his pen, his knuckles white as he processed what she had just said. She had spoken out of turn, challenged him in front of his colleagues, but the response from the others was undeniable. A ripple of agreement spread through the room.

"Noted," Alexander said finally, his voice sharp but controlled. "We'll revisit the branding strategy after the merger."

Sophia breathed a small sigh of relief, though she could feel the tension radiating off Alexander beside her. She had pushed him, challenged him, and while it had paid off for now, she wasn't sure how he would react once they were alone.

The rest of the meeting passed without incident, and as the men began to file out, Alexander remained seated, his gaze fixed on the table in front of him. Sophia stood, suddenly unsure of what to do next, but just as she turned to leave, Alexander's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist firmly.

"You're not done yet," he said quietly, his voice a low growl that sent a shiver down her spine. "Come with me."

He led her out of the boardroom, his grip still firm on her wrist as they walked down the hall toward his private office. The moment the door closed behind them, he let go of her, turning to face her with a mixture of anger and something else she couldn't quite place.

"You think you can challenge me like that in front of my team?" His voice was low, controlled, but laced with fury.

Sophia squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. "I wasn't challenging you. I was offering a different perspective. You said you wanted me here as your partner, didn't you?"

Alexander took a step closer, his eyes darkening with intensity. "In business, loyalty is everything. I don't need my partner questioning me in front of others. Do you understand?"

Her heart raced, but she held his gaze, refusing to let him intimidate her. "I understand. But I also understand that sometimes, the people closest to you are the ones who see what you don't."

There was a charged silence between them, the air thick with unresolved tension. Then, without warning, Alexander's expression softened, just for a moment, his lips curving into the barest hint of a smile.

"You're bold, I'll give you that." His voice was low, almost amused. "But don't make a habit of it."

Sophia's pulse quickened as she stared up at him, unsure whether he was warning her or testing her boundaries. His hand brushed against hers as he turned to open the door, sending a jolt of electricity through her skin.

"You did well in there," he murmured, his voice so close it made her knees weak. "But remember, in business, loyalty is everything. And I expect yours, above all else.