Chapter 5

Alice woke before dawn the next morning, seeking solace in the quiet morning hours. She slipped out of bed and knelt beside her window, the moon's soft glow illuminating her face. Closing her eyes, she whispered a gentle prayer, seeking guidance and protection.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Alice rose and stepped onto her balcony. The morning air was crisp, filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. She breathed deeply, feeling the calm wash over her.

With each passing moment, the sky transformed into a kaleidoscope of hues – soft pinks, blushing peaches, and radiant golds. Alice's heart swelled with gratitude for this fleeting moment of peace.

She calming headed into the bathroom to perform her morning routines. She filled up the large bathtub to the brim, the steam from the sparkling water giving her a warm sensation all over. She took off her robe and gently got in, allowing the water to swallow her whole. After her bath was over, she headed into her spacious walk in closet to pick out an out outfit. After thinking for what seemed like forever, she finally settled down for a white shirt and a black straight gown. She applied a bit of makeup and took a moment to admire her her appearance in the large mirror in front of her.

Finally, she descended to the living room, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from the kitchen drawing her in. As she entered the living room, her gaze fell upon a certain figure who seem engrossed in some documents to notice her presence, Alex. He was sitting serenely on the couch, his leg crossed and his face still as marble.

Time suspended.

In that instant, Alice's world narrowed to the space between them. Fantasy seized her senses, and she envisioned herself drifting toward him, her feet bare and her heart aflame. His eyes, like dark pools, beckoned her closer.

In her mind's eye, she saw herself settle beside him, their bodies entwined as the morning light danced around them. Alex's fingers traced the contours of her face, his touch igniting shivers down her spine.

His lips whispered secrets against her skin, sending tremors through her very being. The room dissolved, leaving only the two of them, lost in a swirling vortex of desire and uncertainty.

The fantasy shattered as Alice's gaze met Alex's, his eyes piercing and intense. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her heart racing.

"Good morning," Alex said, his deep voice low and smooth.

Alice's voice trembled. "Good morning sir."

The air thickened, heavy with unspoken words. Alice sensed a hidden message in his gaze, a warning or a promise, she couldn't quite decipher.

A maid walked out of the kitchen holding a tray. She walked over to Alice and handed her a cup of coffee. She drank slowly from the mug, but at the same time,

Alice couldn't help but steal glances at Alex. His stillness was mesmerizing, like a statue come to life. She wondered what lay beneath his composed exterior, what secrets he kept hidden.

"Shall we?" Alex asked standing up as his hands slipped into his pockets after making sure she was doing with her coffee. Alice's mind stuttered, her thoughts tangled in the fantasy she'd conjured earlier.

"Huh?" she stammered, her cheeks flushing.

Alex raised an eyebrow, his expression a blend of curiosity and teasing. "Do you always get confused, Alice?"

Alice's face burned hotter as she grasped the context. "Oh, you mean... to work."

The drive was smooth and silent, a welcome respite from the turmoil brewing inside Alice. She couldn't shake off the feeling of being trapped, alone with Alex's piercing gaze.

"I heard you went out with my brother yesterday," Alex said, his voice calm and measured.

Alice's pulse skyrocketed. How did he know?

"Y-yes, I did, sir," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alex's next question surprised her, his tone laced with concern. "Hope he didn't hurt you."He asked because he knew his brother too well.

She stared at her hands, feeling a mix of emotions. "No sir, he didn't," she whispered.

The rest of the ride was silent, the tension palpable. As they arrived at the company, Alex drove right into his personal parking space. He turned off the engine and let out a silent sigh before stepping out with Alice opening the door almost immediately. Alice picked up a folder from the back sit which she had kept earlier before turning to Alex to say.

" Thank you for the ride sir" she said with her head hanging low afraid to meet his cold eyes.

"It's ok" he replied shortly. His gaze lingered on her for what seemed like forever. Alice quickly nodded before taking hurried steps to the elevator. Alex just watched her from behind

What secrets lay hidden behind his piercing eyes? And why did she feel drawn to him, like a moth to a flame?

As the day drew to a close end, Alice reflected on her busy hours as a member of the marketing staff. She had spent most of her time crafting compelling social media posts and analyzing engagement metrics.

But amidst the routine tasks, a peculiar encounter caught her attention.

During lunch, she had noticed a guy from Resource Development, glancing at her from across the room, Ryan. She had seen him around a couple of times but, they have never really talked to each other. His smile had seemed genuine, and Alice couldn't help but feel a flutter.

Later, as she was working on a campaign brief, Ryan approached her desk.

"Hey Alice, how's it going?" he asked, his voice friendly.

"It's going well, thanks," Alice replied, trying to focus on her screen.

Ryan lingered, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I've seen you around, but we've never officially met. Would love to grab coffee and get to know you better."

Alice's cheeks warmed, but she managed a polite smile. "That sounds nice."

Just then, her coworkers nearby began gossiping about her.

"...can't believe she's caught the eyes of the male employees her" one colleague said.

"I know, right? She's so lucky," another chimed in.

Alice's face grew hotter, feeling like her personal life was on display.

Ryan's expression turned sympathetic. "Don't mind them. You deserve better than gossip."

As they exchanged pleasantries, Alice found herself enjoying Ryan's easygoing nature.

At the office, a few minutes to till quitting time, Alice headed over to her manager's office to drop some paperwork. After finishing up with him, she stepped out of the office, but was immediately held in place at the mention of her name from a corner. Apparently, some coworkers were gossiping about her.

"She's a seductress," one of them sneered. "Who knows how many men she's manipulated to get where she is?"

"Don't worry, her facade won't last," another voice chimed in. "Her true nature will be exposed soon enough."

"That girl is a master manipulator," one of them hissed. "She's probably slept her way into the company."

"Just wait, her secrets will come to light," another voice added, dripping with malice. "And when they do, she'll be the one who's exposed."

"What gives you the right to say such, do you I could get you guys sued for slandering my name" Alice said walking up to them

"How can it be slandering if it's true" said one of them stepping closer to her. She instantly recognized who she was. She is Mandy, from the same department as her, marketing. And the other with her were her friends, Kelly and Rose.

"Everyone knows that your just a cheap slut, why don't you just admit it, it might make you feel better". Mandy continued. At that moment, Alice couldn't contain her anger anymore. She rose her had and made it land hard across Mandy's face.

"How dare you" Mandy yelled holding her face. But before Alice could respond, there was a voice from behind them.

"What's going on here" it was the voice of Mr Jonathan, the marketing departments assistant manager.

"S-sir, it it was her, she slapped me for no reason" Mandy quickly said pouring out a river of fake water from here eyes.

"Yes sir, we were here and we saw everything" Kelly quickly added, patting Mandy on her shoulders. Alice couldn't believe the show they were putting on, and she had to admit, they were doing a good job at that.

"Alice?". Mr Michael's voice rang out, but before Alice could say anything to defend herself, she felt an instant sting on her face. Apparently, Mr Michael gave her a slap of his own which sent her falling down hard to to the ground.

"This is a company Alice not a place to act like a street dog, behave yourself and this should sound as a warning, next time, I won't be so nice!!" Mr Michael said before leaving the scene with Mandy and her group leaving as well

Tears pricked at her eyes as Alice got up and fled to the restroom, seeking refuge from the emotional turmoil. Nikki found her later, concern etched on her face.

"Alice, you can't stay in there forever, we have to go home," Nikki said gently, knocking softly on the stall door.

Alice took a deep breath, wiping away tears. "I'm coming," she replied, her voice shaky.

As Alice emerged from the bathroom Nikki couldn't help but to notice her red swollen eyes and swollen cheeks.

"My boyfriend is down, why don't we give you a ride home" Nikki suggested.

"No...it's fine, I'll be alright" Alice said and turned away not giving Nikki a chance to say anything else. She took the elevator and headed to the parking lot where Alex waited. She hurriedly walked over to Alex's personal space. She walked over to the passenger and attempted to open the door, but to her surprise, the driver opened the door to the back seat and gestured for her to get in. Alice silently got in, with her head hanging down, hiding her tears.

During the ride, Alex couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong with the person next to him no matter how hard he tried to. He placed his phone down and called out her name, which made her to slowly raise her head to look at him. His expression darkened the moment he saw her her red, puffy eyes.

"Who did this to you?" he asked, his voice low and menacing, like a beast ready to pounce. Alice was frozen, her eyes locked on his dangerous gaze.

"Who did this to you?" he repeated, his impatience growing, causing Alice to flinch.Alice's fragile composure crumbled as Alex's intense gaze locked onto hers. His expression twisted into a scowl, dark and foreboding. She took a deep breath before speaking, her voice trembling.

She began to narrate everything that happened while Alex listened with an unchanging expression. After she was done, he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, which she took gratefully.

As they sat in silence, Alice's eyelids grew heavy, as she was stressed out, both mentally and emotionally. She rested her head on the headrest, unaware when it slipped onto Alex's chest, but for some reason, he didn't push her away.

*_At the mansion_*

After a long drive, the driver finally pulled up into the mansion, headlights illuminating the darkness.

The driver pulled up to the mansion, and Alex lightly tapped Alice's shoulder, rousing her from sleep. She sat up with a start, realizing her position, and pulled away, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." she stammered.

"It's fine," Alex replied, not looking at her.

Alice quickly exited the car, still flustered. But Alex didn't go in with her as he had pressing matters to attend to.

Alice entered the mansion, her footsteps echoing through the empty hallway. She headed straight upstairs, exhaustion weighing her down.

As she stepped into her room, she let out a sigh of relief, shedding her shoes and sinking onto the plush carpet.

Undressing, Alice slipped into a cozy nightgown, her mind replaying the day's events.

In the bathroom, she began her nightly routine, washing her face and brushing her teeth.

As she gazed into the mirror, flashes of the painful conversation with Mandy, Rose, and Kelly resurfaced.

Their harsh words cut deep, but Alex's gentle touch and reassuring presence countered the hurt.

Alice's thoughts swirled, memories of Alex's intense gaze and protective stance mingling with the sting of her coworkers' insults.

She took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering emotions.

Climbing into bed, Alice settled under the blankets, her eyelids growing heavy.

But but the moment she closed her eyes, sleep eluded her and restlessness took hold. She tossed and turned on the bed, but none of that helped. Finally, she threw off the covers and decided to visit the library and try to read herself to sleep. The silence and musty scent of old books might calm her racing thoughts.

As she returned from the library, she decided to take the long way. The hallway's soft glow led her to the front of an open room. Out of curiosity, she decided to have a look. She walked closer to the doors and inserted her head in. It turned out to be a massive bedroom, it really defined luxury and wealth. And the bright light that casted a warm glow around, only increased the beauty of the environment. But she had no idea who it belonged to until her eyes met that of the figure on the bed.

Aiden's face lit up with a charming smile upon spotting the little figure by his door.

"Alice, come in."

His warm invitation dispelled the night's chill.

Alice stepped inside as to not get him upset as she has learnt about how quickly he could change his mask.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked, gesturing for her to sit on the sofa.

Alice hesitated a bit before sitting down. "Nothing much, just couldn't sleep, so I explored the library." She said, and watched as he sat next to her. The proximity between them caused her heartbeat to increase immediately.

"I understand, I couldn't sleep either, a certain someone wouldn't leave my mind." He said with a mischievous grin.

Aiden's eyes locked onto hers, his sharp gaze freezing her in place. His hand traveled from his side, to her face, and grasped her cheek, pulling her close.

But, Alice pushed him away, standing up quickly. "G-good night sir." She said, making her way to the door but was immediately held back by Aiden.

"Stay with me, Alice," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin.

Alice tried to push him away, but Aiden's grip tightened. He pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her ear.

"You're so beautiful, Alice," he whispered, his voice husky. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long."

Alice struggled to break free, but Aiden's arms wrapped around her, holding her in place. He spun her around, pinning her against the wall.

"No-no, stop!" Alice cried out, trying to push him away.

But Aiden's hands roamed over her body, his fingers tracing the contours of her face. He leaned in, his lips inches from hers.

"I won't hurt you, Alice," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with desire. "I'll make you feel good."

Alice's heart pounded in her chest as Aiden's lips brushed against hers. She tried to turn her head, but Aiden's hands held her in place as he roughly kissed her.

Aiden's kiss deepened, his tongue probing her lips. Alice felt a wave of revulsion wash over her, and she knew she had to act fast.

With a surge of adrenaline, Alice bit down on Aiden's lip, making him cry out in pain. She took advantage of the distraction to push him away, but Aiden's hands closed around her wrists, holding her in place.

"You little tease," he snarled, his lips curling into a sneer. "Like it or not, your gonna be screaming my name tonight"

Alice's heart racing, she tried to reason with him. "Aiden, please. Let me go."

But Aiden's grip only tightened. He pulled her closer, his eyes blazing with anger. He picked her up and walked over to his bed where he roughly throws her.

"Ahh." She let out a small scream out of shock. But before she could recover, she found Aiden on top of her, with his knee on both of her sides.

"Please don't." She cried out to him while trying to push him off but instead, he grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head.

In a desperate bid to escape, Alice kicked him between the legs which earned a groan from Aiden. She immediately pushed him off her and made a run for it. Aiden immediately regained his composure and chased after her, threatening, "Come back here, or you'll regret it!" She heard Aiden say which prompted her to run faster.

Alice was inches from the sanctuary of her room when her foot caught on a mysterious object, sending her stumbling. "Ahh!" she cried out, her arms flailing for balance.

Aiden's swift reflexes kicked in, his hand closing around her arm to steady her. But instead of releasing her, his grip tightened. Alice tried to wriggle free, unease creeping up her spine.

Just as Aiden was about dragging Alice away, he felt a tug. He thought she was trying to run again, but looking back, Alex appeared, grabbing Alice's other arm. The brothers exchanged icy glances before Alex commanded, "Let her go, Aiden."