Bound by Contract

Mia's Point of View 

I fumed at the slick black card clutched in my palm like a hissing cobra ready to strike.

"No." I said between clenched teeth. Alexander Knight smiled ironically, the blue tint of his eyes flashing and unwinking. "No?" he repeated, the word not his.

I breathed deeply, trying to settle myself. "I don't want your black card. And I don't want to go to this party." The air between us grew thick. His jaw shifted imperceptibly, his face not changing.

"You don't have the right to refuse," he finally said. His tone was level, but there was an undercurrent of compulsion that made me shiver. "You don't have the right to refuse," he finally said. His tone was leveled up. I crossed my arms. "Excuse me?"

He sighed, his own patience shown thinning. "You signed the contract, Mia. So when I say go to an event, you go." I clenched my fist."That contract's for my work, not to act as a trophy to boast about."

He took a step closer, his presence forceful. "That contract," he emphasized, "means that whatever is necessary to make this work, you do it." I gulped hard, my heart pounding. Was this how he did business? How he used people to advance himself?

"Why?" I said, my voice gentler now, almost hesitant. "Why have you been watching me paint all these years? What do you really want from me?" His eyes locked into mine for a long time before he finally spoke. "I've already told you,he said. "It's business." I didn't believe him.

Not for a second. But he wasn't proposing anything more than that. His face turned cold, and muttering no longer, he strode towards the door. "Follow me." I hesitated. Every cell in my body was screaming at me to stand firm—to not play his games. The thing was. I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do next.

There was a lingering, anguished doubt before I gave a frustrated sigh and followed him.

The Boutique of Luxury

The drive was in silence. Alexander remained silent, and I wasn't going to be. I sat, watching the city lights streaming by in the window on the outside of the building, my mind spinning. Why was I here volunteering in the first place? Because you signed the contract, a whiny voice in my head barked. And because, when push came to shove, you're a curious person.

We drove up in front of an upscale boutique—one of those high-end designer stores I would never be caught dead entering by myself. The type where the customers came out with bags whose price tag was greater than what I paid for rent. Alexander got out of the car first, and I lingered for a second before catching up to him, truly out of place as I trailed him into the building.

 The store smelled luxury. Leather bags, designer perfume , clothes etc. A woman with hair that looked like it had been styled backwards. She wore a pencil skirt and a shirt as she smiled professionally at us.

"Mr. Knight," she said smoothly."Mr. Knight," she said smoothly." Alexander waved in my direction with no embarrassment. "She needs a dress." The woman's icy stare cut to me, taking in my size in a single quick glance. "Of course. Right this way."

I sensed the displeasure in her eyes, as if she knew that I didn't fit into a place like this.I stood up straight and allowed her guide me toward the back, where racks of stunning dresses shone in the sunlit room.

"Something beautiful, something dramatic," the woman sighed, running her fingers over the gowns until she brought out a deep red one. "This would be perfect."

I reached out and ran my fingers over the material. Beautiful—silk with high plunging neckline and intricate gold embroidery. Alexander loomed over me, his face impassive.

"This one," I said, before I could do anything else. The woman smiled in approval. "Good choice. And shoes?" I pointed to a pair of gold stilettos on the shelf. "Those."

It didn't take me any length of time whatsoever to have it all wrapped up, and we proceeded to the checkout. Alexander took out his black card without a second thought.

I just stood there and watched him push it all on the card in one payment that was likely more money than I had in my entire life savings combined. When the cashier handed it over to him, he turned around and handed it back to me again.

"Take it," he ordered. I glared at him, my pride swelled.

"No," I said. "Thanks, but no." He glared, his lips drawing up into a line.

I jerked the bag away from his grasp and took a step back. "I do adore the dress. But I am not your charity case." Then, before he could utter another word, I turned and ran from the boutique

As soon as I had gotten home , I collapsed on the couch and groaned. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?" I haven't even had a moment to think before I was desperately trying reach for my phone and called Clara. She picked up on the second ring, her voice oozing with curiosity. "Well? How was your first day?" I let out deep sigh. "You won't believe the I had."

"Try me." I narrated it all, from the art work, to Alexander's outrageous requests, and the shopping trip that'd left me angry and somehow enthralled.

I went on talking, and Clara was silent for a moment.

And she just laughed. "Mia, you're living in a damn romance novel." I rolled my eyes. "This isn't funny."

"Oh, but it is." I heard it in the laugh in her voice. "You've got the billionaire loner, the loophole deal, the fiery artist who won't give up—" I flung a pillow across the room."Clara."

"Okay, okay, I'm serious now." She breathed out. "Listen, if this deal is shady , I can help. I am a final-year law student, remember." I smiled slightly. "Yeah, I'd probably have you as my lawyer by now."

"Anytime, bestie." A thought crossed my mind. "What if you go with me to the party?" I asked. Clara's laughter ceased. "Oh hell no."

I frowned. "Come on! You can be my plus-one!" "That's not the way it is, Mia." She giggled. "You're his artist. Not his date. If I come, it'll be weird." I dramatically took a deep breath. "But you're my lawyer!"

"Not yet, but. It hasn't officially kicked in yet, that's all."

"But regardless." She guffawed. "I'm not leaving, Mia. But if you feel uncomfortable about anything call me, Okay?"

I took a deep breath and accepted. "Okay."

"Now get some cool accessories and rock that party like you own it."

I rolled my eyes. "I hate you."

"You love me." I couldn't help but confess. I hung up the phone, looked at the shopping bag on my table. The red dress shone under the warm light. Tonight, I was venturing into Alexander Knight's domain. And something whispered to me. it would change everything.