A Dangerous Game in the Public Eye
Elena had always been used to whispers.
But tonight, they weren't just whispers.
They were shock. Awe. Speculation.
Everywhere she turned, eyes followed her. She could feel their judgment, their disbelief.
Elena Carter, the forgotten heiress, standing beside Alexander Reid?
No one had seen this coming.
Dressed in a sleek black gown that hugged her figure perfectly, she radiated power. Confidence. And standing next to her, in a tailored black suit that screamed wealth and dominance, was Alexander Reid—her husband.
Or at least, the man who agreed to play the part.
He held her hand lightly, but his grip was firm. Possessive. As if silently reminding the world that she belonged to him now.
Whispers rose as they stepped onto the grand ballroom floor.
"She actually married him?"
"Reid never takes interest in women. What makes her special?"
"She was once engaged to Dominic Sinclair, wasn't she? This must be revenge."
Elena ignored them. She had prepared for this.
But she didn't expect what came next.
Dominic Sinclair himself, standing at the bar, watching her.
And he looked furious.
The First Confrontation – Dominic vs. Alexander
"Elena."
His voice was smooth, but she could hear the bite behind it.
Dominic's gaze flickered between her and Alexander, his grip tightening around his glass. His usual arrogance was laced with something different tonight.
Maybe jealousy?
Elena tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "Dominic. What a surprise."
His eyes narrowed. "No, the surprise is you. I thought you hated men who played games. So why are you standing next to the biggest player of them all?"
Alexander chuckled, low and dark. "Careful, Sinclair. I don't tolerate insults easily."
Dominic scoffed, his lips curling. "This is a joke. Elena, you don't actually think this man cares about you, do you?"
Elena's heart pounded, but she refused to let Dominic see even a flicker of weakness.
Before she could answer, Alexander moved.
One step forward.
Close enough that Dominic had to tilt his head to meet his gaze.
The room fell silent.
Alexander's voice was a slow, dangerous drawl. "Let's get one thing straight, Sinclair. What happens between my wife and me… is none of your business."
Dominic clenched his jaw, his anger barely contained. "You don't even love her. You're just using her."
Alexander's grip on Elena's waist tightened. "And yet, she chose me."
Dominic's nostrils flared. "She was mine first."
Wrong move.
Alexander's expression darkened.
He took another step forward, his presence suffocating.
"If you touch my wife," Alexander's voice was pure ice, "I will ruin you."
The threat hung in the air, sharp as a blade.
Elena felt Dominic stiffen. He knew Alexander's reputation. Knew that if he pushed too far, there would be consequences.
He let out a breath, forcing a smirk. "Enjoy her while you can, Reid. Women like her… they always run back to their past."
Alexander's grip on her waist tightened dangerously.
But Elena was faster.
She stepped forward, tilting her chin up. "Dominic," she said sweetly, watching his smirk falter, "I don't chase the past. I erase it."
Then she turned, placing a hand on Alexander's chest.
And right there, in front of everyone—she kissed him.
The First Public Kiss – Who's Really in Control?
It was supposed to be just a kiss. A simple act. A show of dominance over Dominic.
But the moment Elena's lips brushed against Alexander's, everything changed.
She felt him freeze for half a second—then he took control.
His hand tangled in her hair, deepening the kiss, taking her breath away.
A warning. A punishment. A challenge.
Dominic had no power over her anymore.
Only Alexander did.
The crowd gasped.
Cameras flashed.
And when Elena finally pulled away, her lips swollen and breath unsteady, Alexander smirked.
"Was that for him?" he murmured against her ear.
She exhaled, composing herself. "It was for me."
His dark eyes burned into hers. "Liar."
A New Obsession is Born
The moment passed, but the tension did not.
Dominic stormed away. The whispers grew.
But Elena knew one thing for certain:
She had just started a game far more dangerous than she expected.
Because when she turned to Alexander, she saw it in his gaze.
The way he looked at her now was different.
The deal was just business.
But after that kiss?
Alexander Reid wasn't just playing along anymore.
Now—he was interested.
And that was the most dangerous thing of all.
Unspoken Tension
The moment they stepped into the black Rolls-Royce, the air between them shifted.
Alexander sat beside her, his expression unreadable, his hand resting on his thigh. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows, but Elena could still feel the heat from their earlier kiss.
She swallowed, refusing to acknowledge the way her lips still tingled.
Alexander broke the silence first.
"That was reckless."
His voice was low, edged with something she couldn't quite place.
Elena turned to face him. "Would you rather I let Dominic belittle me?"
A dark chuckle escaped him. "No. But you didn't do that for yourself, did you?"
She lifted a brow. "What are you implying?"
Alexander leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. "You kissed me, Elena."
Her pulse quickened, but she didn't back down. "It was necessary."
His gaze flickered to her lips. "Was it?"
For a second, the air between them felt too charged.
Elena shifted away, feigning indifference. "Dominic needed to be put in his place. Now, he knows I've moved on."
Alexander studied her, his eyes filled with something dangerous. "Is that so?"
She met his gaze, refusing to flinch. "Yes."
But the way he looked at her made her question if she was still in control of this game.
Because for the first time since their arrangement, she felt like prey.
Dominic's Obsession Grows
Meanwhile, at a private bar across town, Dominic Sinclair downed another drink, his grip tightening around the glass.
He replayed the scene in his head—Elena in that black dress, standing beside Alexander Reid, kissing him like she meant it.
Rage burned in his chest.
She wasn't supposed to move on.
She wasn't supposed to choose someone else over him.
A voice interrupted his thoughts. "You seem troubled, Sinclair."
Dominic turned to see a familiar figure—one of Alexander's rivals. A businessman who had been trying to tear Reid down for years.
The man smirked. "Perhaps we can help each other."
Dominic exhaled, setting his glass down. "I'm listening."
Because if Elena thought she could walk away from him so easily…
She was wrong.
Back at the Reid Mansion – A Heated Moment
By the time Alexander and Elena arrived at the penthouse, the tension between them had grown unbearable.
Elena stepped out of the car first, not waiting for him. She walked through the grand marble foyer, heading straight for her room.
But the moment she reached the door, Alexander was there.
Blocking her way.
She lifted a brow. "Something you need, Mr. Reid?"
His gaze was sharp, calculated. "Yes."
She crossed her arms, waiting.
Alexander exhaled slowly. "I told you from the start—I don't tolerate lies."
Elena frowned. "What lies?"
He took a step forward. "That kiss."
Her breath hitched. "What about it?"
His fingers brushed against her chin, tilting her face up. "You enjoyed it."
She scoffed, trying to step back, but he didn't let her.
"Elena," his voice dropped, dangerously low. "Don't play games with me."
She swallowed hard. "I'm not."
Alexander studied her, his thumb tracing her jawline. "Good."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her heart pounding.
Because for the first time since their contract began…
Elena realized something terrifying.
She wasn't just playing with Dominic.
She was playing with Alexander Reid.
And that was a game she might not win.