Monday morning began with a restless edge. He had sent Talia a "good morning" text, expecting her usual quick reply, but the silence stretched far too long.
By the time he got to the office, the unease had hardened into dread. Her station was empty. No tray, no breakfast. No cheerful "Good morning, sir."
He called her phone. It rang once. Then again. No answer.
His chest tightened. "Where is she?" he muttered under his breath, startling his secretary when he bolted out of the office.
Moments later, he was outside her small apartment. The door hung slightly ajar, the lock broken. He hesitated only a second before pushing it open.
"Talia?" His deep voice echoed inside.
No answer.
The little room was still neat, but something about it felt disturbingly wrong. The bed sheets are slightly ruffled. The faint trace of her perfume. Yet no sign of her.
And then—his eyes fell on it.
A folded note left neatly on the table.
His hands shook as he picked it up and read.
To the most miserable boss on earth,
Do you seriously think I will fall for a hot, wounded lion like you?
All I wanted was your money.
I have a lot of it already and I'm gone forever.
You won't ever see me again, lover boy.
You will get more evidence of me and my real man.
Adrian froze.
The words cut deeper than any wound he had ever known. His jaw clenched so hard it hurt. His fingers crumpled the note as his mind raced.
"This… this isn't her," he whispered, his voice trembling. "No. This isn't her."
But doubt gnawed at him. Fear, sharper than knives, began to claw at his chest.
If it wasn't her, then who had taken her? And why were they trying to destroy him with such venom?
His breathing grew ragged as he slammed his fist against the table. "Talia!"
For the first time in years, the mighty Adrian Wolfe felt powerless.
Back in his office, he dropped heavily into his chair, his tall frame suddenly looking smaller against the vast leather seat. He placed the crumpled letter on the desk in front of him, staring at it as though it might change if he looked long enough.
All I wanted was your money.
You won't ever see me again.
His jaw clenched, and for a long while, he said nothing. Just the sound of his slow breathing filling the room.
"Why, Talia?" he muttered finally, his voice hoarse. "Why would you… after everything?"
He leaned back, rubbing his temples. Images of her laugh, the sparkle in her eyes, the way she had burst into tears when he helped her family — they clashed violently against the cold, cruel words on that note.
"She didn't write this. She couldn't have." His voice broke, though he tried to steady it.
But then doubt crept in, like a whisper he couldn't silence. What if she played me? What if Cassandra was right all along?
Adrian rose and walked to the window, gazing down at the busy city streets. From this height, everyone looked small, insignificant. But his world had never felt so unsteady.
For the first time in years, the man everyone feared — the ruthless CEO, the unshakable Wolfe — felt crushed by a single unanswered question:
"Where are you, Talia?"
The next morning, Wolfe & Co.'s empire stood without its lion. Adrian didn't show up to work. He remained in his penthouse, curtains drawn, lying weakly in bed, staring at the ceiling as if searching for answers in the shadows. His phone buzzed occasionally, but he ignored it.
Alex, always watching, seized the opportunity. He dialed Cassandra. His voice was low, deliberate.
"Now's the time. He's weak. He can't think straight. Go to him… and remind him of what she really is."
By noon, Cassandra arrived at Adrian's apartment, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She walked in with a carefully measured mix of concern and tenderness.
"Oh, Adrian…" she whispered, rushing to his side as if she were the only anchor holding him to the earth. She brushed his hair back from his forehead, her touch warm and deliberate. "You're sick because of her. Can't you see? She was never what you thought she was."
Adrian turned his head slowly toward her, his eyes dim, red-rimmed from sleeplessness and drink. He wanted to argue, to defend Talia, but his strength failed him.
Cassandra sat on the edge of the bed, speaking softly but with venom woven between her words. She painted a picture of Talia as a schemer—a girl who used her uniform as a mask, who only wanted money and an escape route. She reminded him of the letter he found, twisting its words into proof of betrayal. "She fooled you, Adrian. She made you believe she was innocent, but look at you now—broken, lost. And where is she?"
Adrian closed his eyes, groaning in anguish. The images she drew felt like shards cutting into his mind.
Cassandra leaned closer, her voice gentle now, pretending to soothe. "I've always been here. Always, Adrian. I've never left your side. Let me take away your sorrows. Let me be the one to heal you."
But Adrian, half-conscious, barely listening, could only whisper Talia's name under his breath. His mind was too clouded to grasp the reality of what was happening. Cassandra's words echoed in his ears, but his heart resisted. Still, the seed of doubt had been planted.
And Cassandra smiled faintly to herself, knowing time would water it.
She whispered, setting the tray down. "You can't keep doing this to yourself. You'll get sick."
He turned his face to the wall, voice hoarse. "Leave me, Cassandra. I don't need anyone right now."
But she sat by the bed, her hand brushing his hair back with a tenderness that felt almost suffocating. "No… you do. And I'll be here. I've always been here, even when she—" Cassandra paused, then sighed dramatically, "—when she was only using you."
Adrian's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
"Here," she said, scooping a spoonful of soup and lifting it toward his lips. "Eat. Please."
Too weak to argue, he parted his lips slightly, the warm broth slipping down his throat. Cassandra smiled faintly, as though she had just won a battle. "That's better. You need your strength."
As the night stretched on, Cassandra never left. She fluffed his pillows, sat beside him reading softly from the business news, even dabbed his forehead with a cool cloth when he closed his eyes. When he stirred awake past midnight, she was still there, curled in the armchair but alert.
"Go home," he muttered, his voice thick.
She leaned forward instead, her hand lingering on his arm. "I'm not going anywhere, Adrian. Not while you're like this. You don't have to face the darkness alone."
The words pressed into his fogged mind, planting seeds of doubt about Talia, watering the idea that Cassandra was the only one standing by him now. Her presence was heavy, deliberate—like chains disguised as comfort.
By dawn, she was still there, arranging the tray for breakfast. To anyone who looked from the outside, Cassandra appeared a devoted caretaker. But beneath the quiet gestures, her agenda pulsed with every lingering touch, every sigh, and every whispered reminder that she was the one who stayed while the maid had left.
The early light slipped through the curtains, pale and cold. Adrian stirred restlessly, half-asleep, half-adrift in grief. Cassandra stood quietly at the window, her phone vibrating in her hand.
A message flashed on the screen.
Alex:"Come to the location at 10:00. We have to move fast."
Her lips curved into a satisfied smirk before she quickly slipped the phone back into her purse. Turning back to Adrian, her face softened again, the mask sliding into place.
"Adrian," she said gently, setting a plate of toast and eggs on the nightstand. "Eat a little. You need your strength today." She adjusted his pillow and coaxed him up, spooning food to his lips like a nurse tending to a fragile patient.
He swallowed mechanically, his eyes unfocused, his mind clearly elsewhere. Cassandra stroked his arm and pressed her forehead briefly against his. "Don't worry; I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone. Just… rest."
Then, smoothing her skirt, she rose. "Work calls," she said with a practiced sigh, "but I'll return soon. You won't even have time to miss me."
With one last lingering look at him, she gathered her purse and slipped out the door—her heels clicking like a quiet promise that the game was only just beginning.
Adrian lay back, staring at the ceiling, unaware of the darkness tightening around him while Cassandra hurried away to meet Alex.
Cassandra's car pulled up to a quiet, segregated warehouse on the edge of town. Alex was already waiting, arms folded, his expression tight.
Inside, in a dim room with peeling paint, Talia lay weak on the floor, her wrists trembling as she tried to push herself upright. Her eyes widened with a mix of fear and relief when Cassandra stepped in—followed by a sharply dressed young man with model-like looks.
Talia's voice broke. "Please… Cassandra, please let me go. I swear, I'll leave Adrian. You can have him. Just… don't do this."
Cassandra crouched in front of her, her voice silk wrapped around steel. "Oh, sweet little Talia. You thought you could outsmart me? You thought you could steal my man and live happily ever after? No, darling. You've made the mistake of your life."
She rose, signaling to the young man, who carried a medical case. He pulled out a syringe and, at Cassandra's nod, injected Talia with a sedative. Talia gasped, trying to resist, but her body gave way, her eyes fluttering until sleep swallowed her whole.
"Perfect," Cassandra whispered.
The young man and another accomplice positioned Talia on the bed, arranging the scene while a cameraman adjusted his lens. Talia was stripped completely and the young model laid on her in a compromising manner.
With careful precision, they staged photographs that told a damning story: Talia entwined with a stranger, as though she had betrayed Adrian in the worst possible way.
Flash after flash filled the room, each one capturing a lie that would shatter Adrian Wolfe's heart.
Cassandra folded her arms, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "When Adrian sees this, he'll never look at her the same way again. She'll be nothing but a disgrace in his memory."
Behind her, Alex smirked. "Checkmate."
Alex couldn't control himself as he saw the bare Talia. It was so attractive as it was always covered with her uniform. And as the last camera flash faded, Alex's eyes lingered far too long on Talia's unconscious form. His jaw tightened and his breathing uneven.
"I want a word with her," he said, his tone low, almost guttural.
Cassandra arched an amused brow, reading the hunger behind his words. With a cruel smirk, she shrugged. "Do as you please. She's yours now—just don't damage the evidence."
Her heels clicked as she walked out, leaving Alex alone in the dim room. The door shut with a heavy thud, sealing him inside.
At this point Alex was aroused by what he was seeing. So he stepped closer to the bed, his shadow falling across Talia's fragile figure. He reached out, fingers trembling, hovering just above her arm as though fighting with himself. His lips curled into a twisted smile.
"You thought you were too good for me, didn't you?" he whispered bitterly. "Adrian's little angel… Let's see how long that lasts."
But even as he leaned closer, Talia stirred faintly in her drugged sleep, a soft whimper escaping her lips. The sound cut through him like a blade. For a moment, Alex froze, torn between his urge and the realization of just how far he was about to fall.
The tension crackled in the silence of the room. But he was already blinded by his hunger and desire.
Talia's panic bubbled over. She tried to scream, her voice cracking and echoing off the bare walls of the dim room.
"No! Help! Someone—please!"
Alex leaned closer, his shadow falling across her, his voice low and menacing. "Shhh… no one is coming for you. Not your friends, not anyone. Not even your lion king."
Her heart froze at his words. The venom in his tone made the world feel smaller, colder, and completely inescapable.
"You… you can't do this!" she cried, trying to push herself upright, clutching the sheet tighter.
Alex's smirk widened. "You know, I watched him treat me like I was nothing. Humiliate me… because of you. Always smiling at him, bending over backwards to make him happy… and I was left standing in the shadows."
Talia's chest tightened, fear mixing with a flush of guilt she didn't deserve.
"Well," Alex whispered, leaning close so his words cut like knives, "today, I take it all back. Today, you see who really holds the power. Today, it's my turn."
Talia trembled violently, hugging herself as the weight of his words sank in. Helpless, cornered, and alone, her mind raced for a way out, even as the walls seemed to close in.
"You've caused me so much," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "All those smiles for him… all that time bending over backwards to make Adrian happy… and me? I was left invisible."
Talia hugged the sheet tighter, trembling, but met his gaze. "I never wanted to hurt you," she whispered.
Alex's jaw tightened. "I know… and yet, here we are. Today, I take back what I lost. I want you to understand—every choice you make has consequences."
He stopped just a few feet from her, the tension in the room thick enough to cut. Slowly, deliberately, he began removing his jacket and loosening his tie, not as a threat, but to show he wasn't hiding anything—his intentions were open, even if frightening.
"You think I'm afraid?" he murmured, circling her like a predator assessing a cornered prey. "You need to see me clearly… you need to understand what you've done to me—and why I won't be ignored."
Talia's pulse raced, fear and adrenaline mingling. She kept her hands on the sheet, bracing herself, trying to stay calm. She knew she had to think, to survive this encounter without giving him power over her.
Talia's chest heaved as she hugged the thin sheet around herself, every nerve on fire. Alex's shadow loomed closer, and for a moment, fear threatened to paralyze her.
But then she drew in a shaky breath and forced her voice to steady. "You think I'm afraid of you?" she said, her words trembling but firm. "You're not the one in control here. I may be trapped, but my mind… my choices… you can't touch those."
Alex paused, circling slowly like a lion assessing a cornered deer. His eyes narrowed, surprised at the fire in her tone. "Bold words, little one," he said. "Do you even understand the situation you're in?"
"I do," Talia shot back, meeting his gaze. "And I also understand that whatever you're trying to prove… it won't make Adrian love me less. And it won't make me give up. You can threaten me, you can scare me… but you won't break me."
Alex got angry that he aggressively started taking off his clothes until he was bare on his chest to his waist. Then he zipped down his trouser and pinned Talia down.
"I will teach you what it takes to get on my nerves" he whispered.
Talia's pulse raced as she watched Alex pace, his eyes dark with fury. The weight of his obsession pressed down on her, and for the first time, the full reality of the situation hit her.
"Please… please, Alex," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean anything! I… I just want to go home. I'll do whatever you want… just don't hurt me."
Alex stopped mid-step, tilting his head, his expression unreadable. "Do you think begging will save you?" he asked, his voice cold but low, almost a whisper.
"I… I don't know," Talia admitted, hugging the sheet tighter. "I just… I just don't want this to end badly. Please… let me go"
Alex's hands began to travel on her exposed thighs, letting out lustful gestures. "I can imagine how sweet you will be"
He seized the bed sheets from her, exposing her whole body. Then he runs his hands on her tiny breasts and she lets out soft moans. "I see you're beginning to enjoy it"
"Please… Alex" "stop"
The more she pleaded the more the trigger. He violently kissed her. And slowly his hands travelled between her legs and noticed she was wet.
"Oh… Talia, I guess you're enjoying this more than me" "you're wet already"
This made Talia hate the whole drama more. How her body could be responding to her predator. Tears rolled down her eyes.
His finger started going in and out of her and she started shivering to the light pain and pleasure that was simultaneous. It was her first time feeling this way. He continued thrusting his finger in, until she had her first orgasm and she let out soft moans.
"Yeah… that's the sound I want to hear." He whispered "Talia. You're so sweet"
At this point Alex kneeled upright between her legs, widely separating them. Then he brought out his rock hard cock. Talia couldn't take what was happening. So she shut her eyes and began to beg Alex. The reality of losing herself to a man she doesn't love, was eating her up.
Talia's hands trembled as she clasped them together, eyes wide and brimming with tears. Her voice quivered as she spoke, but each word was deliberate.
"Alex… please," she begged, her tone a mixture of fear and desperation. "I… I can't face this alone. I don't know what to do. Please… just let me go. I'll do anything you want… just don't hurt me. Please!"
Alex's eyes narrowed, the flicker of obsession and frustration still there. "Anything I want?" he asked, pacing slowly, almost savoring her fear.
"Yes… anything," Talia whispered, swallowing hard. "I'll stay quiet, I'll follow your rules, I'll… I'll never cross you again. Please… I can't survive this without you. Just… have mercy on me."
Alex stopped, his gaze locking on her. For a long moment, the room was silent except for her ragged breathing. He could see the sincerity, the trembling vulnerability—but also the spark of defiance hidden beneath it.
"You… really know how to beg," he murmured, a low, almost grudging tone in his voice.
Then he took his cock straight to hit the walls of Talia's tiny hole. This made her flinch. She shut her eyes. In a way of accepting her fate of what is about to happened, just then
Alex's pacing suddenly stopped. His gaze softened—not completely, but enough for Talia to notice the change.
"You… you're still… innocent," he muttered under his breath, almost to himself. Guilt flashed across his face. "I've been… cruel. I've treated someone I care about… badly."
Talia's heart pounded. He realized she had a small opening. Her fear was still real, but she knew she could use this moment to protect herself.
Alex stepped closer and, cautiously, drew her into a hug. "I… I shouldn't have done any of this," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I… I'm sorry, Talia. Truly."
Talia hugged him back, letting a small shiver show, but in her mind, she was calculating her next move. If she could play along just enough to calm him, she might buy herself the time to escape or call for help.
"I… I forgive you," she whispered softly, letting her tone carry just enough warmth to keep him from acting out in anger.
Alex held her for a long moment, still battling the mixture of guilt, obsession, and emotion swirling inside him. Talia's mind raced—she had to be careful, clever, and patient. Every second mattered.
Alex's eyes softened as he held Talia, though a storm of emotions still lingered in his gaze. "Talia… I need you to understand something," he said, his voice trembling with intensity. "I… I love you. After all of this… after everything… When it's all over, I want to marry you. I can't imagine my life without you."
Talia's mind raced. Her pulse was still quick, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't let him know the truth—that she loved Adrian. She had to play along to survive and buy herself time.
"I… I don't know what to say," she whispered, letting her voice carry just enough vulnerability to soothe him.
"You don't have to say anything," Alex murmured, pulling her slightly closer. "Just promise me you'll stay with me. I'll protect you from anyone who tries to hurt you… even Adrian Wolfe. That man… he doesn't deserve you. He's a monster, Talia. He plays with people's lives, and doesn't care about anyone but himself. I've seen it. You're safer with me."
Talia nodded slowly, careful to appear convinced. "I… I understand," she said softly. "I… I'll stay… with you."
Alex's eyes gleamed with relief and a dark intensity. "Good. Because once this is over… once you're mine… I'll make sure you never have to fear anyone again. And I mean it."
Talia's heart pounded, but her mind was sharp. She had successfully calmed him and bought herself precious time—but she knew the danger wasn't over. Every word she said now had to be calculated.