Chapter 5 Tangled In Desire

Chapter 5 – The Game Begins

Zoey woke up the next morning with a renewed sense of determination. If Eric wanted to keep one foot in the past, she would make damn sure he regretted it.

She wasn't just going to be his wife on paper-she was going to make him want her, need her, until Sarah was nothing but a distant memory.

As she stepped out of bed, the early morning sun filtered through the luxurious bedroom she now shared with Eric. The room was elegant, modern, and cold-just like their marriage.

But that was about to change.

Breakfast Tension

Zoey entered the grand dining hall to find Eric already seated, sipping his coffee, his dark hair slightly tousled from sleep. He looked effortlessly handsome, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of toned skin.

For a brief moment, she hated how easily he affected her.

His gaze flickered up to her, unreadable as always. "Morning."

She offered a small smile. "Good morning, darling."

Eric's brow lifted slightly, sensing the change in her tone. She didn't care. Let him wonder.

She walked over to the table, taking a seat across from him. The house staff immediately set her plate before her-fresh fruit, eggs, and coffee, everything prepared to perfection.

Zoey took her time, stirring her coffee lazily before speaking. "Did you sleep well?"

Eric leaned back, watching her carefully. "Well enough."

She smiled sweetly. "That's good. I wouldn't want my husband losing sleep over unfinished business."

His jaw tightened just a fraction. "Zoey-"

She reached across the table, brushing a nonchalant hand over his. "Relax, love. I'm just making conversation."

Before he could respond, the door to the dining room opened, and Eleanor Sinclair strode in, poised and powerful as ever.

Zoey immediately straightened, offering her mother-in-law a polite smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Sinclair."

Eleanor nodded, her sharp gaze moving between the two of them. "I trust everything went well at the gala last night."

Eric gave a curt nod. "It was handled."

Zoey, however, decided to take a different approach. She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, yes. It was quite an interesting night."

Eleanor's eyes narrowed slightly. "How so?"

Zoey let out a soft chuckle. "Just some unexpected reunions," she mused, stealing a glance at Eric. "But nothing I can't handle."

Eleanor, always perceptive, caught the underlying tension but chose not to comment-at least not yet.

Instead, she simply said, "Good. The media is watching closely, and I expect both of you to maintain your image. No scandals, no distractions."

Zoey smiled. "Of course. Eric and I understand what's expected of us."

Eric said nothing.

Eleanor gave them both one last assessing glance before turning on her heel. "I'll be meeting with the board this afternoon. Enjoy your day."

As soon as she left, Eric exhaled sharply. "Zoey-"

She cut him off with a smirk. "Oh, don't look so tense, husband. We wouldn't want your mother to suspect anything, would we?"

He gave her a dry look. "What exactly are you playing at?"

Zoey leaned forward, her voice a whisper. "I'm playing the game, Eric. And trust me, I always win."

A Dangerous Distraction

Zoey spent the rest of the day at a luxury boutique, shopping for the upcoming events the Sinclair family would be hosting. She needed to look the part, and more importantly, she needed to remind Eric of exactly who he had married.

As she stepped out of the fitting room in a deep emerald dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Damn."

She turned to see Liam Carter-her former flame, the man she had once considered her escape from high society's expectations.

"Liam," she said smoothly, surprised but not entirely displeased. "What brings you here?"

Liam grinned, his hazel eyes sweeping over her. "Business, but seeing you just made my day a lot more interesting."

She chuckled. "Still as charming as ever."

He stepped closer. "And you're still as stunning as I remember."

She held his gaze, suddenly aware of just how easy it would be to use this moment.

Eric wasn't the only one who could play with fire.

Smirking, she tilted her head. "Careful, Liam. I'm a married woman now."

Liam's grin widened. "Oh, I know. The whole city knows. But that doesn't mean I can't look."

Zoey hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe. But some men don't like sharing, you know."

Liam leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Then maybe he should learn to appreciate what he has."

The words struck deeper than she expected.

And that's when she made her decision.

If Eric thought he could test her patience, she would remind him that he wasn't the only man who could want her.

Because if he wasn't careful... she might just let him think he was losing her.

Zoey left the boutique feeling lighter, a playful smirk lingering on her lips as she replayed her conversation with Liam. He had always been bold, flirtatious, and just unpredictable enough to be dangerous.

But more than anything, he was a reminder-she had options.

As she stepped outside, the driver opened the car door for her, and she slid into the backseat.

The moment she did, her phone buzzed.

A message from Eric.

Eric: Come home. We need to talk.

Zoey arched a brow. Oh?

It wasn't like Eric to demand her presence so directly. He usually played it cool, but something had clearly rattled him.

She typed back lazily:

Zoey: I'm busy. Should I be concerned?

A few seconds later, her phone vibrated again.

Eric: Now, Zoey.

A slow smile spread across her lips.

It looked like her plan was already working.

The Confrontation

When Zoey arrived at the Sinclair estate, she walked through the grand entrance with deliberate ease, slipping off her sunglasses as she made her way toward the living room.

Eric was already there, standing near the bar, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His tie was loosened, his sleeves rolled up, and his expression? Dangerously unreadable.

She stopped a few feet away, tilting her head. "You sounded urgent. What's wrong, darling?"

Eric's jaw clenched. "Liam Carter."

Zoey smirked. "Ah. So you do care."

He took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down with a soft clink. "Don't play games with me, Zoey."

She walked over to the bar, pouring herself a drink. "Oh, but you love playing games, don't you?" She took a sip, her eyes never leaving his. "Tell me, Eric... what exactly is bothering you? The fact that I ran into an old friend? Or the fact that he still finds me irresistible?"

Eric exhaled sharply, his fingers gripping the edge of the bar. "Liam isn't just an old friend."

She let out a soft laugh. "Oh, so now you remember who he is?"

Eric's gaze darkened. "I remember that he wanted you before. And now, he thinks he can want you again."

Zoey leaned in slightly. "And what if I let him?"

The tension in the room thickened.

Eric's eyes flickered with something dangerous. "You wouldn't."

She smirked. "Wouldn't I?"

In a flash, Eric closed the distance between them, his hand gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him.

Zoey's breath hitched, but she refused to let him see how much he affected her.

His voice was low, almost a growl. "You're my wife, Zoey."

She arched a brow. "On paper."

His grip tightened. "You belong to me."

Zoey's pulse quickened, but she kept her expression cool. "Oh? And what about you? Do you belong to me?"

Silence.

She let out a bitter chuckle. "That's what I thought."

Pushing against his chest, she freed herself from his hold, stepping back with a smirk. "You don't get to be possessive, Eric. Not when you're still holding onto someone else."

Eric's gaze burned into her, but he said nothing.

Zoey took a final sip of her drink, then set the glass down. "Let me know when you figure out what you really want."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, his fists clenched, his jaw tight.

She knew she had just drawn a dangerous line between them.

And she couldn't wait to see which one of them would cross it first.