Chapter 4 Ties And Traps

Alexa paced the length of the office, her arms crossed, frustration tightening her chest. "I don't understand," she snapped. "Why would my father be watching me now? He made it clear that I was dead to him the moment I walked out."

Andre lounged on the couch, watching her, his expression cool and unreadable. His voice, when it came, was low and sharp. "Because men like him don't tolerate defiance. They don't chase, but they ensure you don't become a liability."

She stopped pacing, her eyes burning with suspicion. "You think I'm a liability?"

"Not yet. But your father? He likes control. You are a reminder of what he couldn't control."

Alexa scoffed. "You are exaggerating."

"I'm not." His gaze darkened. "Your father's pride isn't just wounded, Alexa, it's under threat. Men like him can't afford to look weak. If people think he can't control his blood, they'll come for his empire.

Alexa confronted him. "You keep talking about my father like he's some monster, but you're not telling me everything."

Andre leaned forward. "Because not everything is clear yet. But I will tell you this, being here with me puts you on his radar."

Her eyes narrowed. "And you like that."

"I like having you close." He retorted with a quick smile

Before Alexa could reply, Andre's phone buzzed sharply. He glanced at the screen, his face hardening as he picked up. His response was curt, almost dismissive, and when he ended the call, his gaze met hers, unreadable.

"They are here," he said quietly. "In the city. Probably sooner than we think."

The room seemed to shrink around her. "What now?" She asked, voice shaking.

"You have two options," Andre said standing and stepping closer. "Stay and let me keep you safe...or leave and take your chances."

His nearness felt suffocating, and yet a strange comfort. But deep down, something about his insistence didn't sit right with her. She crossed her arms tightly. "And if I stay? What then? You keep me locked in the mansion like some prisoner?"

Andre smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

She glared at him, even as her heart betrayed her with its pounding. "I won't be your pet,Andre."

"Good," he murmured, his eyes flickering to her lips. "I don't like pets. But a guest? A personal assistant? That I can tolerate."

Her brow lifted. "Personal assistant? Is that your way of keeping me on a leash?"

"Call it what you want," he said smoothly, "but it means you stay close. And I like that."

Alexa sighed heavily, knowing she was cornered. Alone, she was vulnerable. With him, at least, she had a chance to breathe and think. "Fine, I will stay. But only on my terms."

Andre chuckled darkly. "We will see."

The following morning, Alexa wandered into the living room and found Andre on the couch, dressed in a plain black tee and joggers, coffee in hand. He looked too relaxed for a man so dangerous.

He caught her staring.

"Comfortable?" she asked dryly.

"Very," he replied smoothly. "You could join me, but I don't want to embarrass you when you can't keep your eyes off me."

She rolled her eyes, trying to suppress the grin tugging at her lips. "Dream on."

He chuckled, pleased with himself, and gestured to the armchair opposite. "Sit. We need to discuss your next move."

She hesitated but sat, crossing her legs defensively. "And what's your brilliant plan?"

Andre sipped his coffee, studying her. "For now? You'll stay close. Learn how I work, observe everything. When your father makes his next move, I want us ahead of him."

Alexa's brows furrowed. "You're still convinced he's dangerous?"

His gaze turned sharp. "I know men like Anthony Dominic. He's not just trying to retrieve a daughter,he's saving face. And men who need to protect their pride? They're unpredictable."

His words settled heavily between them. Alexa shifted uncomfortably, sensing there was more he wasn't saying.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Andre's smirk was faint but fleeting. "Nothing you need to worry about."

The truth was, he'd exaggerated the whole thing. Yes, Anthony's men were asking questions, but they weren't anywhere close to finding her yet. Andre had painted it worse, a selfish ploy to keep her near.

He wasn't ready to lose her again. Not when he'd barely had her.

Not long after, they left together. The car ride was a mix of casual teasing and stretches of comfortable silence, a rhythm they'd unknowingly fallen into.

At the office, Alexa settled into the familiar space of his towering empire. She'd been here before shadowing him, watching his authority unfold but it still struck her how the entire building seemed to pulse with his presence. The staff greeted them both, their respect toward Andre tinged with a quiet fear, and Alexa couldn't help but notice how easily he commanded it.

Later in the day, after meetings and endless tasks, she stood by the expansive glass wall of his office, gazing out at the city below a sea of lights and possibilities.

"You're quiet," Andre's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Just... observing," she replied, not turning away from the view. "You run all of this like it's nothing."

His chuckle was low. "I've had time to master it."

She finally glanced at him, a teasing spark in her eyes. "Funny. Still feels like a giant ego trip."

Andre smirked. "Oh, there's ego, sweetheart. But every inch of this? I bled for it."

That honesty,raw and proud stirred something in her. She looked back at the city, uncertain whether it was admiration or caution brewing inside her.

Back at the house, the mood softened. They shared dinner, the tension between them quieter now but still alive, threading each exchange.

Alexa caught him staring. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No," Andre said, swirling his wine. "Just appreciating."

She raised a brow. "Appreciating what exactly?"

"You're not bad company," he admitted. "If you keep this up, I might just keep you forever."

She snorted, feigning disgust. "That's the worst pickup line I've ever heard."

"Not a pickup line," he said, eyes glinting. "A possibility."

They locked eyes longer than either of them intended. She looked away first, her heart uncomfortably loud in her chest.

"What is it with you?" she muttered. "Why this... interest?"

Andre leaned in slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "I told you before,you intrigue me. And I don't let things that intrigue me slip away twice."

His words sent a ripple through her,part warning, part promise.

Behind the playful tension, Andre had his own plans. He had arranged a meeting with Anthony Dominic,the man who'd unknowingly offered him the daughter he'd been searching for.

At their meeting, Anthony greeted him with a broad, false smile. "I was surprised when I heard you wanted to see me."

Andre returned the smile faintly. "Business, I suppose. But more than that... It's about your daughter, Alexa."

Anthony's face darkened subtly. "What about her?"

"She works for me now," Andre said evenly. "I thought you should know, in case you cross paths."

There was a brief silence before Anthony chuckled darkly. "That girl's a lost cause. But you must know, I'm still searching for her."

Andre smiled tightly. "She's under my roof. She's safe. I'll keep it that way."

Anthony's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. But before he could press further, his phone rang. He picked it up, murmured into it, then stood. "We'll stay in touch."

Andre watched him leave, his own mind spinning. He knew Anthony was calculating, but Andre had no intentions of letting Alexa slip through his fingers.

Elsewhere in Alpine,New Jersey, Anthony Dominic paced his study, a glass of whiskey in hand. His men had informed him of Alexa's last known location, but Anthony had his own reservations.

The meeting with Andre still echoed in his mind. The man was sharp, calculated and dangerously charming. Something told Anthony that pressing further might backfire.

"Forget it," he told his lead investigator over the phone. "Call off the search. She's not in danger... yet. If she wants to live like a stray, let her."

"Sir?"

"You heard me. We're done chasing."

He ended the call sharply, his pride wounded, yet a weight lifted. She had chosen her path.