Chapter 1
Alex stood at the cash register, counting all the tips she had earned today. ''I'm almost done with my studies; there is only one year left before I can escape this horror of a life,'' she thought.
After she had counted her money, She looked around the diner. It looked all clean and ready for the next day, as she walked out the door, it started raining, ''great just my luck'' she said, she looked around to see if she could find a cab but no it's all dark and quit, witch means its late and most of the people are in bed.
She locked the door and started walking, She felt a cold breeze, and she wrapped her arms around herself. She did not bring a jacket with her, well she did not think she needed one it was in the middle of summer, today's temperature was like 30 degrees.
As she walked down the street she looked around she doesn't like walking so late, she hate it when she has to lock up, but they all get a chance to lock up once a week and to be fair she can't just say she doesn't want to because shes scared to walk in the dark.
As she's walking, she's wondering what she's facing when she get home, ''i hope he's passed out, i don't have energy for this tonight.'' she thought. The rain is getting heavier and she still have about 2 blocks to go, she decided to take a shortcut.
She's walking into the dark alley. She felt a shiver run down her spine. The next thing she heard was voices. She stopped dead in her tracks. Maybe she should just turn around and walk away, but before she could do that, a shot went off, and she started to scream.
As she's turning around to run, she felt a pain in her temple, and her body goes limp; all she sees is darkness.
Alex slowly opened her eyes, groggily taking in her surroundings. She was in a luxurious office, lying on a push couch. The room was dimly lit, with only a few lamps illuminating the space.
Dominic stood over her, his eyes fixed intently on hers. His expression was unreadable, but Alex sensed a hint of tension beneath his calm exterior.
'Welcome back, Alex," Dominic said, his deep voice low and smooth. ''I see you're feeling a bit more..... cooperative.
Alex's memories began to return, and she recalled the events leading up to her kidnapping. She struggled to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her.
"Where am I?" Alex demanded, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why did you bring me here?"
Dominic smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. ''You're in my office, Alex. And as for why I brought you here..... let's just say we need to have a little chat.''
Alex's heart racing, she tried to process her situation. She was at Dominic's mercy, and she had no idea what he wanted from her.
Dominic's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Alex. ''I think we need to talk about what you saw," he said, his voice firm but controlled.
Alex hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Dominic's expression made her trust him. ''I saw a shooting,'' she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "A man was killed."
Dominic's expression didn't change, but Alex sensed a flicker of interest. "What else did you see?" he asked, his voice pressing.
Alex took a deep breath, trying to remember every detail. "I saw two men arguing. One of them pulled out a gun and..... and shot the other man."
Dominic's eyes seemed to bore into hers, as if searching for any hidden truth. "Did you see who the men were?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Alex shook her head. "No, I didn't see their faces."
Dominic just stood there looking at Alex, he does not believe her "You can't leave until I say so" he said to her.
As soon as Domicic said the words 'you can't leave,' Alex felt a wave of panic wash over her. Her heart began to race, and her breath caught in her throat.
She tried to stand up, but her legs felt like jelly. Dominic's face blurred in front of her, and she felt she was going to pass out.
"Can't .... can't leave?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dominic's expression turned concerned, and he reached out to grab her arms. "Alex, calm down," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You're safe here."
But Alex was beyond reason. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog, but it only seemed to get worse. Her vision began to tunnel, and she felt like she was going to collapse.
Suddenly, Dominic swept her into his arms, holding her close as she struggled to breathe. "Shh, Alex, it's okay," he whispered into her ear. "I've got you."
Slowly, her panic began to recede, replaced by a sense of exhaustion and vulnerability. She looked up at Dominic, her eyes searching for reassurance.
"Why can't I leave?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Dominic's expression turned serious, and he hesitated before answering. "Because, Alex you're in danger. And I'm the only one who can keep you safe."
As Alex looked up at Dominic, she saw a flicker of something in his eyes - distrust, maybe, or suspicion. But it was quickly masked by his usual calm, collected expression.
'I don't understand," Alex said, her voice still shaky from her panic attack. "What danger? Why can't I leave?"
Dominic's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Alex," he said, his voice low and even. "Don't play dumb."
Alex felt a surge of confusion and fear. What was Dominic talking about? What did he think she knew?
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alex protested, trying to keep her voice steady. "Please, just tell me what's going on."
Dominic's expression didn't change, but Alex sensed a tension in his body, a coiled energy waiting to spring. He didn't believe her, she realized. He thought she was hiding something.
Suddenly, Alex remembered the shooting she had witnessed. The man in the suit, the sound of the gunshot.... Dominic's face flashed into her mind, his eyes cold and hard as he stood over the body.
A chill ran down Alex's spine. Did Dominic think she had seen him shoot the man? Was that why he didn't trust her?
Dominic's eyes seemed to bore into Alex's soul, as if he could see the truth hidden behind her words. he knew she had seen him, Alex realized. He knew she had witnessed the shooting.
"You're a clever girl, Alex," Dominic said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But not clever enough, apparently."
Alex felt a shiver run down her spine as Dominic's words hung in the air. He knew she had seen him, and he was calling her out on it.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alex repeated, trying to sound convincing despite the fear creeping up her throat.
Dominic chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Don't play dumb, Alex," he said. "I know you saw me. And I know you're wondering why I did it."
Alex's eyes locked onto Dominic's, a spark of defiance igniting within her. She was trapped, but she refused to back down.
"Why did you do it?" Alex demanded, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.
Dominic's smile grew wider, his eyes glittering with amusement. "That's need-to-know information, Alex," he said. "And you don't need to know."
Dominic's expression softened slightly as he looked at Alex. "You're tired," he said. "You need to rest."
Without waiting for her response, Dominic scooped Alex up into his arms and carried her out of the office. Alex felt a surge of protest, but she was too exhausted to struggle.
He carried her up a flight of stairs and down a long hallway, finally stopping in front of a door that he pushed open with his shoulder. The room was decorated in neutral tones, with a push bed and a large window that let in a flood of sunlight.
Domimic set Alex down on the bed, where she collapsed onto the soft pillows. He stood over her, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her.
"get some rest," he said. "We'll talk more later."
Alex nodded, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She closed her eyes, letting the softness of the bed envelop her.
As she drifted off to sleep, Alex felt a sense of unease. She was trapped in Dominic's mansion, with no way to escape. And she has a feeling that she was in grave danger.
Dominic sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes fixed on the wall as he tried to process the emotions swirling inside him. he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about Alex has gotten under his skin.
He thought back to the way she had looked at him, her eyes flashing with defiance even as fear trembled in her voice. He remembered the way she had felt in his arms, her body soft and vulnerable.
Dominic's gaze dropped to his hands, clenched into fists on his thighs. He couldn't believe he was feeling this way. He was a man who didn't do emotions, who didn't get attached. But there was something about Alex.....
He stood up and walked over to the window, staring out into the night. What was it about her that had him feeling like this? was it her strength, her courage in the face of danger? Or was it something more?
Dominic's eyes narrowed as he tried to analyze his feelings. He didn't do love, he didn't do relationships. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Alex was different.
