The quiet luxury of the guest bedroom was a stark contrast to the political storm brewing downstairs.
Alexander sat comfortably on the edge of the mattress watching Serena as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
She groaned softly rubbing her temples as the lingering exhaustion of her third orgasm finally began to fade "Hey beautiful" said Alexander his voice soft and welcoming "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was hit by a truck, but in the best way possible" whispered Serena a small tired smile forming on her lips.
She looked around the room noticing the quiet "Is the party over?
What happened?"
Alexander reached out gently smoothing a stray lock of hair from her forehead "Your mother dismissed the guests" said Alexander "She told them you had a sudden migraine.
But right before everyone left a man nad Ryan Gobbels showed up."
Serena’s smile vanished instantly replaced by a deep bitter frown.
She pushed herself up against the pillows her posture turning tense "Ryan Gobbels?" asked Serena her voice dripping with disgust "That man isn’t a stranger Alex.
He is my mother’s fiercest political rival and he despises my godmother Aria just as much.
He always looks for any petty excuse to sabotage our family but because he holds a senate seat they can never fully touch him."
Alexander leaned back against the headboard patting his lap invitingly "Tell about it" said Alexander "If you need to vent I am right here to listen to you."
Serena didn’t hesitate.
She crawled over and laid her head down on his lap stretching her legs across the mattress.
Alexander began to rhythmically stroke her soft hair his fingers moving gently as he waited for her to speak "It’s a dirty war Alex" murmured Serena closing her eyes as she lted into his touch "They don’t fight openly in the press.
It’s all undercover vicious moves behind closed doors.
Last year Gobbels managed to orchestrate a massive embezzlent fra-up against one of my mother’s chief financial officers.
The poor man is still sitting in a federal prison completely innocent just because Gobbels needed to freeze our shipping accounts for three months."
"A classic strategy to choke your cash flow" remarked Alexander keeping his tone perfectly neutral.
"Exactly" said Serena nodding against his thigh "And Aria fought back hard.
She uncovered an offshore account Gobbels was using to fund a sar campaign against the city’s zoning committee.
She leaked just enough details to the regulatory boards to force two of his closest allies to resign in disgrace.
But Gobbels retaliated by launching an undercover audit on my mother’s real estate holdings trying to tie her to union corruption scandals."
She let out a heavy sigh her fingers curling into his trousers "It’s constant endless warfare.
Millions of dollars stolen through hidden defalcations careers completely ruined overnight and people thrown in jail just to send a ssage.
Gobbels wants absolute control over the state’s infrastructure and my mother and Aria are the only ones standing directly in his way."
Alexander continued to process every piece of information storing the political dynamics away for future use "It sounds like a dangerous ga" whispered Alexander leaning down to kiss the top of her head "But your mother and Aria don’t seem like the type to lose to a worm like him."
"They aren’t" said Serena looking up at him with a gaze full of growing adoration "But having you here...
it makes feel safe.
For the first ti I don’t feel like I’m just trapped in the middle of their war."
Alexander smiled down at her his hand never stopping its gentle rhythmic stroking of her hair.
He knew exactly how to play the part of the steady anchor she desperately needed in a world built on high-stakes deception "You don’t have to worry about their war tonight Serena" whispered Alexander his voice a comforting murmur "While I am here the rest of the world doesn’t exist."
Serena shifted closer burying her face into his stomach as she let out a long contented sigh "I wish tonight could just last forever" said Serena "Everyone always looks at and sees the Gable fortune or they see a target to get to my mother.
Even the guys I tried to talk to before only wanted to use to climb the social ladder.
But you...
you actually look at ."
"Because you are entirely worth looking at" stated Alexander using the tailored charm he had perfected during his rigorous training "You are beautiful sharp and far more resilient than anyone gives you credit for."
A soft flush returned to her cheeks her eyes locked onto his with an intense unyielding devotion.
The emotional walls she had built up over years of watching political betrayals were completely crumbling under his calculated affection.
She was falling hard exactly as her mother had predicted downstairs "Alex" whispered Serena reaching up to gently trace his jawline with her fingers "Tomorrow when your contract officially ends...
what happens to us?
Do you just disappear back to TMC?"
Alexander caught her hand bringing it to his lips to press a soft lingering kiss against her knuckles.
He didn’t answer right away letting the silence build a dramatic weight between them.
He needed to keep her reeled in hooked on the hope of a future while maintaining the mysterious boundaries of his organization "My schedule is dictated by TMC Serena" said Alexander looking into her eyes with a perfectly executed touch of lancholy "But an assignnt like this...
a girl like you...
isn’t sothing a man simply forgets.
If you want back you know your mother has the power to call for again."
"I will make her hire you every single week" stated Serena fiercely her grip tightening on his hand "I don’t care how much it costs.
I want you by my side."
Alexander pulled her up gently wrapping his arms around her waist as he leaned back against the plush pillows letting her rest her head against his chest once more "Then I will look forward to every single call" murmured Alexander.
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