~LAYLA~
My breath caught in my throat as Axel stepped into the doorway, his voice filling the silence.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
He strode across the room in three long steps, and before I could tuck the file back, his hand tightened around mine.
He yanked the folder and the letter from my grip, slamming them hard against the desk, scattering papers.
"Answer me," he growled. "What the hell are you doing in my study?"
"I…" My throat felt tight, and I struggled to find the words, stuttering uselessly. "I… I was just uhmm…"
Being so close to him felt intense, and the air around us was thick and overwhelming.
"You were just what?" Axel snapped.
He grabbed my shoulder tightly, his fingers digging in. He gave me a rough shake that rattled through my bones.
"Who gave you permission to come in here and go through my things?"
"I… I'm sorry," I stammered, turning my face away, heart slamming against my ribs. "I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
He released me suddenly, and I stumbled back a step, gasping for breath. My skin burned where he'd touched me, my nerves buzzing like live wires.
Without another word, he shoved the contracts back into the folder. But he didn't return them to the hidden compartment; he just kept them in hand, as if already deciding to find a safer place.
I swallowed hard, desperate to disappear, inching toward the door. Maybe if I slipped out quietly…
Axel quickly turned around, his intense gaze freezing me in my tracks.
"Did you see anything?"
I froze.
The contracts flashed in my mind: Watson Holdings printed across half of them, dates stretching back a decade. His last name was hidden among them, tying him and my father together in ways I couldn't yet untangle.
But survival screamed louder than curiosity. "No," I blurted. "I didn't see anything."
His gaze narrowed, dissecting me. The silence between us dragged on for a while.
"You're lying," he said finally, but he didn't press. Instead, he dragged a hand down his face, muttering under his breath before fixing those icy eyes back on me.
"We need to establish some ground rules," Axel said coldly. "I've given you too much leeway."
"Axel…"
"No." His voice cut through mine. "You are not my wife. Not in here, not in private. You don't have rights to my privacy or my business. You'll stay away from my study, my room… in fact from me. The only time you and I exist together is in public. When appearances matter."
His words landed deeper than I wanted to admit.
"You don't mean that," I whispered.
"Don't I?" His voice dipped, daring me to argue. "Stay out of my way. Stay out of my things. And from now on, you don't go anywhere except the office and this house without telling me first."
That jolted me. "What? You can't…"
"I can."
"That's not in our deal," I bit out, my voice trembling with fury. "I can still do whatever I…"
"No," he replied flatly. "You already misused the freedom I gave you. I don't hand out second chances."
Tears pricked my eyes, more from anger than hurt. "So what is this, huh? You hate my father so much, you're going to act it out on me? Is that it? Because last I checked, we had a deal. We were supposed to be partners."
That word seemed to set him off. Axel's lips curled, his jaw ticking as he prowled closer, like a predator closing in on its prey.
He stopped only when my back hit the wall, the cold wood pressing against me. He placed his hands beside my head, trapping me in. He leaned closer, his body warm against mine, and I could feel his breath on my lips.
"Partners?" he whispered mockingly.
"Don't deceive yourself, Layla. I only said I was going to help you get your revenge on your family; I didn't say I need you for anything." His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth. "Being married to you is just a convenience."
I tried to steady my breathing, but his nearness made it impossible.
"You're unbelievable," I hissed, though the quiver in my voice betrayed me.
"Am I?" His lips curved into a smirk. His voice dropped even lower, like velvet over steel. "Because right now, you're looking at me like you can't decide if you want to slap me… or kiss me."
An unwanted and undeniable wave of heat surged through me.
"I don't…"
"Don't lie to me," he cut me off, his thumb brushing against my jaw before sliding lower, tracing the curve of my bottom lip. The touch was barely there, but it lit me up from the inside.
What the hell…. I c-coudn't… PoPossibly.. I was not attracted to this asshole!
My chest rose and fell too fast, my pulse hammering. I should shove him away, but I found myself unable to move.
"Answer me," he murmured, his voice hot against my ear. "Have I made myself clear?"
I bit my lip, but his thumb was already there, dragging it free. My eyes failed me, flicking down to his mouth before darting back up.
He caught the movement, and his grin widened slightly.
"Put those pretty lips to work," Axel whispered, his thumb pressing firmer against my lower lip. "Answer me."
Wait a minute…
What was happening here? Axel wasn't possibly flirting with me, right?
No way.
My chest rose and fell in shallow bursts, his thumb still teasing my lips. The fire in his gaze held me captive, burning through every shred of defiance I tried to cling to.
"I…" The word broke off.
"Say it," Axel commanded, his rough voice vibrating straight through me. "Are we clear, yes or no?"
I swallowed hard, trembling under the weight of his stare. My pride screamed at me to resist, but I nodded and whispered. "Yes."
His eyes darkened, and a satisfied smile formed at the corners of his mouth. "Good girl."
The word rolled out in a deep murmur, and for a terrifying second I thought he might close the last inch between us. His thumb lingered one beat longer on my lip before he finally withdrew his hand.
The loss of his touch snapped me free. My heart raced as I pushed past him, my pulse pounding in my ears.
Immediately, I sprinted out of his study like the room was on fire.