Episode 10

That demanding whisper incites impure thoughts, her chest heaving with increasing frequency as Alexander watches, taking in the sight of her partially opened lips. Acting on impulse, he spins her to face him, their chests pressed together, allowing a glimpse of Valentina's ample curves.

Her gaze locks with those eyes she has always adored, enveloped in a way she doesn't want but can't resist, especially now, lost in their deep, demanding pull.

Words fail them both. Why? Perhaps the proximity and Valentina's drastic shift has sparked an unfamiliar intrigue in Alexander.

But as Valentina senses Alexander drawing nearer, she turns her face away, thwarting his kiss.

"You have no right to order me not to speak to Mr. Gutenberg," she asserts.

"Do you like him?" Alexander’s direct question forces Valentina to gather her courage, looking him straight in the eye, merely inches apart, their breath mingling.

A sensual smile plays on Valentina's lips, unsettling Alexander.

"What can I say..." She strokes her chin as if pondering. "He's handsome, polite, intelligent. I find him rather interesting, so yes, I do like him. Are you happy now?"

"You're joking, right?" Alexander's brow furrows.

"Do you think?" She smiles, and in his fury, he kisses her without warning. His kiss is so insistent her lips begin to hurt from his brazen audacity to invade with his tongue.

Valentina keeps her eyes wide open, pushing him away fiercely, but he, driven by his damned ego, pulls her in for another kiss.

Finally, he stops and grabs her hands, pinning them above her head to restrain her.

But she challenges him with her gaze, The tension rises into a challenge, a battle, a slow burn in their personal inferno.

"Let me go!" she demands, spitting on the ground to his astonishment. "Disgusting that you kissed me!"

"You’re lying! You like me and cannot deny it, Valentina. And I’ll have you know, Alexander Williams is a far better man than that damned Gutenberg. Like it or not, you’re my wife. If you're so fond of that bastard, sign the divorce papers and we’ll call it quits. If not, you’ll abide by my demands just as I heed yours, because mockery is off the table for both of us."

"You wretch! How dare you say that after being with your lover just hours ago, kissing her as if there’s no tomorrow? Well, let me warn you, Alexander, if you don’t do as I said for these three months, you can rot."

Alexander forces a smile to mask his distaste.

"I intend to see your stupid game through, but I won’t stand for you seeing other men while we are married."

"Well, too bad! Because if you seek Lore, kiss her, bed her, then I’m also going out to enjoy myself. I have plenty of admirers, but, foolishly clinging to a ghost of a husband, I’ve stagnated and not lived my life. So you'll receive exactly what you give, now let me go!" she growls, though Alexander tightens his grip on her.

Then he gazes at her maliciously. "No other man could make you feel like this," he whispers seductively, bringing his face close to Valentina’s, but she turns to the right, deflecting his kiss as he tries to make her understand that he alone can touch her.

Alexander trails his tongue along Valentina's neck, a move that is her breaking point, dampening her desires, though she feigns disgust.

She attempts to turn away, but Alexander leaves a gentle kiss without marking her skin, then nonchalantly moves to her ear with his tongue, making her bite her lower lip in hidden pleasure.

Releasing her hands, Alexander grabs Valentina's behind, finding pleasure in the captive touch, but she rebuffs him with a sharp slap.

"It happens when I say so! Idiot!" She adjusts her dress and hastens away from the bathroom, her face flushed, her breathing erratic.

In her haste, she unintentionally collides with someone, but strong arms steady her. It's Felipe Gutenberg, who noticed his boss's delay and came to call him for the waiting clients.

"Are you okay?" he asks, savoring their proximity.

"I'm sorry..." Valentina tries to regain her composure just as an infuriated Alexander emerges after the forceful slap.

Seeing Felipe's arms around her, Alexander's fury ignites.

"How charming, you two look great together!" he sneers sarcastically.

"Mr. Gutenberg, I apologize..." Felipe assists, and Valentina fully composes herself.

"You don’t waste time, do you, Valentina? So be it if that's the way you want things," Alexander seethes, resisting the urge to strike Felipe as he returns to the table where clients await.

"Sorry, Mr. Gutenberg, we should head back to finish the business," suggests Valentina, and Felipe exhales before following her lead.

Back at the table, Alexander downs his whisky in swift succession.

"Mr. Williams, they’ve signed in your absence, satisfied with the proposals, but wish to see you sign as well," Felipe relates to Alexander.

With his temper barely in check, Alexander snatches the pen, signs swiftly, then stands and empties his glass of whisky in one gulp, shaking hands with the clients before dragging Valentina from the restaurant, leaving everyone puzzled.

"What's wrong with you?" she says through clenched teeth.

"That you are mine and no one else's," Alexander’s possessive words prompt an inner smirk from Valentina.

"You're insane!" she retorts angrily.

"You're driving me to madness."

"Mr. Gutenberg," Felipe approaches.

"What do you want Gutenberg?" Alexander glares at him.

"I'm heading to the company to start on this project."

"Mr. Gutenberg, please include me, I want to learn about your field, it intrigues me," Valentina requests with a smile that infuriates Alexander.

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