"Gotcha"

Orion

I sat in my office, my fingers tapping steadily against the arm of my chair, my mind consumed by the memory of Ava storming out. Her angry words echo in my head, but it’s the look on her face that lingers the most—the raw fury mixed with confusion, the fire in her eyes.

She thinks she understands me, that she has me figured out, but she’s just another player in a game she can’t even begin to comprehend.

My grip tightens around the armrest, and a surge of emotions hits me, ones I can’t quite place. Part of me wants to see her break, wants to see her crushed beneath my control, begging for mercy.

But there’s something else there, something darker.

I don’t want to admit it, but I can feel it crawling under my skin, gnawing at my insides. I stood still in my office as she left, the image of her hand, bandaged and raw, still etched in my mind.

Chloe had pushed her down, and I’d done nothing but watch, a mere bystander to her pain. The coldness in me had found it amusing at the time, but now, seeing the evidence of it on her skin... my chest tightens, a twinge of guilt that I can’t shake.

Guilt? No. I can’t afford to feel that, not with her.

I can almost feel her skin beneath my fingers again, the tremble in her body when I touched her a few minutes ago. The memory is like a spark, igniting something deep within me, pushing me to the edge.

What would it be like to have her writhing beneath me, to feel her body pressed against mine, her warmth enveloping me? To thrust into her and bury myself deep inside her warmth? I stifled a moan as I could feel my dick getting hard.

The thought made my blood run hot, my body responding in ways I hate. I pushed the image aside.

I don’t need that. Not right now.

But something inside me craves it. I hate myself for how my body reacts to her, but it’s not just lust. It’s something darker, something I can't define. And that scares me more than I care to admit.

“Orion!” My mother’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and demanding. I’d almost forgotten she was in here with me. “You should’ve listened to me. I told you to get rid of her, to end her before she even thought about standing in our way!”

Her voice stirred something in me, frustration bubbling to the surface. Priscilla Miller. Relentless, calculating. She’s always been a force, always pushing me to be colder, more ruthless.

And most of the time, I’m steps ahead of everyone, even her. But sometimes her bitterness grates on me. I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair, staring at her intently.

She’s already in her usual mode—cold, calculating, and impatient. Her lips are tight, her eyes filled with disappointment. She never lets me forget the weight of her expectations.

“You should’ve killed her when you had the chance,” she mutters, venom dripping from her words. “But no, you had to play the ‘moral’ card like your father. Look where that got us.”

I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I leaned against my chair, staring at her, weighing my next words carefully. “I’ve got it under control, Mom. I’m not like my father. I’m smarter. I’ll make her pay for what she’s done.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I want to know how, Orion. This little act she’s pulling, this resistance? She’s not the type of woman you bend to your will. You need a real plan.”

I smirked, already playing out the pieces in my mind. She has no idea how perfectly everything is falling into place. “I have a plan,” I said to her and told her about using Holly to get to Ava and how I plan on stripping Ava off every right to the company once we are married.

My mother’s lips curl into a satisfied smile. "That’s my son. Always thinking three steps ahead. But I think you’re still missing something."

I tilt my head, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “I’ll pull strings and organize a fake board meeting. Play your cards well, Orion. They’ll force her into a corner. She’ll believe she has no choice but to marry you.”

A surge of appreciation ran through me. I hadn’t realized how far my mother had gone to secure this. The plan is moving faster than I anticipated, and it’s all falling into place.

Then I remembered Ava's words, “Mama's boy,” and my smile faltered. She is so far from the truth. I am my own man and I would get what I want, the way I want it.

The sound of a soft knock on the door interrupted our moment. Before I could respond, a voice called from the other side.

Time to go.

As I walked into the boardroom, the tension in the air was thick. It’s exactly the way I like it. I’m the master of this game. And Ava? She’s just another piece to be moved.

And it worked! My ring is already on her finger.

Next to me, I could feel Ava’s eyes on me, burning with hatred. Good. Let her be angry. Let her despise me. It makes everything easier.

A board member leaned forward, clearing his throat. "Orion, when do you plan to set the date for the wedding?"

My smile was cold, calculated. “Thanksgiving,” I said, voice smooth and assured. “In one week’s time.”

Ava gasped, her mouth opening to protest, but her voice was drowned out by the applause of the board members, celebrating as though this was the happiest occasion of their lives.

Ava’s fury was consuming, but I don’t care. She’ll fall in line soon enough.

Her eyes meet mine—burning with everything she feels for me. I savored it. It’s not love. Not by a long shot. It’s pure, unfiltered hatred. And that’s what makes it so easy. When she despises me, when she hates everything I do, it will be so much easier to tear her down.

I studied her, taking in the tightness in her jaw, the clenching of her fists. She’s furious, but there’s nothing she can do now. The board has already spoken. Her fate is sealed.

Her disgust, her unwillingness to accept this new reality, makes me feel… victorious. I don’t need her love. I don’t need her desire. All I need is her submission. And when that happens, I’ll watch as she crumbles under the weight of everything I take from her.

The sound of applause filled the room, but I barely heard it. My focus was entirely on Ava—on the way she looked at me now. The ring is on her finger. There’s no turning back.

As the meeting adjourned, I leaned toward her, whispering softly in her ear, “Gotcha.”

Her eyes flash with fury, but I knew better. Deep down, she knew this was just the beginning.

And I can’t wait to watch her try to escape. Ava is cornered now.

And this is where I watch her fall.