Chokehold; Trapped By My Ex

ROMAN'S POV

Alina Monroe.

How could I forget? Could never, even if I wanted to. The name still tasted like venom, just like the personality that bore it. There was nothing I wished more than seeing her damned with the same fate she'd dealt others: anguish, pains, ruin.

The kind she let everyone else endure.

The kind she let me endure.

 "You still don't get it, do you, Alina?" I sneered, leaning forward on the table. "I am the reason you're here, the reason you got up on that podium. This is my project. My podium. My rules. You can't do what I asked? I'll just cross your name off the chart, and that'll be the end of this."

I was in charge here. She'd better know it.

This wasn't like before. This was nothing like before, I had power now. The connections, and I'll be damned if I let her pull those same sweet, manipulative tricks here.

Coming in, flashing those smiles of hers, eyes twinkling, pretending to be confused. Acting all innocent.

I knew better.

It was bad enough she represented the Consulting agency I'd actually been considering. Looking forward to even for Oxygen.

This new wing project we were on. Our biggest expansion yet; an entire exclusive section designated for purely feminine fantasies. Private. Expensive. Addictive.

Men would pay anything for a glimpse behind that curtain, and I planned on making them. Reason why I needed Boldlines, the best at handling things like this.

They came highly recommended, but who would've thought they'd show up wrapped with a name like Alina Monroe.

Totally disappointing.

And looking at her now. Watching her stand there, staring like I'd slapped her right across the face. Defiance burning behind those brown orbs she called eyes, even as she stood quiet.

If i didn't know, I'd think i offended her. When we both clearly know just who the offender was between us.

Talking about respect and dignity... does she even have that? Those were for better females. High quality females, not ones in scuffed heels threatening to break my marble floors as they find their seat.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Ward." She finally said, trying not to glare but failing.

I only spoke the truth.

What was the difference between her and the girls at the lounge that she would think herself special?

She was nothing special. Nothing captivating enough to warrant my respect or attention. And if i said she needed to strip to properly execute what she thought she was talking about, then so be it.

She couldn't do that? Then she and her agency can stay the hell out of my sight. They were already cancelled the moment she walked in anyway.

"Looking forward to working with you, Sir." Her partner managed to let out before getting pulled away by Alina as she walked out. Out of the room, out of my sight.

"Who else is on the list?" I asked promptly, wanting this to be over now. My patience thin at this point.

"3 more teams to go, Boss." Marcus replied, flipping through the forms.

"Schedule them for tomorrow." I said, already rising. "Or maybe you handle it."

"Boss?"

"Handle it, Marcus. I know you can, just send in a report later in the day." I walked out, Jordan a step behind. "And take Boldlines off the list."

His questioning stare was the last i saw before the door shut. We headed for the private elevator then, bypassing the other waiting teams.

To think Alina had been sitting as well... it all just made my blood boil. Jaw clenched. "The nerves she has." I muttered, "The nerve to show her face here at all."

Although I could tell she was surprised to see me, it still didn't justify anything.

"Boss," Jordan called calmly, "Should we head to the lounge or the building? You haven't seen it yet."

The building?

Right. That building. The six unit condo at the heart of the city. Pretty extravagant for a couple just starting out married life. But Lana wanted it. My fiancée. How could I say no?

I would if it were someone else, but not her. Not my Lana.

Worse case scenario, we'd rent out the spaces later. Surely she would love the company since she wanted to try out a different career path after the wedding.

Our wedding.

Keep forgetting that.

"Let's go to the building." I said as we reached the lobby. Heads turning to stare but I was already used to it. Would stare too if I could. I looked that good, and i knew it.

But just as we arrived at the parking lot, the somewhat quiet space filled with flashy exotic cars as usual. Something else caught my eye.

A small, dented hatchback amongst the luxury sedans. Increasing looking worse the more you stared at it.

Pathetic really. But what actually kept me were the voices, the words surrounding that car.

"You don't really mean that, do you Lina? You can't just quit the project." 

"Cleo, you don't understand." She sighed, "It's not that i don't want the project, i don't want him. If i knew he was in charge, i wouldn't have bothered with this whole thing at all! It's pointless, you saw the way he behaved, the things he said to me."

"Oh God, girl, we need this. You need this." The other girl urged, "He's just trying to ruffle your feathers, these rich men do it all the time. You need to push past that."

"No," she shook her head, turning. Facing me. Her features now visible to me from the distance.

Alina.

"It's not that simple, Cleo. It's because I know in my heart that I cannot. I cannot work with Roman!"

The air carried her voice. Every word slicing through the quiet space of the parking lot. "I've thought about it just now, I've imagined it... and no. I don't want to. I'd rather be crucified by Joe and laughed at by Nicole than work with him. I'd rather leave the project all together! I want out."

 Silence followed after that. The sheer defiance emitting from her stance, enough to shut the other girl up. No more resistance. No more arguments.

And with that, they got into that ridiculous little car. Driving off and speeding past where I and Jordan stood, not noticing us. The other girl's features, one of defeat, but hers? A burning fire that told me all I needed to know.

She meant it.

Those words. And just like that, my blood boiled.

"She really is something, isn't she?" I gritted, "I haven't even officially removed her and she's quitting herself? Running away?"

Again? Want to hide now?

Why, afraid of your sins finally catching up with you?

Where was that fear 5 years go? Where was that fear when you were busy sneaking around behind my back?!

"Now you want to run. I don't think so, Alina." I smirked, "Not this time. You don't get to make that choice, I do."

What did she say again? That she'd rather be ridiculed than work with me?

Fine. Ridiculed you shall.

You don't want to work with me? Now you'll for me! With me, and around me. I insist!

Let's see how you cope then. Let's see where you'll run to and who you'll hide behind!

I'm in charge now, and I'll show you.

With that, i pulled out my phone. Sucking at my teeth as a slow grin replaced the earlier anger that I'd felt. "Boss," Marcus said the minute the line connected and I went straight to business.

"I want Boldlines back on the list and a contract drafted immediately."

"Eh? But we still have 2 more-

"Cancel the rest Marcus," I snapped, impatient. "I've already made my pick and that's Boldlines. Put them back on the list, and start drafting the contract right now."

"Wow... alright." He said simply, surprised no doubt. It was unlike me to act so rash when it came to projects. Especially one that i have been scrutinizing Consulting Agencies for over 2 weeks now. "This is sudden, Boss. Don't you want to think about this a little?"

"What do you think about their presentation? Boldlines."

He paused. "It was... good actually. Refreshing. Miss Monroe seemed to know exactly what she was talking about. Which can only mean she'd spent a great deal of time studying our structures and dealings. Or... she's genuinely into what we're on."

A smirk made it's way to my lips at those words. Satisfaction rising in me. "So I wasn't the only one who noticed. It's settled. Draft out the contract!"

"Yes Boss."

Jonah pulled up with the car right then. A black Mercedes. "Send me a copy when you're done Marcus," I slide in, shutting the door. "I have a special detail to add before it goes over to Boldlines."

Just a little package for my dear Alina Monroe. Boldlines too.

I'll get what i want from them -and get her too. Killing two birds with one stone.

Now that's the kind of transaction I like.