BEHIND THE FACADE R18

Mine And Would Always Be.

MALCOLM'S POV

I sat in my chair, seething, as I tore open the first three buttons of my shirt. The fabric ripped beneath my fingers, a testament to my fury. The tray of coffee lay shattered on the floor, its fragments scattered like my patience.

Mia's words echoed in my mind: "I hate you, Malcolm. I hate you." How could she say such things to me? I thought I'd earned her fear, her respect. But beneath my anger, a spark of hurt flickered. Pain. I clenched my jaw, fueling my rage. No one spoke to me like that. No one.

A knock at the door broke the silence, a welcome distraction from my turbulent thoughts. Natalie strode in, her eyes widening at the mess. "What's all this?" she asked, stepping cautiously across the shards. Her heels clicked on the floor, a soothing sound amidst the chaos.

"I have news from the warehouse in the uplands," she continued, her tone steady. "The production numbers are in, and I thought you'd want to know." Her professionalism was a balm to my frayed nerves.

"Come here," I said, ignoring her words, and beckoned her to me. Natalie approached, her eyes locked on mine. I pulled her onto my lap, her slender frame fitting perfectly. She adjusted her position, her hands finding their way to my temples.

"Is anything the matter?" she asked softly, her fingers beginning to massage my tension away. I closed my eyes, letting her touch soothe me. Her obedience was a salve to my ego, battered by Mia's defiance.

"Better?" Natalie asked after a few strokes. I remained silent, instead asking, "What's this news from the uplands?" I needed to focus on something other than Mia's words.

"The warehouse has increased production by 15%," Natalie reported. "However, there's been a concern about potential sabotage from a rival organization. Our security team is investigating." Her voice was calm, serious.

I loved how her tone and mannerism became serous when it came to work. It showed how professional she was

I nodded, my mind already racing with solutions. "See to it," I said. "I want those numbers up another 10% within the month. And find out who's behind the sabotage. Deal with them." Natalie nodded, her eyes never leaving mine.

"And what about Landon's claim?" I asked. Natalie's expression turned cautious. "Since he took 20% of the empire, some of our associates have begun to question our leadership. There's been a shift in power dynamics." I gritted my teeth.

"I'll deal with Landon," I growled. Natalie's fingers continued their soothing rhythm. She knew better than to speak.

As I sat there, surrounded by the shattered remains of my coffee tray, I couldn't help but admire Natalie's beauty. Her submission was intoxicating. So obedient. So willing to please. A stark contrast to Mia's defiance.

Mia.

She belonged to me. I'd make sure of it. I'd break her ego, shatter her resistance. She'd submit, just like Natalie.

The thought sent a surge of determination through me.

No one defied me and lived to tell the tale. Natalie's gentle touch brought me back to reality.

As Natalie continued to massage my temples, I rested my back in the seat, allowing her touch to soothe me. Her fingers danced across my skin, easing the tension that had built up since Mia's outburst. The gentle pressure was a welcome respite from the turmoil brewing inside me.

"Was it Mia?" Natalie asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want to anger me, and I could sense her trepidation. I replied with a simple "hmm", not wanting to encourage further conversation. My silence was a warning, a reminder that some topics were off-limits.