Tangled love

Jealousy and Power

Jealousy and Power

Selena paced in the lavish living room of the penthouse, her heels clicking against the marble floors with an urgency that matched her racing thoughts. The evening had started like any other — calm, almost normal. Alec had spent the day at one of his meetings, his presence in the penthouse a cold, distant reminder of her position in this gilded cage. But tonight, something was different. Something in the air shifted when Alec’s phone rang.

It wasn’t just the usual business calls. It was the voice of a woman, soft and sultry, calling him from across the city. Selena had overheard fragments of their conversation — words meant only for Alec, words that made her stomach churn with a feeling she couldn’t name.

“Are you free tonight?” the woman’s voice had asked, seductive and smooth.

Alec’s response had been calm, measured, but there was something in the way he spoke that sent a wave of icy jealousy through Selena’s veins. “I’m not sure. I’ve got plans,” he’d said, and then there was a pause before he added, “But we’ll see.”

Selena hadn’t been able to stop herself from eavesdropping. It was too much. His voice was laced with something she recognized — flirtation, interest, maybe even a deeper connection. And as much as she hated herself for feeling it, jealousy consumed her.

The truth was undeniable. Alec had power over her. He always had. She wasn’t just trapped in this marriage — she was ensnared by him. But hearing that woman’s voice, knowing how easily Alec could discard her for someone else, stoked the fire of something darker in Selena.

And that’s when the unease started to sink in. The part of her that fought against Alec’s control — the part that wanted to feel free again — became quiet, subdued by the overwhelming tension between them.

Now, here she was, pacing the room, waiting for him to return, the images of that woman’s voice lingering in her mind like a sharp thorn.

The elevator door chimed, and Selena froze, her heart skipping a beat. He was back.

Alec stepped out of the elevator, his tailored suit immaculate, his face as unreadable as always. But there was something else — something in the way his gaze flickered over to her, calculating and steady. He knew she was on edge. He always knew.

“Selena,” he said, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of something commanding, something that made her skin prickle with unease. “You’re restless. What’s wrong?”

Selena clenched her jaw, trying to control the storm inside her. “Nothing,” she replied sharply, her tone a little too cold, a little too forced. “Just waiting for you to get home.”

Alec didn’t answer immediately. He simply studied her with those piercing eyes, as if waiting for her to crack. He knew something was off. He always did. But he wouldn’t press her — not yet.

Instead, he walked past her, his body brushing against hers so briefly that it could have been an accident. But it wasn’t. He was testing her. Testing her control.

“Go get ready,” Alec instructed, his voice still carrying that dangerous authority. “We’re meeting some important people tonight. Don’t keep me waiting.”

The command hit her like a slap. It wasn’t just an invitation; it was an order. And Selena hated how quickly she obeyed, how she moved toward the bedroom without a second thought. She couldn’t let him see how much it affected her, but the truth was undeniable — she was still at his mercy.

⸻

The car ride to the venue was quiet, Alec beside her, his hand resting casually on the seat, inches away from her own. Selena’s body burned with the tension, the awareness of his proximity. Every time the car hit a bump, his fingers would brush against her, a reminder of how easily he could break her down.

She couldn’t stand it.

Her mind raced, flashes of that woman’s voice taunting her. He had a life outside of her — a life that didn’t include her. It made the bile rise in her throat, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“So, who’s this person we’re meeting tonight?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Alec turned to her, his gaze thoughtful, almost amused. “You’ll see,” he said, the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. “You’ll be fine.”

Fine? Fine was the last thing she was.

As the car pulled up to a sleek, exclusive restaurant, a surge of anxiety hit her. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation. Alec’s associates, influential people in the city, all watching, waiting to see the perfect couple they had become.

Selena’s breath hitched as Alec got out of the car and extended his hand to her. His touch was firm, possessive. It felt as if his fingers were marking her, reminding her that she belonged to him. That there was no escaping him.

They entered the restaurant, and as always, the room fell silent for a moment. Every eye turned to them, to Alec, the powerful billionaire, and his beautiful, silent wife. Selena’s every move was scrutinized. The pressure made her skin crawl, but she held herself together, forcing a smile, her heart pounding in her chest.

Alec led her to the table where a woman was already seated — a stunning, tall blonde with a laugh that was too loud and a smile too practiced. The moment Alec sat down, the woman leaned toward him, her fingers brushing against his arm in a way that was too intimate, too familiar.

Selena’s breath caught in her throat. The jealousy burned her from the inside, a fire that she couldn’t put out.

The woman’s eyes flicked to Selena, an obvious flicker of curiosity mixed with something else — a smirk, perhaps, a silent challenge. And Selena knew in that moment that this woman, whoever she was, wasn’t just a stranger. She had been here before. She knew Alec. She had tasted his attention, felt the same sparks that Selena now did.

“So, Alec,” the woman said, her voice soft, seductive, “how’s business? And your lovely wife, Selena — how’s she adjusting to this new life?”

Selena’s grip on her glass tightened. She didn’t look at Alec. She couldn’t. The tension was too much. The woman’s eyes lingered on her, a quiet challenge in the way she spoke, in the way she looked at Alec, the way she rested her hand on his arm.

Selena knew what she was doing. She was marking her territory. She was making it clear that Alec’s attention wasn’t solely hers.

But Alec didn’t even notice. He was completely caught up in the woman’s flirtations, his smile wide, his voice easy and charming. He was enjoying the attention. And the realization hit Selena like a slap. He didn’t belong to her. Not really.

This was what Alec did. He played his games. He was a master at making everyone around him feel wanted, feel special, all while he held all the power.

The woman laughed at something Alec said, a sound that sent a deep ache of jealousy through Selena. She wanted to rip the smile off her face. She wanted to shout at Alec — tell him how much this hurt her. But the truth was, she didn’t have the right. Not in his world. Not in his game.

Alec’s eyes flicked to Selena, his gaze catching her in the act of watching him. There was something in his eyes that made her breath catch. He knew. He knew exactly what was happening.

The woman’s laughter died, and for the briefest of moments, the entire room seemed to hold its breath. Alec’s expression shifted — just enough for Selena to notice.

“You’re jealous,” Alec said softly, his voice carrying across the table with an intensity that made Selena’s heart stop.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She wanted to deny it. She wanted to tell him she wasn’t some foolish girl. But he already knew.

His lips twisted into a smile, his eyes dark and knowing. “You’re jealous because you think you’re losing me,” he whispered, so only she could hear. “But you’re not losing me. You never will.”

The words stung, but Selena couldn’t help the ache in her chest. She wasn’t losing him. She had already lost him.