The Reid mansion was never quiet on family dinner nights, there was a bunch of drama to unfold.
Alexander stood at the foot of the staircase, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt as voices from the dining room echoed: laughter, sharp remarks, and clattering glasses. The sound grated on his nerves.
"I should have canceled, " he thought.
But revoking family dinner wasn't an option. Not when his father had summoned him with that tone, the one that meant business, not courtesies.
He plunged the stairs gradually, his face already schooled into apathy.
The dining room doors were wide open; he could hear the soft clink of cutlery against ceramic plates, followed by the faint slosh of wine.
His mother sat at the head of the table, legs crossed elegantly, a glass of red wine in hand. Her silk dress clung to her body like it had been poured on, deep emerald against flawless skin.
Her accent, thick, unmistakably Miskos, wrapped around every word she spoke.
"…and then he dared to tell me I was late," she laughed, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. "As if time has ever heeded me."
A man Alexander didn't recognize sat beside her, far too close, his hand resting comfortably on the back of her chair.
Across from her sat his father, Mr. Reid—calm, composed, unbothered, cutting into his steak as though nothing about the scene was unusual.
A woman in a fitted cream dress sat beside him, scrolling through her phone, exhausted.
Alexander's jaw narrowed.
His younger sister, Elena, sat halfway down the table, swaying her feet slightly.
She was chubby, soft around the rims, her cheeks round and warm.
Unlike the rest of them, she wore a simple dress and no makeup beyond lip gloss.
She looked up and grinned colorfully when she saw him.
"Alex!"
Her voice cut through the uncertainty like sunlight.
"There you are," she said. "I thought you'd ditch again."
"I thought about it," Alexander replied dryly as he took his seat.
His mother glanced at him, eyes glittering. "You're late."
"You began without me."
"Of course we did," she shrugged.
"Hunger doesn't wait for men with god complexes." Her gaze remained on Alex.
The man beside her giggled.
Alexander ignored him completely.
His father finally looked up. "Sit. Eat. We'll talk after."
"About what?" Alexander asked, already reaching for his wine.
"Business," Mr. Reid replied.
Elena rolled her eyes.
"Can we eat first without talking about money for once?"
Her mother laughed loudly.
"Darling, this family breathes money."
"And sex," Elena muttered under her breath.
Alexander sneered.
His mother shot her a warning look.
"Watch your mouth, kid"
"Why?" Elena questioned gently.
"It's a fact, you know it."
The table went silent for a moment.
Alexander leaned back in his chair. "Can we omit the hypocrisy tonight?"
His father raised an eyebrow. "Careful."
Alexander gestured around the table. "You bring home outsiders. Mother brings home lovers. Nobody bats an eye. But somehow, I'm the disappointment because I don't want a wife?"
His mother smiled lazily. "Oh, sweetheart, you're not a disappointment. You're exactly like us."
Elena shook her head. "He's worse."
Alexander glimpsed at her. "Excuse me?"
"You don't even pretend to care," she said calmly. "At least Mom and Dad are sincere about their mess."
Silence.
Alexander gazed at his plate.
Why did that sting?
His mother cleared her throat. "Elena, you're too naive to understand adult pacts."
"I'm twenty-two," Elena replied. "And I comprehend enough to know this isn't typical."
The woman beside Mr. Reid scoffed. "Typical is boring."
Elena turned to her. "So is empty."
Alexander almost grinned.
Mr. Reid set his fork down. "Enough."
Everyone froze.
"This is a family dinner," he said firmly. "Not a therapy session."
He turned to Alexander. "After dessert, we converse."
Alexander nodded stiffly.
The rest of dinner continued in uneasy fragments, clinking cutlery, forced laughter, shallow discussion.
His mother leaned closer to her companion, gossiping something that made him grin.
His father's date excused herself to take a call.
Elena ate quietly, watching everyone with a look that was far too perceptive.
Alexander drank more wine than usual.
Why can't I stop thinking about her?
The thought came unsolicited.
The girl from that night.
Her laugh.Her eyes that screamed of innocence.
Her luscious lips tasted like strawberries.
The way she looked at him was like he was something dangerous and beautiful all at once.
He gripped his jaw.
Focus.
Dessert came and went.
Finally, Mr. Reid stood. "Alexander. My study."
Alexander obeyed him out, the heavy door closing behind them with a dull thud.
The study scented of leather and old books.
"Sit," his father said.
Alexander remained standing. "You wanted to talk."
Mr. Reid surveyed him carefully.
"Reid Holdings is developing."
"I know."
"There's a merger coming."
Alexander's eyes sharpened. "With who?"
"Collins Group."
The name landed like a stab.
Alexander scowled. "Why them?"
"Because they're desperate," Mr. Reid replied coolly. "And we hold influence."
Alexander folded his arms. "What's the trap?"
Mr. Reid leaned back. "They want… certainties."
Alexander's stomach tightened. "What type?"
"A marriage alliance."
Alexander laughed dashingly. "Absolutely not."
Mr. Reid's gaze hardened.
"You don't have a choice, it's for your own good"
Alexander stepped forward.
"I will not marry for business."
"You already live for business," his father shot back. "Marriage is just another contract."
"No," Alexander snapped. "It's an enclosure."
Mr. Reid stood. "So is poverty. Decide wisely."
The door squeaked open suddenly.
Elena stood there, pale.
"Dad," she said quietly.
"You need to see this."
She held out her phone.
Alexander peeked at the screen.
His blood ran cold.
A photo gazed back at him.
A familiar face.
A woman he hadn't been able to forget.
Tessa.
And underneath it
A missing person news with a bounty affixed to it.
The words blurred as his heart blasted violently against his ribs.
"That's her," he whispered underneath his breath
Mr. Reid glanced between them. "Who?"
Alexander didn't respond.
Because for the first time in years
Fear had covered its fingers tightly around his chest.