All Chapters of The Cage Between Us : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

40 Chapters

Green edges

Alex stood by the glass wall of the lounge on the thirty eighth floor. He had a glass of water in his hand that he had barely touched. The afternoon investor meeting had gone on longer than he thought it would.. He had stayed because Rowan asked him to look over the Meridian projections afterward. What he did not expect was the woman who was now laughing beside Rowan at the end of the room.She was really something. Tall, with dark hair falling over one shoulder and a red dress that fit her perfectly. Sophia Lang, the investor from Meridian Group. Her hand was on Rowans arm as she talked to him. They were standing close together. Rowan was smiling at her. It was a smile he did not often show.Alexs grip on the glass got tighter. He felt a knot in his stomach. He did not have any right to feel this way. He and Rowan were not officially together. They shared a bed at night. During the day they kept things professional.. Seeing Sophia touch Rowan like that made him feel funny.Lena appea

Sharp Edges

The lights in the penthouse were low when Alex and Rowan got back that evening. Alex had been quiet the time they were driving back and he could not shake off the memory of Sophia laughing and putting her hand on Rowans arm. Rowan noticed that Alex was quiet. Course he noticed. The man does not miss a thing.Rowan poured them each a glass of whiskey. Handed one to Alex in the living room. When their fingers touched it was on purpose. "You have been tense since we were at the lounge " Rowan said.Alex took a sip of the whiskey. The burn felt good. "I told you it is nothing " he said.Rowan set his glass down and stepped closer to Alex backing him against the kitchen island. His eyes had a look, something darker and more satisfied than just being concerned. "It is not nothing " Rowan said. "You did not like seeing her touch me. I could tell by the look on your face in that photo Elias sent."Alex felt his face get hot. ". You liked seeing me like that? Watching me get all upset while sh

Hidden Archives

Alex woke up before his alarm went off. The penthouse was really quiet. Rowan was sleeping beside him. Alex could see the marks from the night before on his hips. They were a reminder of how they had made up. He got out of bed carefully. Went to the kitchen to get some water. He was thinking about the meeting with the investors. How Rowan had acted after it. The jealousy was gone. Alex was still getting those anonymous photos. They just kept coming.Alex stopped in front of Rowans home office door. It was open a bit which was not like Rowan at all. Alex was curious so he went inside. The desk had a lot of monitors and folders on it. One of the cabinet drawers was not locked. Alex thought about it for a moment then he opened it.There were a lot of files inside. They were about Elias Vale. Alex saw newspaper articles about his disappearance, police reports and private investigator bills. There were handwritten notes from Rowan. Alex also saw bank statements that showed money going to a

Ghost of the past

Alex fixed his tie in the elevator mirror as it went down to the lobby. The week had been a blur of meetings and nights looking at Elias files with Rowan. The photos had not stopped coming each one a reminder that someone was watching them. Tonight Rowan had to go to a dinner with the board so Alex had to go to a networking event in the towers hall for mid-level partners and people who worked with them. He did not think the evening would bring up feelings.The hall was noisy with people talking and glasses clinking. The lights from the chandeliers made everything look nice. Alex walked through the crowd saying hello to people he knew from marketing when he heard a voice that sounded familiar."Alex Rivera. Still making waves in places you should not."He turned around. Marcus Hale was standing a few feet away holding a drink looking like the finance consultant he had become. He was tall with cheekbones and dark eyes that used to attract Alex. His suit fit him perfectly. His hair was s

Breaking point

Rowan Vale was not a man who lost control. Not in meetings. Not in crises. Certainly not over a person.. When he saw Alex and Marcus on the security feed from the event something inside him snapped.He excused himself from the dinner table saying he had a call. Alone in a side room he watched the footage again and again. Alex and Marcus were standing close. They smiled easily. Marcus touched Alexs arm and Alex did not pull away.The chemistry between them was clear on grainy video. Old lovers reconnecting in sight. Eliass cameras had captured every second.Rowans hand tightened around the tablet until it hurt his palm. He had teased Alex about being jealous the night but now he felt it roaring through him like fire. This was not Sophias flirting. This was history with skin and memory. Someone who had touched Alex before. Hurt him before.. Now dared to stand in Rowans tower and smile at what belonged to him.* He left the dinner early ignoring looks from the board.* The drive back to

Shattered Trust

The penthouse felt really small that evening. The air was thick with tension from the night. Rowan had gotten really jealous. It had left marks on both of them. Alex had spent the day working on some papers for Meridian trying to avoid the looks from Lena and the mean comments from Victor. Every time his phone buzzed he jumped, thinking it was another message from Elias.. There was nothing. The waiting was making him really anxious.Rowan came home late slamming the door shut. Alex was standing in the living room his arms crossed, with dinner getting cold on the kitchen counter. He had tried to make things feel normal by cooking. Now it felt pointless."You said you would be home by seven " Alex said, trying to keep his voice calm even though he was getting angry. "I waited. Again."Rowan took off his tie. Dropped his bag near the couch. The city lights outside made lines on his face. "The meeting at work ran late. Victor was really pushing about the leaks. I had to take care of it."

words

The night before had been tough but the next evening was pretty calm in the penthouse. Alex was making a dinner in the kitchen. He had gotten used to doing this after living with Rowan for a weeks. Rowan came home earlier than usual. Took off his jacket. He rolled up his sleeves. Did not look as tired as he usually did. They had not talked much about their fight. Things felt a little different now. The air between them felt honest even if it was a little fragile.They ate dinner at the island in the kitchen. Their shoulders would touch sometimes. They had food, like grilled fish and vegetables. It was not fancy. It felt kind of heavy after what they had said to each other the night before. Rowan watched Alex as he ate. His gray eyes were looking at Alex with a lot of intensity."You are still mad " Rowan said after a while.Alex shook his head. "I am not mad. I am just thinking about what you said night.. What I said."Rowan reached out. Took Alexs hand. He rubbed his thumb over Alexs

Almost

The city was still awake outside the penthouse that night. The lights were flashing like warnings. Inside the air felt heavy. It was like everything they had said to each other was still hanging there. Alex was standing by the windows looking down at the streets. He had a glass of water in his hand. He was not drinking it. Rowan was watching him from the couch. They had already eaten dinner. Cleared the table.Neither of them had said much since they talked about everything.. The silence was not empty. It felt like something was about to happen. Rowan got up. Walked over to Alex. He put his arms around Alexs waist. Pulled him back against his chest. Alex felt safe when Rowan held him like that."You are thinking about that message again " Rowan said. Alex leaned back into Rowans arms. He let out a breath. "I just cannot stop thinking about it. Elias knows everything we do. He knows what we say to each other. It feels like he is always watching us even when we cannot see him." Alex tur

The shadowed Lens

The morning sunlight came through the penthouse windows it was not as harsh as the threats they had been getting at night. Alex woke up first he was all tangled up in Rowans arms. Their bodies were warm which was a difference from the cold fear that had settled in after the photos from the night before. Alex just lay there for a while drawing patterns on Rowans chest with his finger listening to the sound of his heartbeat. He was still thinking about what they had said to each other the night before.Rowan started to wake up his gray eyes slowly opened. When he saw Alex looking at him he gave a smile. "You stayed here with me you did not run away after what happened."Alex propped himself up on his elbow his feelings were clear in the way he looked at Rowan. "There is else I want to be, even with Elias using our private moments against us. Night felt real what we almost said to each other I meant it."Rowan pulled Alex down and they shared a kiss his hands were gentle on Alexs back. T

Addictive pull

The days after the latest photo were a blur for Alex. He found himself missing Rowan more and more. Eliass constant surveillance had made their connection stronger. Also more urgent. Every touch felt like a risk every whispered word like a challenge. Their relationship had become an obsession. When they were apart Alex felt restless. Rowan got short-tempered with everyone else.Alex sat at his desk on the marketing floor going over some notes. His mind kept wandering to the night before. Rowan had kept him up until dawn. Their bodies moved together with a hunger that left bruises and satisfaction. This need had become addictive. It was a drug they both wanted even though it was dangerous.His phone buzzed. It was Rowan. **My office. Ten minutes. Bring the campaign files.**Alex gathered the files. Took the elevator up. The private floor felt heavier today. The security guards nodded curtly as he passed. When he entered the office Rowan stood by the windows his jacket off. His shoulder

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