She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother

Something in Victoria’s expression cracked open - just a hairline fracture, but Alex caught it. ”James thinks my ’wanderlust phases’ are unprofessional. He says CEOs can’t afford to be sentimental about work-life balance.” She took a sip of tea, and when she looked up, her eyes were brighter. ”But you understand, don’t you? You’ve talked about wanting to see the world, start fresh somewhere new.”

Alex nodded, remembering conversations from months ago when he’d still believed Sophia cared about his dreams. ”I used to think I wanted to travel to prove something - show everyone from foster care that I could make it. But lately, I think I just want to find somewhere I belong.”

”Belonging,” Victoria repeated, like she was testing the word. ”Yes, that’s precisely it. I have everything I thought I wanted - power, wealth, influence. But I don’t feel like I belong anywhere. Not in my marriage, not in my family, sometimes not even in my own company.”

The grandfather clock chimed eleven, but neither of them moved to acknowledge the late hour.

”You know what’s strange?” Victoria continued. ”Talking with you right now feels more natural than conversations I’ve had with James in months. He’s always calculating how my words will play in focus groups. Even our private conversations feel like campaign strategy sessions.”

Alex felt the system’s subtle chime in his mind - progress being made, defenses lowering. But beneath the strategic awareness, he found himself authentically moved by Victoria’s loneliness. She was nothing like the cold corporate shark he’d expected.

”Maybe that’s because I’m not here for your money or your connections,” Alex said. ”I’m here because I’ve always enjoyed talking with you. You see possibilities where other people see problems.”

Victoria set down her teacup and really looked at him - not the polite attention of a hostess, but the focused interest of someone who’d found something unexpected.

”Alex, you have no idea how long it’s been since someone said something like that to me.”

____

The grandfather clock chimed midnight, its deep tones echoing through the mansion. Victoria glanced up in surprise, then laughed - a sound more authentic than any Alex had heard from her before.

”Goodness, it’s already midnight. I haven’t stayed up talking like this since college.” But she made no move to end their conversation. If anything, she seemed to settle deeper into her chair. ”James is always asleep by ten-thirty to maintain his campaign schedule, and Sophia considers any conversation longer than five minutes to be a complete waste of her social time.”

’She doesn’t want me to leave,’ Alex realized. The solitary billionaire CEO was clinging to sincere human connection like a lifeline.

”I should probably go,” Alex said, though his tone suggested the opposite. ”I know you have work tomorrow.”

”Actually,” Victoria said, and Alex caught the slight flush coloring her cheeks, ”would you mind staying a little longer? I know it’s selfish, but I’m dreading going back to my office to finish those quarterly reports. Adult conversation is such a rare luxury in my life.”

’Hook, line, and sinker,’ Lilith purred in his mind. But Alex found himself reluctant to manipulate the vulnerability Victoria was showing him.

”I’d love to stay,” he said, and meant it.

Victoria’s smile transformed her entire face. ”Wonderful. Let’s move to my study - it’s more comfortable, and I have some excellent scotch if you’re interested. Consider it payment for saving me from another solitary night with spreadsheets and profit margins.”

As they walked through the mansion’s corridors toward Victoria’s private study, Alex caught their reflection in a hallway mirror. Victoria looked more relaxed than he’d ever seen her, and Alex looked like someone she trusted completely.

’This is working too well,’ he thought. ’I’m starting to forget this is supposed to be revenge.’

But as they entered Victoria’s private study - her most intimate space, filled with personal books and family photos - she said something that made his pulse quicken.

”Alex, I hope this doesn’t sound inappropriate, but talking with you tonight has made me remember what it feels like to be intellectually and emotionally engaged. I’d forgotten that feeling was even possible.”

___

Author Note :

So... did you all fall for her too?

Victoria Blackwood isn’t just powerful ... she’s solitary, elegant, and unexpectedly human. Alex came here to manipulate her, to use her. But the lines are already starting to blur.