Page 18 of Her Alien Owner
The soft rustle of leaves above me provides a temporary respite from my turmoil. For now, all I can do is take things one day at a time and hope that whatever lies ahead won’t shatter me like that crystal bowl.
The staff might resent me, but Valen's attention has become something I crave despite my better judgment. And maybe—just maybe—there's more to him than anyone realizes.
The day’s events replay in my mind as I sit at my small vanity, brushing my hair. Each stroke sends a calming rhythm through my nerves, but my thoughts remain anything but. The mirror reflects a face full of questions, eyes wide with uncertainty.
I wonder what Valen sees in someone like me. It’s a thought that has gnawed at me since the moment he offered me this job. His attention feels too personal, too intense. It’s almost as if he knows something about me that I don’t.
“Why me?” I whisper to my reflection, hoping for an answer that doesn’t come.
I set the brush down and look at the tiny room that now serves as my sanctuary. The opulence of Valen’s estate contrasts sharply with the modesty of my quarters, but there’s a comfort here I can’t deny. Financial stability is a significant factor, yes, but there’s more to it than that.
I feel bound to him in a way I can’t quite explain. It’s as if an invisible thread ties us together, pulling me closer with each passing day.
Valen is a mystery wrapped in a riddle, and every interaction with him only deepens my curiosity. His kindness today when I broke the bowl was unexpected but genuine. He didn’t scold or belittle me; instead, he cared for my wound with a tenderness that left me breathless.
“What do you want from me?” I murmur, the question hanging in the air like a ghost.
The rumors about his past linger in the back of my mind, but they only add to his allure. A war profiteer with mysterious investments—a man shrouded in secrets. And here I am, an ordinary girl from Armstrong, somehow caught in his orbit.
A sigh escapes my lips as I crawl into bed. Despite all the uncertainties and fears swirling within me, one thing remains clear: I want to figure out more about him. There’s something undeniably compelling about Valen that makes it impossible for me to walk away.
As I close my eyes and let sleep take over, one thought echoes through my mind: Whatever this connection between us is, I’m determined to understand it.
CHAPTER 8
VALEN
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the estate, painting the grounds in hues of gold and crimson. I stand at my bedroom window, looking out over the expanse. Movement catches my eye. Ariana. She’s returning from the market, arms laden with grocery bags, her steps hurried and uneven.
Something’s wrong.
Her usually graceful gait is frazzled, and she looks as though she’s barely holding herself together. My chest tightens at the sight. What happened?
I turn sharply and head for the door, calling out as I go.
“Tragan,” I bark, summoning my aide.
He appears almost instantly, ever efficient. “Yes, sir?”
“Ariana,” I say, motioning toward the window. “Find out what happened to her.”
Tragan nods and leaves without a word. I pace my room, fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. The image of Ariana’s distressed face lingers in my mind, unsettling me in ways I didn’t anticipate.
An hour later, Tragan returns.
“Well?” My voice is sharper than intended.
“She was harassed at the market by a man. Supposedly, an ex-boyfriend,” he reports. “She’s shaken but unharmed.”
The words ignite a fury within me. My jaw tightens, and I breathe slowly to steady myself.
“Thank you. That will be all,” I order, my tone brooking no argument.
Tragan nods again, his expression neutral but knowing. “Understood.”
As he exits, I turn back to the window, eyes scanning the grounds for any sign of Ariana. How dare anyone disturb her peace? The thought of her being vulnerable enrages me more than I care to admit.
I stride to my desk, the polished surface reflecting the determined set of my jaw. The pile of reports on the mining operation looms large, but today, one priority overshadows all else: Ariana's safety.