Chapter Twenty
Cooper
Eventually, I took Allegra back to her office, just in time for her afternoon patients. I gave her a soft kiss before I let her exit my car. She turned to enter the building, but I rolled down the window and called after her. “Will you have dinner with me? Tonight?”
She looked over her shoulder, no doubt ensuring that no one was watching our interaction. Finally, she gave a slight nod. “I get off at six o’clock. But don’t pick me up here…pick me up at my apartment.”
The next few hours dragged on, but I spent them wisely. I drove to Chaumet, one of the nicest jewelry stores in Paris. It took me a while to find something that looked like Allegra, but when I saw a fifteen-carat heart-shaped ruby necklace, I knew it was perfect for her. It was large enough that most people would think it was costume jewelry, but I would know that she wore a piece fit for a queen.
Part of me couldn’t believe I was buying jewelry for a woman. But when I thought back to how scared she was of me, and my desperate urge to show her she belonged to me and me alone, I decided that a piece of jewelry would do the trick. It would serve two purposes—it would help me earn her forgiveness, but would also claim her as mine. Let boys try and pick her up when she was wearing hundreds of thousands of euros worth of jewelry from me.
I liked the thought a lot.
I drove straight to her apartment, my hands on my thighs as I waited for her.
The second she came out of the door, I stepped out of my car. It wasn’t normal behavior for me, acting like a gentleman, but where Allegra was concerned—nothing was normal.
As she moved towards the soft glow of the streetlights, I found myself mesmerized by her grace. She looked beautiful in a simple black dress, with her hair down and classic pearl earrings. Elegant and sophisticated, she would be the envy of every woman at the restaurant.
“You look stunning,” I murmured, my eyes roaming appreciatively over her form. My compliment left a flush upon her cheeks—reminding me of the way she looked when she was underneath me earlier today, her face contorted in the pleasure I gave her. I placed my hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards the passenger door.
The ride to the restaurant was quiet. Gone was the easygoing chatter we shared during therapy—instead, the air was pregnant with meaning and the changing state of our relationship.
When we arrived at Steele’s restaurant, the ma?tre d’ recognized me immediately, his eyes widening slightly. “Mr. Moreau, welcome to The Sterling Rose. I have a table that I always set aside for Mr. Steele. Would you like to use it?”
“Yes, we would.”
The ma?tre d’ gave a slight bow, and I stifled a laugh. Did that stuff really impress people ?
“Please, follow me.”
As we walked through the main dining area, we drew curious glances from every table. Men looked at Allegra with barely concealed desire, while women glanced at me with a mixture of fear and attraction. I smirked inwardly. Let them look. They could never have what was mine.
The ma?tre d’ led us to a secluded area of the restaurant, opening a heavy wooden door to reveal a private dining room. The space was a testament to Steele’s impeccable taste—rich, dark wood paneling, a crystal chandelier casting a warm glow, and a single table draped in crisp white linen at the center.
“Your server will be with you shortly,” the ma?tre d’ said, bowing again before closing the door behind him.
I pulled out Allegra’s chair, inhaling deeply as she sat down. The scent of her perfume—I’d now recognize it anywhere—filled my senses. “Wine?” I asked, already moving towards the vintage bottle of Chateau Margaux that Steele always had at any table he dined at.
Allegra nodded, taking in the opulent surroundings. “This is...quite something, Cooper. I didn’t expect all this when you said we were going to dinner.”
I poured the wine, watching the deep red liquid swirl in the glass. “Only the best for you, angel. Besides, I thought we could use some privacy for our...discussion.”
Her posture stiffened slightly at my words, but she accepted the glass I offered. “Yes, I suppose we do need to talk about what happened earlier today.”
I took my seat across from her, my eyes never leaving her face. “Yes we do. Your little...admirer caused quite a scene.”
Allegra’s face flashed with that defiance I both loved and hated. “You think he caused the scene? Cooper, you can’t just storm into my workplace like that. It was embarrassing and unprofessional. I have colleagues, patients—”
“Your safety is my primary concern, Allegra. Always,” I cut in, my voice low and controlled. “When I heard that a male showed up at your work looking for you, what did you expect me to do?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You knew he wasn’t a threat! It was just a male pissing contest!”
I couldn’t help but let out a derisive chuckle. “In which case, I won. I’ve now made it my business to protect you. Gregor is weak. He couldn’t protect you if his life depended on it.”
Allegra set her wine glass down with more force than necessary. “Cooper, I don’t need you to protect me from potential suitors. And I certainly don’t need you charging in like some sort of...of...”
“Knight in shining armor?” I supplied, a smirk playing on my lips.
She glared at me. “More like a bull in a China shop. Do you have any idea how that looked? What my colleagues must think now?”
I leaned forward, my gaze intense. “I don’t give a damn what your colleagues think, Allegra. Any man who shows interest in you is a potential threat. Especially one as spineless as Gregor.”
“He wasn’t showing interest, he was just—”
“Bringing you flowers?” I interrupted, my jaw clenching at the memory. “Don’t be na?ve, Allegra. Men like Gregor always have an agenda.”
She inhaled deeply, clearly trying to calm herself. “Even if that were true, which it isn’t, I can handle myself. I don’t need you to swoop in and ‘save’ me from every man who talks to me.”
I felt a flash of anger at her words. Didn’t she understand? Couldn’t she see that the second we agreed to let this run its course, she was entirely my property? I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. My grip was firm, possessive. “You’re mine to protect, Allegra. To cherish. Men like Gregor, Tomas...they’re not capable of that. They don’t understand what it takes to keep someone safe in this world.”
Allegra’s fingers twitched in my grasp, but she didn’t pull away. Her voice was softer when she spoke again, but no less determined. “Cooper, I understand that you want to protect me. And I...I appreciate it, I do. But there has to be a balance. You can’t control every aspect of my life or decide who can come to my office.”
I stroked my thumb across her knuckles, considering her words. Part of me wanted to refuse, to assert my control fully and completely. But I could see the resolve in her eyes. Push too hard now, and I risked losing her. “What if we compromise?” I offered, the words feeling foreign on my tongue. “I’ll back off the security I have at your work—move the men a few blocks out.”
She looked at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. “That’s a start, I suppose. But Cooper, you have to trust me more. I’m here with you right now, remember? You. In spite of all the danger you’ve put me in.”
Her words sent a thrill through me, a potent mixture of possessiveness and pride. Yes, she had chosen me. And I would make damn sure she never regretted that choice.
I reached inside my jacket pocket and pulled out the black velvet box. Placing it on the table in front of her, I leaned back in my chair, waiting.
“What’s this?” She didn’t make a move for it. I just sat there, looking at her intensely.
She sighed, then reached for the box. She opened it, and her mouth dropped.
I didn’t say a word, watching the emotions go through her. Shock, disbelief, uncertainty, and then pleasure.
I had known she would like it. Something about it just felt like her.
“Cooper—”
I got up, moving behind her. “Don’t say another word. If you try and refuse my gift, I’ll go back to your work and spray paint my name and yours surrounded by hearts all over the front of the building.”
She paused, then laughed. The sound was melodious, and I realized that she didn’t laugh nearly enough. I grabbed the necklace, the weight impressive in my hands, and then I fastened it around her neck. Before replacing her hair, I leaned in and placed a heated kiss at the base of her neck, enjoying the shiver that went through her.
Just then, a discreet knock announced the arrival of our waiter. I released my gentle hold on her hair as the young man entered, but my eyes never left Allegra. She was breathtaking, even more so in the soft light of the private dining room. The curve of her neck, the fullness of her lips—every part of her called to me, reminding me of what I fought so hard to protect.
The waiter, a nervous young man who couldn’t have been more than twenty, stumbled through his rehearsed speech about the evening’s specials. I barely heard him, my focus entirely on Allegra. She ordered the mussels, while I chose the filet mignon, rare. As the waiter scurried away, I couldn’t help but smirk. The boy was clearly intimidated by my presence. Good. Fear was a useful tool, one I’d employed countless times in my rise to power.
As we sipped our wine, I felt a familiar surge of possessiveness, tempered now with a new resolve. I would keep Allegra safe, keep her mine, but I would also try to give her the illusion of space she seemed to need. As long as it didn’t compromise her security or allow weak men like Gregor to think they had a chance.
“Tell me about your day,” I said, setting my glass down. “Before the...interruption.”
Allegra launched into a story about a particularly challenging patient, her eyes lighting up as she spoke. I listened, captivated not just by her words, but by the passion in her voice. This was the woman I’d come to admire—brilliant, compassionate, and utterly captivating.
As she spoke, I couldn’t help but wonder what had brought us here. From the moment I first saw Allegra, I knew she was different. Special. In my world of darkness and danger, she was a beacon of light. And like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to her, consumed by the need to possess her, to make her mine.
It wasn’t easy. Allegra was no wilting flower, no damsel in distress waiting to be saved. She was strong, independent, with a fire that both challenged and excited me. But I was patient. I wore down her defenses, showed her a world she’d never known existed. A world of power and passion so intense it bordered on obsession.
And now, here we were. She was mine, in almost every way that mattered.
The waiter returned with our meals, the rich aroma of perfectly cooked steak filling the air. As we ate, our conversation drifted to lighter topics—Steele’s newest business ventures, his and Ashlynn’s upcoming wedding…It was...nice. Domestic, almost. A glimpse of normalcy in the chaos of my world.
But even as I laughed at one of Allegra’s jokes, a part of me remained vigilant. I constantly scanned the room, my ears attuned to any unusual sounds from beyond the door. In my line of work, paranoia was less a disorder and more a survival skill. Colton was wrong—I could have my business and have Allegra. I would make it work.
Because in the end, she was mine. My most precious possession, my greatest weakness, my ultimate strength. And I would do anything—anything—to keep her by my side.
As we left the restaurant, my hand on the small of her back, I felt a sense of resolution. Yes, there would be challenges. Yes, there would be men like Gregor who thought they could take what was mine. But they would learn, as everyone in my world eventually learned: What belonged to Cooper stayed with Cooper.
And Allegra? She belonged to me and me alone.