All Chapters of Under His Command : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Riley's POVThe day was finally over, but I couldn’t shake the weight pressing on my chest. The office had emptied out, the usual hum of chatter replaced by silence. My coworkers had cheerfully said their goodbyes, their laughter fading into the elevator’s soft chime. I envied their freedom—free from humiliation, manipulation, and the unbearable weight of Jaxon Steele’s shadow. Sitting at my desk, I couldn’t bring myself to pack up. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, my mind running in circles over the events in Jaxon’s office. That smug look on his face, the contract, the betrayal—it all replayed like a nightmare. “Riley?” Chloe’s voice broke through the haze. I flinched, not realizing she was still here. She stood beside my desk, her bag slung over her shoulder, concern etched into her face.“You’ve been weird since you came back from Jaxon’s office,” she said, folding her arms. “What happened? Did he say something to you?” I tried to put on a fake smile but it was too

Riley's POV I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this scared, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. There was no way to predict what these men wanted, or what they were going to do. I tried to steady my breath, consciously slowing the panicked gasps that wanted to escape. The man in front of me—the tallest of the three—stepped closer. I could see the glint of something sharp in his hand, though I didn’t dare look too closely. His eyes narrowed as he sized me up, and I felt a wave of nausea rush over me. "Are you a worker at Steele Company?" he asked.I didn’t hesitate to answer, my voice betraying my fear. "Yes," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady, "I work there." The man’s lips curled into a sly smile, and the two others behind him did the same. My stomach turned at the sight. There was something malicious in their grins, something that told me I was in deeper trouble than I had initially thought. "Steele Company, huh?" the man mused. "That’s interesting." I

Jaxon’s POVThe scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the interior of my sleek, black Mercedes as I leaned back in the leather seat, my jaw clenched in irritation. I thought buying a hot cup of beverage from a local drive-in would sooth the anger in my chest, but I had been wrong.The dashboard clock blinked back at me—9:23 PM. The streets outside were cloaked in shadows, lit only by flickering streetlights as we drove by.“This is ridiculous,” I muttered under my breath. Steven, who perhaps had the same thought and frustration as I did, glanced at me from the corner of his eye. He knew better than to interrupt my thoughts, especially when I was fuming. I wasn’t supposed to be here. My day had ended hours ago, yet here I was, dragged back to the office because Alexis, the one person I literally cannot say no to, had thrown a fit over her damn Russian cookies that I had forgot back at the office. I’d screamed at her twice in my head today, but as always, I couldn’t bring myself to

Riley’s POVWhen I opened my eyes the next morning, the dull aches in my body reminded me that last night wasn’t just some nightmare. Every movement sent sharp reminders through my muscles, and the throb in my cheek made me wince. My hands found the bandage still stuck firmly to my skin, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to wallow in the helplessness of it all. The events of the night before replayed in my mind—the dark alley, the cruel laughter of those men, and the humiliation of being overpowered and robbed.My fists clenched at the memory, and an anger I rarely let surface bubbled within me. I hated feeling weak. If only I’d been stronger. If only I could’ve fought back. If only I hadn’t been so easy to take down. The thought sent another pang of humiliation through me. But then, another memory crept in, one that felt even more surreal. Jaxon.The man I loathed had been the one to save me. And not just save me—he’d gone so far as to send me... I grabbed my phone

Jaxon’s POVFew hours agoThe aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room as I walked down the grand staircase of my mansion, the polished marble floors cool beneath my bare feet. My butler, Gregson, was waiting for me at the dining table, setting down a steaming cup of black coffee. “Good morning, sir,” he greeted, his tone formal as always. “Morning,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair and taking my seat. The warmth of the cup was a welcome comfort as I brought it to my lips. Before I could enjoy the first sip, Alexis waltzed into the room, her loose robe trailing behind her. Her hair was slightly scattered, a testament to her casual attitude, but her sharp blue eyes were as alert as ever. “Good morning, sunshine,” she chirped, sliding into the chair opposite me. “Morning,” I replied with a smirk. “Gregson, could you get me a coffee too?” she asked sweetly. Gregson nodded without hesitation. “Of course, ma’am.” As Gregson disappeared into the kitchen, A