Elowen's POV

Frustration bubbled within me as I glared at Zander, my boss. Despite my irritation, I refrained from hurling the lamp next to me at him – the perks of maintaining professionalism. Oh, the things you endure when your boss insists on being your personal caretaker.

Deep breaths, Elowen. Getting fired won't do you any good. 

Last night had been an... experience, to say the least. Zephyr, in his usual commanding manner, had practically force-fed me dinner, silencing any protest with a stern, "Do what I'm telling you" look. He then tucked me into bed like a child, insisting on me getting a good night's sleep. As if that wasn't enough, this morning, I woke up to find Zander in my space, bearing breakfast.

You'd think they're working for me and not the other way around.

Confusion and disorientation washed over me as he ensured I finished the ridiculous amount of food he'd prepared. Attempting to escape, I earned myself a fit from him when I mentioned getting ready for work. It was as if they had a secret plan to feed me into submission.

Reluctantly, I finished the last bite of breakfast, my gaze locked with Zander's. He had that familiar Tenebris intensity, making it clear that compliance was my only option. As I got up to prepare for work, a wave of exasperation washed over me as Zander gave me another glare. 

"What do you think you're doing? Get back in bed. If you need something, let me know, I'll get it for you."

"I'm going to get my laptop and start looking over the meeting notes."

"Don't even think about. Get your ass back into bed. You're not working today, or for the next four days."

My frustration reached new heights as I tried to reason with Zander, insisting that I was perfectly fine to go to work. His response, delivered in a tone that brooked no argument, was a firm "Shut up and rest. You don't need to work when you're not alright."

I shot him a look that could have burned a hole through steel, my irritation palpable. "I'm alright," I retorted, my voice tight with exasperation. "I don't need a day off."

Zander, the epitome of unyielding authority, rolled his eyes at my defiance. "Don't be difficult, Elowen," he chided, his amusement evident.

I sputtered, unable to believe his words. "I-me? I'm the one being difficult?"

I threw my hands up in frustration, an audible sigh escaping me. Glaring at Zander, I reached the limits of my patience. "This is ridiculous. I don't need to be coddled like this," I muttered, thoroughly fed up with the whole situation.

Zander, seemingly unfazed, continued to sit there with his laptop, a faint smirk playing on his lips. It was apparent that my annoyance only fuelled his amusement.

Stupid brothers. So damn controlling, demanding, bossy, and beautiful... Wait, what?

Shaking my head, I quickly cleared my thoughts. I definitely shouldn't be thinking about my boss this way, specially not all of them. Maybe it's because I'm around them so much...? Yeah, that's definitely the reason.

Making up my mind, I declared, "If I can't go to work, then I'm going back home."

Zander's eyes locked onto mine, and he walked over to me urgently as he looked over me, as if looking to find injuries. 

"Are you not comfortable here? Are you in pain?" Zander bombarded me with questions, his rapid-fire inquiries revealing an unexpected level of concern. He continued to prattle on about why I hadn't informed him earlier, reiterating that I should have let him know if I needed something.

He's almost... cute?

I almost snorted, thinking back to the Zander who threw a file at me, now fussing over blankets.

I couldn't help but find his reaction amusing, a smirk playing on my lips. Rising from the bed, I assured him, "Mr. Tenebris, I'm fine. No need to worry."

His rambling ceased momentarily as he studied me, a mix of relief and lingering worry in his eyes. "You should have told me. I could have arranged for whatever you needed," he said, his voice holding a touch of reproach.

I couldn't resist a small chuckle at his earnest concern. "You're making it sound like I'm in a dire situation. I just need to work, that's all."

He sighed, a mixture of frustration and resignation evident on his face. "Elowen, you need to learn to prioritize your health. Work can wait."

I crossed my arms, shooting him a sassy grin. "You sound like Mr. Zephyr."

"Well, we share some opinions on certain matters," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Summoning all the strength within me to prevent an eye roll, I maintained my gaze on Zander, awaiting his response. "So, I can go back home?" I inquired.

Zander met my eyes with a contemplative expression before letting out a sigh. "Well, about that... Lysander was supposed to inform you, but I suppose I have no choice." His hesitancy fuelled my wariness, something telling me I'm not going to like what he's going to say next. 

"You're going to be moving in with us at the mansion. Lysander has already hired a moving company and they'll be there to move your things before the end of this week."

Zander's words hung in the air, and I blinked at him blankly, taking a moment to process what he just said. There was no way this man just dropped a bombshell like that.

"Moved? What?" I stammered, the weight of his statement settling in.

He stood there, hands calmly tucked in his pockets, looking eerily composed. My mind raced to catch up as I grappled with the idea that they were planning to uproot me from my current living situation.

"Wh-why?" I finally managed to voice, my eyes narrowing in disbelief.

Zander met my gaze, and for the first time, I detected a hint of anger in his otherwise composed demeanor. "We've assessed the situation, and where you're currently living doesn't guarantee your safety. So, we're going to move you."

My eyes widened at the audacity of the statement. "What? No, I'm fine where I am. You don't need to worry about that," I retorted, my voice carrying a tone of defiance.

Zander's eyes narrowed at my protest, and with each step he took towards me, I instinctively took a step back until the edge of the bed met the back of my knees. As I sat down, he loomed over me, bending to my eye level, his face mere inches away from mine.

"Elowen," he spoke, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine, "you're wrong. There's nothing about you that doesn't concern us. Your safety is our priority, and we will decide what's best for you."

His words hung in the air, possessive and controlling. I felt my breath hitch, and a nervous flutter danced in my stomach as I met his intense gaze.

My attempts at an argument were feeble, stammered words barely forming coherent sentences. The room felt smaller with each passing second, and Zander's presence seemed to dominate the space.

In a move that made my heart race, Zander leaned in closer, his head tilting toward my neck. His warm breath grazed my skin, and I gulped nervously, my throat suddenly dry. His voice, a velvety whisper, tickled my ear as he spoke, his voice deepened.

"It'll be easier for you if you just do as you're told," he murmured, each word dripping with control. "Living with us will be better for you. We'll be there to protect you."

The possessiveness in his tone sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt a subtle tremor in my hands as they fisted in my lap. It was as if the walls were closing in, and Zander's proximity only intensified the overwhelming sensation of being ensnared in their world.

Zephyr leaned back, his self-assured smirk never leaving his face. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that left me feeling exposed and vulnerable. His words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the news he broke to me. 

"Regardless of what you want, Elowen, you'll have to do as you're told. It's part of your contract," he declared, his tone unwavering. "We can move our assistant as we please. It's up to us to decide what's more convenient."

His words settled heavily in the room, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. Moving closer to them was one thing, but the thought of living under the same roof with the Tenebris brothers 24/7 was suffocating. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as I stammered, "I... I can move closer, but I don't have to move in with you."

Zander, his gaze still fixed on me, questioned, almost as if he could read the apprehension in my thoughts, "Scared to be with us alone, Elowen?"

My stammered response froze on my lips as he continued, his voice dropping to a low whisper, "You should be."

There was something dark and possessive in his tone, a magnetic force that simultaneously repelled and fascinated me. It was a fear I couldn't quite comprehend, yet a strange, unsettling thrill coursed through my veins.

As the weight of Zander's words lingered in the air, I found myself lost in his eyes as he looked at me, almost like he owned, like every single molecule of air I took in was so that I could be here with him. My breath hitched at the thought, and even more so at the fact that I liked it. There's only one thing I knew for certain. 

I'm absolutely fucked.

___

umm, so that was intense... anyway, i hope you guys liked it!