Chapter 5
ISOLATION BLOCK
I show my badge to the other guards, but judging by the way they ogle me, it wasn’t really necessary.
I told them the warden asked me to check on Alexander Graves because his lawyer was requesting an update.
They seem to buy it, and even give me a key to his cell.
I make my way there.
I have no idea how I’m going to approach Alexander, but I’ll figure it out.
There are only a few cells, and most of the inmates are asleep.
I hope this famous Alexander is awake.
He must be about my father’s age-forties, judging by how respected and important he seems.
I’ll just play the role of the naive girl. Maybe he’ll take pity on me.
I stop in front of the cell the guards indicated.
I see a man doing push-ups. From that position, he looks muscular and imposing.
I can’t see his face.
I slide the key into the lock and step inside, quietly closing the door behind me.
I expected him to turn around at the sound-but he doesn’t.
I glance around his cell: bare essentials—a bed, toilet, small round table, and sink.
I clear my throat to signal my presence, though it’s clear he already noticed me.
He keeps doing push-ups for a few minutes, then finally gets up.
He turns his head to me-
I’m stunned.
He looks nothing like what I imagined.
He’s tall, at least 6’5″, maybe more.
I feel oddly small beside him.
His skin is deeply tanned, with light brown eyes with long dark lashes, a faint scar beneath one eye,
and a short beard that adds undeniable masculinity.
He shoots me a cold look that makes it clear he doesn’t want me here.
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My gaze briefly drops to his sweaty, sculpted chest-still glistening from his workout.
Then I spot a small cross-shaped scar on his bicep.
He exudes insane charisma.
But what really draws my eyes is his hair: shoulder-length, wavy-
it makes you want to run your fingers through it.
He scans me up and down-but not like the others.
His gaze analyzes my every expression, as if trying to read me-
But I’m used to hiding emotions. His little game won’t work on me.
We silently watch each other until he breaks the silence:
“Who are you? And what the hell are you doing in my cell?”
His voice is deep and raspy, probably roughened by cigarettes—
but it only adds to his charm.
My father didn’t warn me that he’d be this attractive.
I cough once to regain composure and force a neutral expression.
“I’m the new guard. The warden asked me to check if you were doing alright.”
He raises an eyebrow-clearly not buying it.
It feels weird using formal speech with someone so young.
But I have to maintain my cover.
“Since when does that fat bastard care about anyone but himself?
Why’d he send you and not one of the others?
You need seniority to access solitary.”
I ignore the comment about the warden.
He keeps staring. He seems well-informed.
“I don’t need to justify myself to you. If you must know, the others are busy.”
He clenches his jaw.
“You don’t look like a guard.”
I frown, annoyed by the remark.
“What makes you say that, inmate?”
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I really emphasized “inmate” to create distance and assert superiority.
He lets out a short, mocking laugh.
“No one calls me inmate. You don’t look like a guard because I just insulted your boss and you didn’t flinch!”
“I’m not a lawyer.”
He laughs again.
“The warden paid you to play guard, come flirt with me and get me to spill my secrets, right?
How insulting. He could’ve sent someone way hotter.
It’s been ages since I’ve seen a woman, and he sends me a tight little virgin?”
My jaw drops, fists clenching on instinct.
I wasn’t expecting that. I feel insulted and degraded.
It’s only been minutes and he’s already formed a strong opinion.
A “tight little virgin”? Who the hell does he think he is?
He wanted “someone better looking”?
He can go throw himself off a cliff and see what he finds down there!
He’s already radiating hatred toward me-and I feel it becoming mutual.
I want to slap him across the face.
He’s probably capable of killing me, and I left my weapon at the entrance.
Officially, I’m just here to check on his well-being.
I can’t cause trouble.
I take a deep breath, though I’m mentally smashing his face into the wall.
“Don’t disrespect me. You don’t know me. I suggest you don’t talk to me like that.”
He doesn’t deserve formalities.
“Dropping the ‘sir’ now, huh? What are you gonna do? Bite me?”
“I’d rather break whatever you’ve got between your legs. Watch it.”
He doesn’t take me seriously at all and raises his brows.
“I’d like to see that. If you just wanted to take care of my balls, you could’ve just said so.”
This man is unbearable and way too smug.
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Gaining his trust is going to be harder than I thought.
“I hope Anis taught you a lesson.”
He smirks.
“Do I look like I got beat up by that son of a bitch?”
Of course not.
I sigh and turn to leave. I unlock the door and exit the cell.
As I walk toward the exit of the isolation block, I hear Alexander’s voice behind me:
“Tell that bastard warden it’s insulting to send a whore to manipulate me.
He knows I’m not stupid.
So next time, don’t send me a rookie!”
I bite my lip to keep from yelling at the bastard.
He really thinks the warden sent me to get information?
If only he knew I’m really undercover-but not for the warden.
He called me a “rookie.”
I hate that word.
I leave the isolation block and return the key to the guards, face expressionless.
