Isn't up for debate

He continued to stand by her bedside, the silence between them growing more and more uncomfortable by the minute. His mind was racing with conflicting thoughts and feelings, a mixture of irritation and concern for her health, but his face remained neutral and his expression unreadable. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke, breaking the silence.

"You should listen to the doctor."

Amber looked over at him, her expression a mixture of irritation and resignation. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help feeling defensive at being told what she already knew. She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off with a stern look.

"Don't argue with me. You need to take better care of yourself."

She closed her mouth, her irritation giving way to a stubborn stubbornness at his authoritative tone. She glowered at him, her eyes meeting his cool gaze with a mixture of anger and defiance. She didn't like being told what to do, especially by someone she barely knew. But before she could respond, he spoke again, his voice firmer and more commanding this time.

"Don't look at me like that. You're in no position to argue with me now."

She looked away, her shoulders tense with frustration and annoyance. She hated the fact that he had a point, and that he was able to so easily cut through her stubbornness and defensiveness. She knew she wasn't in any position to argue, but her pride wouldn't let her admit that aloud.

"I'm not a child, you know. I can take care of myself."

He snorted in response to her assertion, his expression a derisive mix of amusement and disbelief. He couldn't help but find her stubbornness endearing, but he wasn't about to let her off the hook that easily.

"You clearly haven't been doing a very good job of it."

Amber's mind flashed back to the Mayor's words, his warning echoing in her ears. Panic and dread suddenly filled her as she realized the gravity of her situation. Her family's safety depended on her success in winning over Alexander, and failure wasn't an option.

"What have I gotten myself into..." she muttered, her voice shaking with fear and doubt. "I can't fail, but how can I possibly convince him to fall for me?"

Her mind raced with worries and doubts as she considered the seemingly impossible task before her. How could she possibly win over someone who seemed so aloof and disinterested in her? She was exhausted and weak, and he clearly didn't think much of her. Even if she was fully healthy, she didn't know the first thing about trying to seduce a man like him. He was probably used to women throwing themselves at him, and she doubted she could compete with that.

Alexander raised an eyebrow as he heard her muttered words, but he couldn't quite make out what she had said. He leaned closer, clearing his throat to get her attention.

"What did you say?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

Amber startled slightly as she realized he had heard her and quickly tried to cover up. She shook her head, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, and attempted to brush off his question with a casual reply.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just talking to myself."

He studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowed as he tried to gauge her true feelings and intentions. He wasn't convinced by her casual reply, her flushed cheeks betraying her embarrassment and nervousness. He didn't believe for a second that she was just muttering to herself.

"I don't believe you," he said bluntly, his voice firm and steady.

Amber shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze, her heart racing as she tried to keep her composure. She knew she wasn't a good liar, and he clearly could see right through her. But she couldn't tell him the truth either, not without exposing herself and her secret mission.

"It's really nothing," she insisted, her voice faltering slightly. "I swear."

He scoffed in disbelief, clearly not buying her denial. He stepped closer to her, encroaching on her personal space and making her feel even more anxious and uneasy.

"You're a terrible liar," he said bluntly. "You're hiding something. Tell me what you were mumbling about just now."

Suddenly, Amber started to cough, her body shaking with the force of the coughing fit. Her chest felt tight and her throat burned with each labored gasp for air. She clutched at the bedclothes, trying to steady herself and catch her breath, but the coughing wouldn't stop. It went on for what felt like an eternity, each cough more wrenching than the last, and she could feel her energy and strength depleting with each painful spasm.

His eyes widened with alarm as he watched Amber convulse with the force of the coughing fit, her body wracked with each violent spasm. He could see her struggling to catch her breath and the distress on her face as the coughing went on and on, seeming to get worse with each passing moment. He felt a sudden surge of concern and anxiety for her, his cool demeanor cracking as he watched her suffer.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice sounding more worried than he would've liked.

Amber could barely speak, her whole body feeling wrung out and depleted from the coughing fit. Her chest ached and her throat felt raw, her breathing still shallow and labored. She managed to nod weakly in response to his question, signaling that she was okay, but her exhaustion was apparent in every line of her face and body. She was clearly struggling to keep herself together, barely able to keep her eyes open as she slumped back against the pillow.

He watched as she nodded, still looking drained and exhausted from the coughing fit. He could hear the raspy sound of her breathing and see the way her body sagged against the pillow, as if she was struggling just to keep herself upright. The concern in his eyes deepened as he saw how much the coughing had taken out of her, and he found himself clenching his jaw in frustration and helplessness. He hated seeing her in such a state of vulnerability and weakness, but there was nothing he could do but watch and wait.

As if on cue, the Mayor entered the room, his demeanor exuding an air of confidence and authority. He surveyed the scene before him, his eyes flickering from Amber's exhausted form to the concerned look on Alexander's face. A small smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth, clearly enjoying the fact that he had arrived at just the right moment.

The Mayor crossed the room to Amber's bedside, his footsteps quiet but authoritative. He looked down at her with that same smirk on his face, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her weakened state.

"How's our patient doing?" he drawled, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.

Amber's eyes narrowed as she looked up at the Mayor, her expression a mix of irritation and exhaustion. She had never been fond of his smug demeanor or the way he talked down to her. The coughing fit had left her even more drained than before, and she had even less patience for his antics than usual. She forced herself to sit up straighter, her shoulders tense with annoyance as she spoke. "I've been better."

Alexander's eyes followed the mayor's movements, and he felt his irritation grow as the man approached Amber's bedside. He had never liked the Mayor, and had always found his smug attitude irritating. Now, as he saw the man mockingly look down at her weakened state, his dislike sharpened into outright dislike. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression betraying his annoyance as he watched the spectacle unfolds.

The Mayor felt Alexander's disapproving glare and his smile widened slightly. He knew how much the other man disliked him, and he couldn't help but enjoy it. He turned his attention back to Amber, his tone still mocking but with a hint of condescension.

"I see our resident princess is feeling a bit under the weather. How unfortunate."

One of Alexander's men entered the room, looking tense and serious. He approached the bedside, his expression guarded as he spoke. "Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's an urgent situation that needs your attention. It can't wait."

Alexander's expression hardened, his attention immediately shifting from the Mayor and Amber to the matter at hand. He stood up, his movements brisk and purposeful. "I'll be right there," he said, his voice authoritative and determined.

The Mayor's smirk faded slightly as he watched Alexander leave the room, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. He had hoped to continue teasing and irritating the other man, but it seemed his fun would have to wait. He turned his attention back to Amber, his eyes flickering over her as he noted her weak state and vulnerability.

The Mayor's eyes raked over Amber's form, scanning her features with a critical eye. He took in her exhausted state, the way she sagged against the pillow and the way her breathing was still raspy and labored from the coughing fit. A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he thought to himself that she looked so weak and vulnerable right now... the perfect victim for his twisted machinations.

He approached the bedside, leaning closer so he could speak quietly, his voice low and sinister. "You know, you're looking rather... vulnerable right now, aren't you? It's almost like you're begging to be taken advantage of..." He smirked, his gaze never leaving her face as he spoke.

Amber's heart rate spiked slightly as the Mayor moved closer, his words sending a chill down her spine. She couldn't help but feel vulnerable and exposed under his calculating gaze, and the way he talked to her made her skin crawl. She forced herself to straighten her shoulders and meet his gaze, trying to keep her voice steady as she spoke.

"I'm not sure what you're implying," she said, her voice coming out a bit shakier than she would've liked.

The Mayor chuckled darkly, his smirk deepening at her response. He could tell that she was trying her best to appear composed, but her voice betrayed her fear and uncertainty. He relished in the thrill of having her at his mercy like this, knowing that she was weak and defenseless against him. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a soft whisper.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm implying. You're in no position to resist or fight back right now, are you? You're weak and vulnerable. The perfect prey."

Amber's heart raced with fear as the Mayor moved even closer, towering over her with his menacing presence. She could smell his breath as he spoke, the scent of tobacco and alcohol making her feel even more ill. She felt exposed and helpless, her skin crawlig with dread as he toyed with her like a cat playing with a trapped mouse. Her voice came out in a nervous whisper, her words stumbling over each other in her terror.

"I— I won't make it easy for you," she said, her voice quivering.

The Mayor suddenly stepped back, his expression changing as he decided to put aside his cruel banter for the moment. He straightened up, his demeanor becoming all business as he looked down at Amber.

"As much as I'd like to continue our little game, I actually do have something important to discuss with you," he said, his voice brusque.

Amber was caught off guard by the sudden shift in the Mayor's demeanor, but she couldn't help feeling relieved that he wasn't going to continue tormenting her. She tried to sit up straighter, her energy still drained from the coughing fit but her curiosity piqued by his words.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice still hoarse and weary.

The Mayor's expression grew serious as he began to explain his plan to her, his voice low and controlled. First, he informed her that her real name was Iris, not Amber as she had believed. He went on to tell her that she was an orphan with no family, and that she was actually twenty four years old, not twenty as she had thought.*

"And finally," he continued, "you are going to use your beauty and charms to seduce De-Martin. That's where your role comes in."

Iris' eyes widened as she listened to the Mayor's plan, a mix of shock and disbelief crossing her face. She had no idea that her identity had been a lie, and the revelation that she was older than she believed shook her to her core. She opened her mouth to speak, but the Mayor cut her off, his voice firm.

"This isn't up for debate," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You'll do as I say, and you'll do it well. Is that clear?"

Iris hesitated for a moment, her mind racing as she tried to process everything the Mayor had told her. She felt overwhelmed and disoriented, but the stern look in his eyes and the finality in his voice made it clear that refusal was not an option. She swallowed hard, her eyes falling and staring at the blanket covering her lap, before giving a small nod.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The Mayor's lips curled into a satisfied smile as Iris nodded her agreement, clearly pleased with her compliance. He took a step back, looking down at her with a confident smirk as he continued.

"Good," he said, his voice cool and commanding. "You're smart to realize that it's in your best interest to cooperate. Now, I need you to listen to the next part of the plan very carefully."

….