CLOSED

004

My breath caught in my throat, the words echoing in my ears. “Excuse me?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.

“You heard me,” Stanley said, his tone oozing with confidence, his lips curling into a smirk. “You want to work for me? Then prove your worth. Show me what makes you indispensable.”

My hands trembled as I clutched the phone. His words were calculated, laced with arrogance, and it threw me off balance. I had expected something else, not this unnerving proposition.

When I didn’t respond, he chuckled—a low, knowing sound. “Cat got your tongue? Or are you rethinking that desperate declaration of ‘anything’? I thought you were serious.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I swallowed them back. His composed yet biting words were harder to endure than outright cruelty. I clenched my jaw, humiliation searing through me.

“Well?” he prompted, his tone sharp yet disturbingly calm. “The clock’s ticking. If you can’t handle this conversation, you’re already wasting my time.”

I ended the call without another word. My hands shook as I lowered the phone, the ache in my chest a culmination of everything I’d endured. I had no choice left. I had to return to my father’s house.

**************

The mansion loomed ahead, its towering walls casting long shadows under the evening sun. I swallowed hard, my hand hovering over the doorbell. After everything, returning here felt like admitting defeat. But where else could I go?

I pressed the bell, and the chime echoed faintly. Moments later, the door creaked open, and my mother stood there. Her face registered shock, then relief. “Alora?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Mom,” I choked out, tears pooling in my eyes.

She threw her arms around me, holding me tight. “I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she murmured.

The warmth of her embrace made my throat tighten. I buried my face in her shoulder, savoring the fleeting comfort.

“Where’s Dad?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

She stiffened slightly, pulling back. “He’s… inside. Come in,” she said, stepping aside.

I stepped into the familiar foyer, the polished floors gleaming under the chandelier's light. The house smelled the same—a mix of wood polish and lavender—but the atmosphere felt colder.

My mother led me toward the living room, but I hesitated. “I’ll just go to my room for a bit,” I said, needing a moment alone.

Her eyes darted toward the staircase, worry flickering across her face. “Alora, wait—”

But I didn’t wait. I climbed the stairs, my heart pounding with each step. Reaching my bedroom door, I pushed it open and froze.

A girl was sitting on my bed, scrolling through her phone as if she belonged there. My bedspread—my favorite lavender set—was neatly made, the room unnervingly tidy.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, stepping inside.

The girl looked up, startled. Her eyes quickly narrowed, and she stood, crossing her arms. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“This is my room,” I snapped, anger rising. “Who the hell are you?”

She smirked, her confidence grating. “I’m Tasha. And for the record, this is my room.”

“Your—” I advanced on her, my hand itching to slap the smug look off her face. “Get out before I—”

“Alora, stop!” My father’s voice boomed from the doorway, startling me. I turned to see him standing there, his expression a mix of disdain and fury.

“Dad, who is this, and why is she in my room?” I demanded, pointing at Tasha.

His lips curled into a cold smile. “She’s here because I adopted her,” he said, stepping into the room. “Tasha is my daughter now.”

I blinked, disbelief crashing over me. “Adopted? What are you talking about Dad, I'm..., I'm your daughter?”

He clenched his jaw as he spoke “The day you walked out of this house,” he said, his voice icy, “was the day I decided I didn’t need a daughter who couldn’t respect her family. Tasha, on the other hand, has been everything you weren’t—loyal, obedient, and grateful.”

Tasha smirked behind him, her confidence only fueling my anger.

“You replaced me?” I whispered, my voice breaking.

He sneered. “Replaced you? No. I upgraded. Tasha is everything a daughter should be. You’re nothing but a stray who thought the world owed her something.”

His words struck like a physical blow. I staggered back, tears blurring my vision. “Dad, please. I made mistakes, but I’m still your daughter—”

“No,” he said firmly, cutting me off. “You’re not. Now get out of my house.”

“Dad!” I cried, desperation clawing at my throat.

“Don’t make me call security,” he warned, his tone final.

I glanced at my mother, who stood behind him, her face pale and stricken. She opened her mouth as if to speak but quickly looked away.

Defeated and humiliated, I turned and walked out of the room before leaving through the main door. The echo of the door slamming shut behind me was the final nail in the coffin of what used to be my home.

For a long moment, I just stood there, staring at the door, hoping—praying—it would open again. That my mother would come running out, or that my father would have a change of heart. But nothing happened.

I sank to my knees on the doorstep, my strength finally giving out. Tears streamed down my face as I hugged myself, trying to keep the pieces of my shattered heart together. How had it come to this? I had lost Ryan, my home, my dignity, and now… my family.

The mansion loomed over me, cold and unfeeling, just like its owner. I felt like an outsider in a place that was supposed to be my sanctuary. My father’s words echoed in my head: You made your choice. Live with the consequences.

I wiped my face with trembling hands and stood up, swaying slightly from exhaustion. If my own father wouldn’t take me back, where else could I go? The thought filled me with dread, but I knew one thing for sure—I couldn’t stay here.

As I turned to leave, I glanced back one last time, hoping for some sign of forgiveness. But the mansion remained silent, its windows dark and unyielding.

“I’ll survive,” I whispered to myself, though the words felt hollow. “I’ll figure it out. I have to.”

With that, I walked away, each step feeling heavier than the last. My mind raced with questions and doubts, but just then I remembered I had an option, Stanley but although what he asked for was impossible for me to do, I have no other option, just then I pulled out the card he had given me, and heaved a heavy sigh.

*******************

The card with Stanley’s address trembled in my hand as I approached his villa. It wasn’t just any house—it was massive, almost like a palace. While my father owned a villa too, this was on a completely different level. The towering iron gates alone, with intricate designs etched into the metal, made me feel small.

I hesitated for a moment, clutching the card tightly. Could I really do this? My heart hammered in my chest as I took a shaky breath and approached the guards stationed at the gate. They were both burly men, their intimidating figures making me pause.

“What do you want?” one of them barked, his deep voice almost startling me.

“I—I’m here to see Mr. Stanley Richardson,” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.

The other guard snorted. “You? What business would someone like you have with Mr. Richardson?”

I tried to explain, but my words were drowned by their laughter. One of them stepped forward, raising a hand as though to strike me. My heart stopped, and I stumbled back, my arms instinctively shielding my face.

“Please!” I begged. “I’m not lying. He asked me to come here. Just confirm with him. Please!”

The man hesitated, then muttered something under his breath before gesturing to his partner. “Wait here,” he growled, disappearing into the compound.

The moments dragged, each second feeling like an eternity. The remaining guard eyed me suspiciously, his arms crossed. I looked down at my scuffed shoes, feeling smaller and more insignificant with every passing second.

Finally, the first guard returned, a scowl on his face. “Follow me,” he said gruffly.

Relief washed over me, though it was short-lived. I half-expected Stanley to be furious with me for how I’d hung up on him earlier. But I couldn’t afford to worry about that now. I nodded quickly and followed the guard, my nerves taut like a drawn bowstring.

As we approached the grand villa doors, I could feel the weight of my decision pressing down on me. The sprawling estate was breathtaking—manicured gardens stretched out on either side, and the faint scent of roses lingered in the cool evening air.

At the doorstep, the guard left me, motioning for me to ring the bell. I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the button. My palms were clammy, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Finally, I pressed it, the chime echoing inside.

The door swung open, and there he stood—Stanley Richardson.

I froze.

He was dressed in only a partially buttoned white shirt, his chiseled chest and toned abs on full display. A silver chain glinted against his skin, and his low-hanging boxers revealed more than I was prepared to see. My cheeks burned as my gaze dropped to the ground.

“Evening,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible.

Stanley leaned casually against the doorframe, his piercing amber eyes boring into me. A smirk tugged at his lips, and he looked me over as though I were some insignificant object.

“What do you want?” he asked, his tone sharp, almost bored.

“I—I’ve changed my mind,” I stammered, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “About the deal. I’m ready to accept it.”

His smirk widened into something almost cruel. He chuckled, a low, mocking sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

“You’re ready, huh?” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, too bad. The deal’s closed.