Chapter 6

Mirabelle's POV

I stared at the window as the car drove through the city streets, my mind constantly remembering my mother's trusting smile and the plane tickets in the trash.

The silence in the car pressed on my lungs as my gaze drifted to Theo. His gaze was fixed on his phone since the beginning of the ride without caring if anyone was sitting close to him.

The car slowed at the front of a familiar iron gate which swung open without a sound.

“Why would someone like Theo live in this mansion,” I thought, looking at the beautiful mansion.

The car stopped at the front steps, as the man with the scar opened the door. Theo got out without waiting or looking at me, as he went inside.

“Right! I was supposed to follow, that was the deal…to be an obedient girl!” I rolled my eyes, as my hands were clenched in my laps.

The man with the scar stood by the opened door as he said nothing. His expression was blank, and from the look of it he could stay here all night.

The evening air was cold, as I walked toward the open front door, each step felt like a defeat.

It was just as I remembered. The dark rug, the huge staircase, the chandelier. It was beautiful but silent.

A elderly woman stood near the stairs. She wore a simple black dress, her hands were folded, her expression was soft and gentle.

“Good evening Miss Brown. I'm Celeste, and I manage the household. Thoe has asked me to show you to your room.”

“She was the only one calling him by his name,” I thought, as I furrowed my brows.”

“Where is he?” I said, my gaze searching round the room.

“He’s in his study, he's not to be disturbed,” her voice was low but steady.

Anger boiled up in my chest, as it burned away the fear. He brought me here, and he ignored me.

“I want to see him,” I said, my voice was loud in the quiet hall.

“That is not possible Miss,” Celeste’s voice was calm, her expression the same.

“He can’t just…he can’t bring me here and vanish! I need to talk to him…Now!”

“Miss, please, it's late.”

It was all too much. The gala, the threat, the car…my family’s smiles! “I don't care,” I turned away from Celeste.

I walked down the hall, although I didn't know where his study was, but I don't care, and I would find it.

“Miss Brown, you can't,” Celeste said behind me, her voice now shaking.

I pushed open a large door, but i t was a formal dining room. I turned and tried another, it was a sitting room.

My heart pounded, as my face felt hot. “Theo!” I shouted. “Where are you? You can’t hide from me!”

I heard a door open behind me as I turned. He stood in a doorway at the end of the hall, light spilled from the room behind him.

He had taken off his suit jacket, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong forearms. His green eyes were dark, predatory, as a chill went down my spine.

"What are you doing?" His voice was low, but it filled the space.

"I am talking to you. You drag me here, you ignored me. You think you can just…"

"I think you're making a scene in my home," his eyes were fixed on me as he walked towards me with slow, deliberate steps. Each footfall echoed in the silent hallway, and I could feel the air shift with his approach.

"You call this home," I said as a smirk formed on my lips. "Fuck your home, your rules, your stupid game. I am not a toy you can put on a shelf." I said, increasing my voice.

"You are a monster, a criminal! You think your money and your threats make you powerful? They make you a coward."

Something dangerous flickered in his eyes, as he stepped closer, stopping so near that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. He was so close, I could smell his cologne.

I tried to stand still, I tried to hold his gaze, but my breath hitched.

He raised his hand slowly, as I flinched. But he didn't hit me. Instead, his fingers traced along my jawline, feather-light, sending electricity across my skin. Then his hand moved to my neck, his fingers settling against my pulse point with deliberate pressure.

His palm rested against my collarbone, his thumb finding the rapid flutter of my heartbeat. The grip was not tight, but it was possessive, claiming.

My breathing became rapid and shallow, as my pulse hammered wildly under his touch, betraying every emotion I tried to hide.

"You talk too much," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. His breath was warm against my face. "Your stubbornness is a flaw, it will get you hurt."

I opened my mouth to speak, but his thumb pressed slightly harder against my pulse, stealing my words, as my lips parted uselessly.

"You are in my world now," he continued, his face tilting slightly, bringing his lips dangerously close to my ear, as I felt the warmth of his breath against my neck.

"And there are no more debates, no more discussions. You made your choice," his thumb moved, a slow, deliberate stroke against my racing pulse, and I felt something low in my stomach twist and tighten. Heat flooded my cheeks, spreading down my neck where his hand still rested.

"Don't test my patience, Mira,” the way he said my name; soft, dark, like a caress and a threat wrapped together made my knees weak.

I swallowed hard. His hand moved with the motion, feeling every vulnerable shift of my throat.

"I will set the rules when I'm done," his eyes held mine, and in their depths I saw something that both terrified and thrilled me; a promise of dark things, of control and surrender, of a dangerous game I didn't know how to play.

His gaze dropped slowly to my lips, lingering there, and my breath stopped completely, then he released me, and I gasped as if I'd been underwater.

He turned away, the loss of his heat leaving me cold and trembling. He entered his study, closing the door with a quiet click that felt final.

I stood there, frozen, my skin burning where he had touched me, my legs weak and unsteady. My heart still raced, and I pressed my own hand to my neck, feeling the warmth he'd left behind like a brand. My body felt strange, awakened to sensations I didn't want to name.

Celeste appeared beside me, her face was neutral.

“This way, miss,” she said pointing towards the stairs, as I followed her up the staircase.

“My will was gone,” I whispered, as a tear slipped down to my face. I felt hollow, while we walked down a long corridor.

The walls were a soft gray, as modern art hung in precise intervals. Everything was clean, expensive. It felt like a museum.

“Your room,” she said, as she opened the door.

A sitting area with a large sofa and a low table, a glass door led to a private balcony. The bedroom was through an archway, a huge bed with white linens. The bathroom was all marble and chrome.

“A beautiful cage,” I whispered, as my gaze drifted to different part of the room.

“Your bathroom is stocked. There are clothes in the closet. If you need anything, press the button by the bed. I will bring dinner in one hour.” Celeste’s voice was soft. “Is there anything else?”

“No,” I said. My voice was rough.

She nodded, as she left, the door closing behind her. I sank onto the sofa, it felt soft, but I felt nothing.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, as I pulled it out. Lea’s name flashed on the screen, and for a moment, I just stared at it. I wanted to ignore it, but I couldn't.

“Lea?” My voice was low but steady.

“Mira! Finally. Where are you? I called your apartment. Your mother said you left with some man. She sounded happy. What is happening?” Her words came in a worried rush.

“I had to lie, to her too,” I thought, as I closed my eyes while massaging my forehead softly. “I… I'm good. It's complicated.”

“Complicated…how? Who is he? Is he the one from the gala? The one the men wanted?”

“Yes, but it's okay. We had a misunderstanding. It's cleared up.”

“Cleared up? He takes you from work in a black car and that is cleared up? Tell me where you are.”

“I can’t. It's a private family thing. My mother’s cousin. In… in Lyon. We had to come suddenly. A family issue,” I said, the lie feeling flat.

“Lyon.” Her voice was flat. “You are lying to me.”

“I’m not. I just need some time, please Lea. Don’t stress over it okay?” I sounded pathetic, I was begging my best friend to accept my lies.

There was a long silence. “Fine,” she said finally. The word was sharp. “Do what you want, but call me if you need help.”

“I will. Thank you,” I said, as a small smile formed on my lips.

“Be okay, Mira.”

She hung up, the dial tone buzzed in my ear as I put the phone down.

“ I had pushed her away, the one person who might have seen the truth. I was building my own prison, brick by brick,” I whispered, as my face felt hot.

I walked to the window, the gardens stretched out below, dark and shapeless, as the city lights glowed in the distance.

This was my life now. A silent room in a monster’s house. A neck that still felt his grip. A best friend I had to lie to. A family living a happy lie I created for them.

I thought of his words.”I will set the rules when I am done.”

What rules would he set? What would he demand in this gilded cage? The uncertainty was a cold weight in my stomach. The touch of his hand was a brand on my skin. I was waiting for the devil to come back and tell me how to burn.