Unspoken [Chapter 6]

The phone buzzed across the desk, vibrating against the hard surface. Akiko barely spared it a glance.

Dr. Vian. The young doctor who had been trying to drag her back into treatment—to keep her alive. His name flashed across the screen, over and over. He was probably panicking by now, wondering where she’d disappeared to. She didn’t answer. She wouldn’t. She had already made her decision—there would be no treatment.

For the past few weeks, she had been working under Glen Xander McKenzie — officially, as his assistant. Unofficially? As his possession.

Working for Glen was exactly what she’d expected — a constant storm. He never thought twice before acting. His temper? A ticking time bomb, especially after long hours drowning in work. And when that fuse burned out… Glen didn’t care how rough he got.

In the office, his orders were law. At home, it was no different. Akiko barely had space to breathe, let alone peace of mind.

Glen’s firearm company was a monstrous success — respected, feared. But this empire wasn’t entirely his own creation.

Years ago, it had been founded by his father — nothing but a small, struggling firm with no permanent building, barely staying afloat.

But now? It had grown into a giant. A powerful empire with official licenses, legal recognition… and a dark reputation whispered behind closed doors.

Glen had taken the fragile bones of his father’s business — and built something untouchable. He even partnered with law enforcement to produce weapons. The public praised him for it, but Akiko saw beneath the facade. Glen’s empire didn’t just protect. It killed.

For all his arrogance, Akiko had to admit — Glen wasn’t just dangerous, he was brilliant. A man, twenty-five years old, already building an empire of power, money, and fear… It wasn’t luck. It was pure, calculated cruelty… wrapped in a genius mind.

“Aiko,” his voice called from across the room, sharp as ever. “Come here.”

She didn’t want to. But defying him only ever made things worse.

Crossing the room, Akiko stopped at his side. Glen patted his lap — that silent command wrapped in arrogance — and, as always, she obeyed. Not because she wanted to… but because resistance only made things worse.

She sat quietly, her expression empty, as he pointed at the sleek new gun design glowing on his screen.

“Which one do you like?” he asked casually.

Akiko barely spared the image a glance. “That one.”

Random. Careless. She didn’t care.

She just wanted to finish her work and stay away from him. Lately, she didn’t feel like his assistant. She felt like his possession — always within reach, always expected to be there. His worst habit? Kissing her whenever he pleased. Claiming her body like it belonged to him.

“Get me coffee,” Glen ordered next, leaning back with lazy confidence.

Akiko stood, her steps quiet as she walked away. But his eyes never left her. Fingers drumming against the desk, his sharp gaze lingered on her retreating form — the dangerous curiosity simmering behind his cold stare.

“Sweet little lamb,” he muttered under his breath.

Glen had a plan for the Eloise family. And of course, nothing about it was noble — especially not romantic. He wasn’t that kind of man. He was a wolf, a devil.

That was the only reason he’d set his sights on Keinara in the first place. The flawless diamond of the Eloise family. The one they sheltered, protected, and groomed to inherit everything—the company, the wealth, the legacy. Keinara was their precious future. She was supposed to be the prize. The leverage. The one worth taking.

But fate had handed him Akiko instead. Glen thought she would run — stay out of this mess and save herself. That’s what anyone with common sense would do. But she didn't. She faced him. Faced the man she knew would tear her life apart — and she did it without fear. He knew, taking Akiko was the right choice.

She was full of quiet surprises. Innocent on the surface. Quiet, obedient. But bold enough to risk everything… and reckless enough to stare death in the eye. Glen thrived on fear. But Akiko? She looked at him like she’d never known the word.

Akiko returned with his coffee, setting the cup down without a word. Glen’s eyes immediately drifted to her hand.

“What happened to your hand?” His voice was sharp, his stare sharper.

“Burn,” Akiko replied curtly. No explanation. No emotion.

Glen’s gaze lingered, displeased. “Go take care of it,” he ordered.

She didn’t argue. Quietly, Akiko walked out, stopping by the restroom to treat the minor burn. A layer of ointment, a simple bandage — enough to keep Glen from noticing anything more.

By the time she returned, she paused at her desk, eyes flicking briefly to the stack of files that needed processing. A quiet sigh escaped her lips — unreadable to anyone but herself — before she gathered the necessary documents and made her way to him.

“Your signature,” she said simply, placing the files on his desk. “I need them signed to finish the reports.”

“Sure. Kiss me first,” he replied lazily, his usual arrogance curling through his voice like smoke.

Akiko didn’t bother to respond. She simply turned away, cool and detached, but her hands tightened faintly at her sides — the only crack in her quiet indifference.

Glen’s gaze darkened. His fingers drummed against the table, slow… deliberate… irritated.

“Bring me another coffee,” he added, voice sharp now — the bitterness unmistakable beneath the lazy command.

Another one? Typical. But she obeyed, slipping into the office cafeteria. The room was empty — save for one young man who stepped beside her.

“I’ll make it for you,” he offered casually, his name tag reading Rion.

“No need,” Akiko replied coolly, her eyes never leaving the machine.

“You’re Akiko, right?” he asked again, undeterred by her coldness.

She gave a small nod.

“Are you… Mr. Glen’s girlfriend?” he asked, curious.

Before she could respond, the sharp crack of a gunshot cut through the air. Rion collapsed, blood staining the floor beneath him as he clutched his leg, eyes wide in shock, his mouth parted in a silent scream.

Across the room, Glen lowered his still-smoking gun with practiced ease, his expression calm… far too calm.

“How dare you talk to her,” his voice was low, dangerously controlled — the kind of quiet that carried far more threat than rage.

“Come here,” Glen ordered, his eyes never leaving Rion’s trembling form.

Akiko obeyed without hesitation — not out of fear, but because resistance never ended well. His arm snaked tightly around her waist, pulling her close, possessive as ever.

“Glen,” she said softly — the first time she’d ever spoken his name aloud.

His grip faltered for a second, caught off guard by her quiet, resigned tone.

“I told you to make coffee. Not flirting.” His voice cut low and sharp, simmering with restrained fury.

Akiko lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Do it again,” Glen hissed, fingers tangling into her hair, possessive and rough, “and I’ll put the next bullet in your head.”

But as his hand fell away, strands of brown hair clung to his fingers.

Akiko quickly brushed them off, her expression blank. “Sorry,” she murmured.

Glen frowned. He hadn’t pulled that hard. But he didn’t give it a second thought.

“Let’s go,” he snapped, his arm tightening around her waist as men in black suits stormed in, dragging Rion’s bleeding body away without a word.

The ride back was silent. Akiko sat still, her gaze fixed on the window, her face blank—cold and unreadable, as always. But what she didn’t notice… was the tension simmering beside her. Glen’s jaw clenched tight, his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. His eyes burned with quiet fury, fixed straight ahead.

By the time they reached the apartment, Glen didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.

Without warning, he dragged her through the hall, down the back corridor—straight to the storage room. The door creaked open, revealing the dark, empty space. Cold air seeped from the cracks in the concrete walls.

Before Akiko could react, he shoved her inside.

“Glen…” Her voice barely rose above a whisper, trembling despite herself. “I’m… scared of the dark.”

A beat of silence. His figure loomed by the doorway, hand still on the lock.

“I don’t care,” Glen replied coolly, his voice devoid of sympathy. His eyes glinted with quiet annoyance as he added flatly, “You’re not getting dinner either.”

The door slammed shut, the lock clicking into place.

Akiko sank to the cold floor, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She’d never feared death — that much was true. But the dark… The dark was different.

Since childhood, darkness meant punishment. Locked doors. Silence. The sound of her own breathing was the only company in that endless black.

She scanned the room, searching for a way out — her eyes landed on the window. But of course, it was sealed shut. Reinforced glass. And even if it wasn’t… fifteen floors up offered no escape.

Defeated, she sank down, curling into herself. Her slender hands trembled — not from fear, but from the cold that seeped into her bones.

Moments later, a warm, wet trickle slid from her nose. Blood. Of course. The signs of her neglected illness creeping in at the worst possible time. She wiped it with the sleeve of her sweater, careful not to stain the floor — Glen hated mess.

“It hurts…” she whispered to no one. Her head pounded, her body weak. No medicine. No water. Just shadows closing in.

The suffocating memories of her childhood clawed to the surface. Desperation overtook her. She scrambled to the door, fists pounding against it.

“Glen… please…” Her voice cracked, raw with panic. “I’m sorry… I’m scared of the dark…”

The door finally creaked open — three hours later.

Glen stood there, one hand still resting on the doorknob, his sharp eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. He didn’t need to say it. His stare alone was enough to make it clear — this was a lesson. A reminder of where she stood.

His chin tilted, silently ordering her to leave the room.

Akiko stepped forward, but as she passed him, Glen deliberately shifted his foot into her path.

She stumbled — the sharp corner of the table caught her temple with a sickening thud. Pain bloomed instantly, a dull throb spreading across her head.

Still, Akiko straightened. Her steps wobbled, the world spinning slightly, but she refused to show weakness. Without a word, she walked to her bedroom, the pounding in her skull growing heavier with each breath.

Inside, she swallowed a painkiller, the familiar bitter taste coating her tongue. Her trembling fingers found the faucet next, turning on the cold water. She stood under the shower, the icy stream numbing her aching body.

By the time Akiko finished her shower and stepped out of her room, she wasn’t surprised to find Glen already waiting. It had become one of his strange new habits lately — sitting in front of the TV with Akiko curled on his lap.

He claimed her scent calmed him. Said it was the only thing that made him feel at ease after a long, exhausting day buried in work and anger.

He sat on the sofa, legs spread casually, eyes fixed on her like she was nothing more than property returning to its rightful place.

“Come here,” he ordered, patting his lap.

Akiko obeyed — she always did. Her head still throbbed, the room tilting faintly as she sank onto his lap. But she stayed silent, her expression empty, unfazed.

Glen’s arm wrapped tightly around her waist, possessive, suffocating.

“I don’t like you talking to other men,” he muttered, his voice low, dangerous. His breath brushed her ear. “You’re mine.”

Akiko nodded faintly. Her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know why… but the way you look at me,” Glen muttered, his thumb brushing along her jaw, “...feels like you’re hiding something.”

Akiko didn’t respond. Her gaze drifted toward the TV — but it was clear she wasn’t watching. Her mind… was somewhere far away.

Glen reached up, casually tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. But Akiko flinched and held his hand back, terror flashing in her eyes. The simple act of a hand nearing her face triggered a flood of traumatic memories—days filled with her parents' beatings. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly looked down to hide them.

For a moment, silence settled between them.

“…Sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her fingers gripped the hem of her shirt tightly, knuckles pale.

Glen frowned but didn’t press further. His gaze flicked over her frame. “You’re thinner than last week,” he observed coldly. “Eat something.”

Akiko nodded faintly and stood. She ate alone at the dining table, her movements mechanical. Glen stayed on the sofa, laptop open, eyes drifting between his work and her fragile frame across the room.

When she finished, Akiko retreated to her room and headed for the shower.

Later, Glen pushed open her door, eyes narrowing.

“You’re showering again?” he asked, brows drawn together.

Akiko paused, confusion flickering across her face. Her hand hovered at the bathroom door. She couldn’t remember. The dull ache gnawed at her body… the exhaustion clouded her head.

“…I forgot,” she admitted softly, almost to herself.

Glen fell silent, his eyes lingering on her fragile frame. That quiet, obedient face… hiding far more than she ever showed.

Whatever walls she built around herself… he would break them. Sooner or later.

But no matter how much this girl tangled herself into his plans, no matter how tempting it was to unravel her secrets first… Glen reminded himself of the one thing that truly mattered.

The real reason she was here. The real reason she belonged to him.

Revenge.

His jaw tightened, the old rage simmering beneath his skin.

"I’ll stay focused," Glen muttered under his breath, his eyes darkening. "I’ll destroy Mr. Eloise… for what he stole from me… fifteen years ago."

His gaze drifted back to Akiko’s door — to the quiet girl who unknowingly carried the weight of his vendetta. And he wouldn’t stop. Not until every piece of the Eloise family was reduced to dust.

What exactly did Mr. Eloise rip away from him all those years ago?

What was so unforgivable… that Glen still carried the weight of that hatred fifteen years later?