You Belong To Me [Chapter 2]

Akiko sat on the edge of her bed, fingers trembling as she held the carrier in her lap. Kouma—her dog—peeked out from inside, his soft fur brushing against her wrist, the only warmth she had left.

She hadn’t slept. Not a minute.

The events of last night replayed like a haunting film in her mind. She had run—fled from the house—desperate to escape the man her father promised her to. But she knew it had been pointless.

And more than that, she couldn’t risk it. She couldn’t let her fear destroy the only person who had ever shown her real love—Keinara.

Her sister. The only light in the darkness of their family.

Since they were little, Keinara had been the only one to shield Akiko from their father's cruelty. While the rest of the family turned a blind eye, Keinara had been there—a quiet, fierce protector. The memory of Keinara’s gentle voice, her warm hugs, her desperate promises that "One day, we’ll be free." echoed in Akiko’s heart.

But Keinara didn’t know the truth. She didn’t know the extent of their father's debts. She didn’t know Glen Xander McKenzie—the ruthless man who now held their fate in his hands. Akiko would do anything to keep Keinara safe. Even if it meant surrendering herself to a monster.

A sharp knock at the apartment door snapped her back to the present. Commanding. Unavoidable.

Before she could react, the door creaked open. The housekeeper peeked in, her expression tight with unease.

"Miss Akiko, your father… he's downstairs. He wants you to come down." Her voice was strained, almost fearful.

Akiko set Kouma's carrier down, her hands trembling slightly as she adjusted her dress. Her father's words echoed relentlessly in her mind. “He's waiting.”

Her footsteps felt heavy as she descended the grand staircase. Every creak of the floorboards was deafening in the tense silence, each step like walking deeper into the wolf's den. Her grip tightened on Kouma's carrier, the soft rustling inside a painful reminder—this dog was the only comfort she had left.

The spacious living room stretched ahead, quiet, pristine, far too immaculate for the ugly reality closing in around her. The expensive furniture gleamed under the soft lights. Cold marble floors reflected the chandelier's glow, but none of it felt luxurious. It felt like a stage—set for a performance she wanted no part in.

Taking a shaky breath, she stepped inside. The moment her eyes landed on him, the air left her lungs.

A tall figure lounged casually on one of the velvet sofas, legs crossed, fingers swirling a glass of whiskey. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, sharp jawline dusted with stubble. His suit, expensive and perfectly tailored, clung to broad shoulders and a body honed by danger.

But it wasn’t his looks that made her shiver—it was his eyes. Cold. Calculating. Amused. Like a predator toying with his prey.

"Miss Eloise," the man greeted, his voice smooth as silk but laced with quiet threat. "Finally, we meet properly."

Akiko's lips parted, but no sound came out.

Glen Xander McKenzie rose to his feet, the movement fluid, predatory. His eyes flicked briefly to the carrier in her hand.

"You brought… a dog?" His brow arched, quiet surprise momentarily softening his sharp expression.

Akiko’s grip tightened protectively around the handle. "He’s coming with me."

Glen's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Bold. But I’m feeling generous tonight."

He approached slowly, each step deliberate, eyes never leaving hers. The sound of his polished shoes on the marble echoed like a countdown.

"I expected your sister," he admitted, tilting his head slightly. "But… fate clearly has a better sense of humor."

Akiko forced herself to stand her ground, though every instinct screamed at her to run.

"I didn’t choose this," she said quietly, her voice surprisingly steady.

Glen’s amusement deepened. "Neither did I. But here we are, Miss Eloise."

"Akiko. My name is Akiko," she corrected firmly.

"Aiko," Glen replied lazily, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement.

"Akiko, sir," she emphasized, but the man only chuckled under his breath.

"I’ll call you whatever I want," he drawled, his fingers tracing along her jaw, lingering as if savoring the feel of her skin. "Aiko suits that pretty face of yours much better."

"You refuse to use your family name… what is it? Because your own father turned you into a prisoner to save himself?" Glen tilted his head, the mockery dripping from his voice. "How tragic…"

He stopped a breath away, his towering frame casting her in shadow. Slowly, his fingers brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear.

"You’re smaller than I imagined," he murmured, eyes scanning her delicate features. "Fragile… soft… breakable."

Akiko clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I'm not a thing."

"You’re not just leverage… you’re a sweet little treat, and tonight…" His hand slid beneath her chin, tilting her face up with unnerving ease. "You belong to me."

A chill danced down her spine.

"You have no right—" she began, but his thumb pressed gently to her lips, silencing her.

"Rights?" His voice was silk and steel. "Sweetheart… you lost those the second your father signed the papers."

Tears burned behind her eyes, but Akiko refused to let them fall. Instead, she stepped back, her free hand tightening protectively around Kouma's carrier.

The dog whimpered softly, sensing her fear.

Glen's eyes gleamed with approval. "Good," he whispered. "You'll need that fire… when the real games begin."

Akiko took a shaky breath, summoning the last of her courage. "I have one condition."

"No sex," she stated firmly, voice low but unwavering. "It’s the only part of this… arrangement I’m asking to control."

The amusement vanished from Glen’s eyes, replaced by something colder—calculating.

"That’s not how this works," he replied smoothly.

"I can be useful," Akiko pressed on, refusing to back down. "I'll help manage your house. Your company. You need someone who knows how to navigate high society—I’ve been trained for that my whole life."

Glen studied her for a long moment, weighing the offer.

Finally, his lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Clever little lamb. Offering yourself… just not completely."

He chuckled low in his throat. "Very well. You work for me—in every way but one." He leaned closer, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "But make no mistake, Aiko—your body may be off limits… for now. But your life? Your freedom? Those… are already mine."

Before she could respond, her father entered the room, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"All done here?" Mr. Eloise asked, pointedly avoiding Akiko’s eyes.

Glen didn’t look away from her. "For now."

The next thing Akiko knew, arrangements were being made. Bags were packed. Her life—what little control she ever had—was gone.

She held Kouma close as she followed Glen out the door. The sleek black car waited outside, its tinted windows gleaming under the streetlights. This wasn’t an escape. It was an abduction, wrapped in silk and money.

As Glen opened the door for her, his gaze dropped to Kouma once more.

"You know," he remarked casually, his eyes flicking briefly to the carrier, "I don't usually allow pets."

Akiko held his stare, voice calm but unshakable. "I’m not leaving him."

Glen's lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. His eyes lingered a fraction too long on the carrier—and Kouma inside—before returning to hers.

"Stubborn, aren’t you?" he remarked smoothly. "I look forward to seeing how far your defiance goes."

His gaze dropped again, cold amusement glinting in his eyes.

"But remember—everything has a price."