A Partner

Chapter Three

I sat in my small cold room, my fists clenched into my lap. The air felt thick and stifling, weighing upon me, as I tried to steady my breathing. I had promised myself that I was not going to cry, but here I was on the brink of it, rummaging through my mind for how I had gotten so deeply entrenched in this world. I didn't want to be here; I didn't belong here.

A soft knock on the door startled me, and I hurriedly rubbed my eyes, steeled myself. The door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped inside. He was young, his face expressionless, yet his eyes held a faint glimmer of kindness I hadn't seen in anyone here. His name was Alex, one of Damian's men-or at least, that was my assumption.

He cleared his throat; his eyes, upon meeting mine, were inscrutable. "He wants to see you," he said, softer than I had expected.

I nodded, my stomach lurching at the idea of going into Damian's presence again. I shifted to stand, but my legs were like lead. I tried to conceal the trembling of my hands, but Alex's gaze flickered to them and noticed.

"Are you okay?" he asked, the slight break in his voice a hint of concern seeping through into his otherwise calm demeanor.

I said nothing. I didn't want to talk with him or with anyone here. The more talking that was going on, the more this nightmare became real. I kept my eyes downcast, hoping he'd leave me well enough alone, but he didn't.

There was one beat of silence before he let out a sigh. "Look, I know this is all. a lot," he said softly. "But you're not alone. I came here the same way-bound by a debt I couldn't pay."

His words sliced through my isolation, making me catch my breath with surprise. For the first time since I had arrived, I looked up at him, searched his face. And in his eyes was a softness, a quiet vulnerability that was out of place here. It was almost as if he knew the fear, the helplessness. Perhaps because he had felt it, too.

"It doesn't make it easier," I whispered, more for myself than for him. I couldn't fathom anyone coming through unscathed in the world of Damian.

Alex nodded a little. "No, it doesn't. But. he faltered, seeming to weigh his words. Damian-he can break you if you let him. But you can survive. You just have to be strong."

I swallowed, the words soothing and terrifying. I wanted to believe him, to cling to the hope he offered. But the truth of it was that every part of this place felt designed to break me down to wear me down, until I was nothing but another pawn in Damian's dark world.

Alex reached out his hand as if to comfort me, hesitating at the last minute to pull his arm back. "Don't cry," he whispered, seemingly to remind himself, too. "Not here."

I took a shaking breath and nodded. "Thank you," I whispered softly.

He gave a small, almost sad smile, before gesturing towards the door. "Come on. He doesn't like to be kept waiting."

It was as if I walked down that dimly lit hallway into a place from where, it seemed, I was never going to return. The more we went inside, the heavier my heart grew. Every step kept telling me how deep I was plummeting into great depths in the dark.

****

The room Damian had called me to was dimly lit, a contrast to the blindingly bright chandelier that hung over a dark wood table he sat at with a woman. I was a woman beside him, she was striking-elegant and cold, her gaze immediately appraising me with a smirk that made my skin crawl. Damian leaned back in his chair, eyes bright and detached, as if I were nothing more than some piece of furniture hauled in to serve some passing amusement.

The woman tittered and arched an eyebrow, perfectly, as she looked me over. "Oh, is this the new girl?" Her words flowed with mocking interest; her eyes ran from my plain clothes to my tense posture. "She looks. inexperienced.

I watched in a fury as my cheeks flushed red with anger and embarrassment, but I made myself stand tall, keeping my eyes on a spot just over Damian's shoulder. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing how much her words cut me.

Damian cocked his head, and that dark grin played the corners of his lips. "Yes," he said in a low, almost amused tone. "Another to amuse me for a while."

They laughed together, the sound harsh in the silent room, and I had to clench my fists just to maintain my composure. The woman smugly turned to me, as if she'd somehow won some unspoken competition.

"What a pity," she sneered, crossing her arms and leaning back. "You poor thing. I hope you're not expecting anything. meaningful out of your arrangement with Damian." And then she cast her eyes downward, pretending to pout, though her eyes shone bright with cruel amusement. "I've seen plenty of girls come and go. They never last long.

I swallowed hard, my heartbeat hammering in my chest. Part of me wanted to tell her off, to break through the cold facade I was trying so hard to keep up. But then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Alex standing quietly near the door, his gaze steady and reassuring; subtly signaling me to stay calm, his eyes speaking a silent message: Don't give them the reaction they want.

I made myself draw in a slow, steady breath, my gaze fixed on some far point in the room. Letting them get to me now wasn't going to do me any good. Damian predictably enough watched with that dark amusement, almost as if he was pushing, waiting to see how much I could take.

"Don't worry about me," I said, my voice coming out lower than I meant but straight. "I'm here to work off my debt. Nothing more."

The woman hiked a brow, so visibly disappointed that I hadn't melted into a puddle. She exchanged a look with Damian, the smirk on her lips growing. "She's got spirit," she said chuckling. "I give her that. Though, in this place, spirit doesn't get you very far.

Damian leaned forwards, his face hardening as his gaze fixed onto me. "You're right, Lena," he said in a voice softly chilling. "You're here to work off your debt. So remember that. And remember who you belong to now."

My heart sank with every word, the weight of my new reality weighing heavier with each syllable. I could feel the woman's eyes upon me, weighing and silently laughing at my plight. I looked briefly to Alex, who barely nodded, urging me to tough it out. He was my only anchor, reminding me I didn't have to let them see fear.

Damian finally waved a dismissive hand. "That'll be all for now, Lena. Get out."

I nodded, my hands trembling as I turned and walked out, keeping my head high till I reached the door. Only then did I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of their laughter echoing in my mind as I made my way to my room, with Alex following close behind.