Lena sat on the bed while in deep thought, trying to plot her escape, but Dante had closed the door on his way out, and the building was so high that she couldn't jump from the window.
So all she could do was cry and reminisce about her parents deaths, which was caused by Nero. “So heartless,” she clenched her fist, still in deep thought, when the door pushed open and two maids walked in. "Hello, miss,” the first maid greeted, but Lena just glared at them; she hated being here and also hated anyone associated with this house or Nero. “You need to freshen up and get ready; the Pope (Nero) is waiting for you,” she explained, and a tear rolled down Lena’s cheeks. The thought that her parents were no longer alive shattered her, and to think the man who caused this was walking freely. “Maybe I could file a case against him,” Lena thought; all she needed was to get out of this building and hurry to the nearest police station. With this new plan in mind, Lena stood up and walked to the bathroom and closed the door. She could have her shower alone and didn't need the help of her fellow women. Minutes later, Lena stepped out of the bedroom with a towel wrapped around her body, and all she could find on the bed were new underwear. Her gaze moved to the maid by the side who smiled at her. “We don’t know which dress the pope will like on you, so we will let him decide,” they explained, and Lena’s brows furrowed, but she didn't have much time to waste in this place, so she quickly slid into the underwear, and with just a towel covering her modesty, she followed the maids who took her to Nero’s bedroom. “I can’t go in.” Lena finally blurted out the first word to them. She stood before the door and didn't have the guts to go further. That man seemed dangerous, and of course she didn't want to play with fire by standing before him with exposed thighs and cleavage. But she had no choice. The maid pushed the door open. “I am sorry, miss; we are just carrying out orders.” The maid apologized and signaled for Lena to go in. She clenched her fist by the sides tightly. Even her boyfriend Chris had never seen her with just a towel, so how could she let another man see her? “I can’t go in,” Lena muttered again. The second maid was annoyed as she quickly pushed Lena inside and closed the door. Lena swiftly turned to the door and tried pulling it open, but it was locked from outside. “Get me out of here,” Lena’s fist had turned red as she kept banging the door. She heard a man clear his throat from behind her. Nero sat on the couch at the side of the bedroom with his gaze stuck on her and a cig on his lips. “You…you” Lena found herself shivering, not able to come up with a clear word; this man made her feel like she was standing on hot coal and couldn't move. Nero had a smile before he stood up and strode towards her. Lena had no escape route as the wall was behind her. Standing a meter from her, Nero pointed at the towel. “Take it off,” he ordered, and her eyes widened in shock. “I already like you a lot; don't give me a reason to hurt you, baby,” he held her hand and pulled her closer, forcing her to look into his eyes. “I will give you the world, and I request just one thing from you: obedience." Nero stated and wrapped his hand around Lena’s waist when she pushed him away; the hate she felt for him had overshadowed her fear, and all she wanted was to hit him. “Don’t come near me, monster,” Lena scolded and hurried to the other end of the bedroom. Nero pointed at the bed, and on it there were three gowns of different colors and designs. “Dress up; you better do it yourself or I will. You have two minutes,” he warned, and her gaze was stuck on the dresses; she didn't have a problem wearing one of them, but the fact that she would be changing before him hindered her. Her gaze shifted to the bathroom door, and in a swift moment she picked up the red gown on the bed and hurried to the bathroom while Nero stood still and watched her. A chuckle left his lips. “How pretty she scolds,” he bit his lower lip, and his thoughts were interrupted by the call from his phone. “I am listening,” Nero said after he sat comfortably on the couch and lit a cigarette. “We couldn’t find Linda; it turns out she is being protected by a powerful group,” one of his men in America reported. “Then put a ransom on her head; let the hungry wolves dig Linda out and bring her to me alive. You have three days to bring that bastard to me, and just like her parents... I will decide her fate,” Nero scolded before he ended the call and checked his time. “It’s two minutes; get the fuck out of there." Nero scolded impatiently when the door pushed open and Lena stood there still with the towel around her body. She didn't get enough time to change and also chose not to find an escape way because she heard him tell someone to bring Linda in three days. "I... I don’t want to have dinner with you." Lena blurted, She was going to try and stay here for three more days and wait for her sister; this way they could escape together. Nero clenched his fist before he typed a message to one of his men. He stood up and walked towards Lena. “All I asked was for you to be obedient; well, you have a lot of time to think about your actions,” Nero said before he walked out of the bedroom, and Lena sighed in relief. For a moment, she thought he was going to hurt her because she refused to have a meal with him. “Will Linda be alright?” she thought before she walked to the door and tried to open it before she realised it was locked from outside. “Oh no…” Lena sat on the floor frustratedly; she clenched her fist and gritted her teeth angrily. “I will make sure you rot in jail; you killed my parents and kidnapped me. Do you know how grave this is?” Lena scolded. “You monster, do you look at your face in the mirror? Doesn't it scare you?” “You will die a painful death, and even the worms won't feed on your sinful body.” Lena stood up and kept kicking the door and pulling her hair frustratedly. “If the law doesn't give me justice, then I promise to send a knife right into your chest,” she screamed at the top of her voice. The image of her dad falling off the balcony had made her lose it completely; all she wanted was to see Nero suffer.After a good meal, the old man left with Joan while reminding Lena about the yacht party tonight. Now the sitting room was occupied by just Lena and Nero, who had pulled out his cigarette stick.“Marriage?” She questioned, and he lit his cigarette before staring at her.“Hmm,” he nodded, and she chuckled. Did he take her for some fool or a robot? She will do whatever he wants? He made plans that concerned her life, and she had no choice in it?“Did I accept to marry you?” She asked, and he glared at her. What did she mean by that?“Did I?” Lena asked again, and Nero stood up and held her hand before he pulled her up and close to him.“Little lotus, a man like me can only be this tolerant. Don’t you think you should speak to me with respect?” He had a warning gaze, and Lena swallowed the lump in her throat.She thought they were way past the stage at which he told her what to do; she thought they could communicate like normal couples.“You never miss an opportunity to remind me exactly
Otto sighed heavily; what he feared most had happened. “You fell in love with him,” he said, and Lena couldn’t refute that.“I won’t blame you for that; Nero has a way of driving ladies crazy. But he will get bored and kick you out,” he explained, and Lena couldn’t refute it because that’s what she feared the most.“But he has never kept a woman in his house,” she muttered, trying to convince herself that she was special.“He is here,” Otto said once he spotted Nero’s men surround the cafe.Lena’s gaze moved to the door, and she spotted Nero. Her palms got sweaty before she stood up, and Nero stood next to her before his gaze was focused on Otto.“I…I invited him over for coffee,” Lena explained at once; she didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of her.“Hmm, we are leaving.” Nero wrapped his hand around Lena’s waist and pulled her closer before they walked out of the cafe and got to the car, which drove out.The drive was silent, and she didn’t know what to say; it was stupid to as
Nero walked closer to her, thinking he didn’t hear her properly. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, and she nodded.He nodded and then said, “Okay.”Nero left the bedroom, and Lena sighed heavily. She had no intentions of hurting her sister, but if her sister was trying to hurt herself, then she could only help her.After a while, Lena walked downstairs and spotted Linda by the door speaking with some guards; she turned to Lena with a frown.“Lena,” Linda stomped towards her. “I was asked to move to the workers' quarter,” she explained, hoping that Lena would do something about it.The workers weren’t allowed here; if she stayed there, then how was she going to complete her task?“I know,” Lena replied before she walked to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.“What do you mean by ‘you know’? Do something.” Linda scolded, and Lena raised a brow.“You plan to kill Nero, so no, I can’t do anything.”“You did this?” Linda chuckled in disbelief. Now it made sense why she was
It was drizzling outside, and Lena stood by the window, counting the seconds. It was already 5 p.m., and she was anxious—anxious for Nero’s return, and scared of what he might do about Linda.“Miss Lena,” Jules called, approaching her. “I… I’m sorry I couldn’t make breakfast this morning,” she added.“Where did you go?” Lena asked curiously. She hadn’t seen Jules since she woke up, and with her mind so clouded by Linda, she hadn’t bothered to check.“I was in the workers’ quarters,” Jules replied.“There’s a quarter for workers?” Lena asked, surprised, and Jules nodded.That’s where all the maids and guards meet to eat, chat, watch movies, and spend their nights.Jules had been too scared to come back to the main mansion—what if Linda hurt her?“Let me get this straight—there’s a section in this mansion that accommodates just workers?” Lena was still trying to process it, and Jules nodded again.“It’s like a hostel; we all meet there after work, and each bedroom is for two people,” sh
The Next MorningLena slowly opened her eyes, her head pounding as she grabbed it tightly. She saw Nero standing by the door, staring at her.He was dressed casually in a black shirt and jeans. "Good morning," he said, his voice calm.Lena avoided his gaze, suddenly finding herself unable to look him in the eyes."I prepared a warm bath for you," he added, and she let out a soft chuckle."I had no idea that was something a mafia boss does," she muttered under her breath, but Nero heard her perfectly well."Well… do I deserve a reward for being so thoughtful?" he asked, a smirk forming on his lips."You’re on your way out, aren’t you? Please, just leave," she said, gathering her courage and finally meeting his gaze.Nero pulled out his phone and made a quick call. "Get the car ready," he said before hanging up. He walked toward Lena, leaning in as if to kiss her, but she dodged him."Hmm… I deserve it," he said confidently, brushing his fingers against her cheek. His gaze lingered on t
Lena couldn’t get Linda’s words out of her mind. Was Linda trying to convince herself, or Lena?She pushed open the bedroom door and found Nero standing by the window. He had watched as they discussed, and now Linda just stood there alone.“Nero,” she called, walking over to him. He assumed Linda must have convinced her to hate him and probably reprimanded her for wanting a man like him.He could only sigh.“I have work to do,” he said, turning to leave, but she blocked his path and suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck.He stood there in disbelief as she tiptoed and kissed him, her tongue searching for his, and he couldn’t hold back—he didn’t even try. He lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist, deepening the kiss.Nero’s hands moved along her thighs before he paused to look at her. “Is this the end of our deal?” he asked. There were still a few days left for her to decide whether to stay with him or leave.Lena thought for a moment. Her life had no real direction