Chapter 7

Caspian burst into his study, his face twisted in anger and frustration. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest as he slammed the door open with such force that it nearly hit the wall.

He strode across the study with heavy, determined steps, his thoughts a chaotic swirl of emotions.

Reaching the table in the centre of the study, he didn't hesitate. With a furious sweep of his arm, he sent everything on it crashing to the floor—papers, glass, and a vase shattering on impact.

The loud clatter echoed through the study, reflecting the turmoil inside him.

He clenched his fists, his breathing ragged, as he tried to make sense of the storm of feelings raging within him.

All he wanted was to know more about her, to understand why she occupied his thoughts so completely.

There was something about her—something that stirred a deep, almost close recognition within him.

The way she looked, the scent that lingered in the air whenever she was near; it all felt so familiar, yet he couldn't place it.

He had proposed marriage to her, convinced that he could protect her and help her get revenge on those who had hurt her.

It seemed like the perfect solution at the time, a way to keep her close and fulfil his own desire to see justice done.

But now, doubts crept into his mind, gnawing at his confidence. Had he been too hasty? Had his judgement been clouded by emotions he didn’t fully understand? Why can't he stop feeling shivers running down his spines whenever he was close to her?

"Why did you have to do that, Caspian?" he muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice as he raked his fingers through his thick hair, tugging slightly as if trying to relieve the tension building inside him.

No one had ever rejected his proposal before. Caspian was used to getting what he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

Women had always been eager to say yes, drawn to his wealth, power, and charm. But Julia was different.

She had been the first to refuse him, to turn down his offer, and that refusal only fueled his obsession.

It wasn't just about winning anymore; it was about understanding her, unraveling the mystery of what made her resist. What was it about her that made her so different from the others?

Caspian exhaled heavily, feeling the weight of his own thoughts pressing down on him.

He needed to see her again, to observe her up close.

He wanted to know why she had said no and what it would take to make her change her mind.

With a weary sigh, he crossed the study to the plush couch and let himself fall onto it, the cushions barely cushioning the force of his descent.

He leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment as his mind raced with strategies, each more desperate than the last.

How could he win her over? How could he make her his, when she had already rejected him?

Just as he was sinking deeper into his thoughts, a sharp knock on the door pulled him back to reality.

The sound was abrupt, shattering the stillness of the study and the focus of his mind. Caspian frowned, turning his head toward the door with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

"Who is it?" he called out, his voice rougher than he intended.

"Dominic, Mr. Caspian," came the calm, measured response from the other side.

Caspian scoffed, irritation flashing across his features. "Come in, Dominic," he said, his tone laced with a hint of disdain as he looked away, already anticipating the conversation to be more of a nuisance than anything else.

The door creaked open, and Dominic stepped into the study, his movements deliberate and composed.

He paused three steps away from Caspian, his posture respectful yet unyielding, waiting for permission to speak.

"What do you want?" Caspian demanded, his patience thinning as he eyed Dominic, already tired of the interruption.

He could feel his frustration bubbling up again, ready to spill over at any moment.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting, but the investors' meeting is scheduled for dawn tomorrow, and we need to..." Dominic began, his voice steady as he stepped closer.

But he stopped mid-sentence, noticing something off.

"Mr. Caspian?" Dominic called out, his tone slightly more concerned. Caspian blinked, suddenly jolted out of his spiralling thoughts about Julia.

He had been so consumed by her rejection that the company and its demands had slipped his mind entirely.

"Are you okay, Mr. Caspian?" Dominic asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. But Caspian quickly brushed it off, not wanting to appear vulnerable.

He stood up, turning his back to Dominic as he tried to regain his composure.

"Leave, Dominic. I'm not in the mood for visitors right now," Caspian ordered, his tone sharp. But Dominic, as always, wasn’t one to be easily dismissed.

"You're obviously going through something, though I'm not sure what. You know you can tell me anything. And I mean anything at all, I won't judge," Dominic offered, his voice calm and understanding.

His words made Caspian pause, turning back to face Dominic, who stood with a concerned yet patient expression.

Dominic's sincerity cut through the fog of frustration in Caspian's mind. He could see that Dominic genuinely wanted to help, to understand what was troubling him so deeply.

But how could Caspian admit the truth? How could he tell Dominic that he, Caspian Michaelson, had been rejected; by someone who worked for him, no less? The idea felt humiliating, a blow to his pride.

"They..." Caspian started to speak, the words almost slipping out before he could stop them.

He caught Dominic’s intense, focused gaze and immediately clamped his mouth shut, his pride warring with his need to confide in someone.

"Just leave," Caspian said more forcefully, his tone brooking no argument. A deep frown etched across his face, he walked over to his desk, trying to shut out the concern in Dominic’s eyes.

He needed to focus, to push all thoughts of Julia aside for now. Sitting down behind his desk, he stared at the files scattered across it, forcing himself to concentrate.

If he wanted to impress the investors at dawn, he had to get his head back in the game. There was no study for distraction, not when so much was at stake.

He was back in Silver City now, the city where his every move was scrutinised, and it wouldn’t look good if he didn’t elevate his company to new heights.

Failure wasn’t an option; especially not here.

"Fine, I'll leave," Dominic said, his voice softening.

"But just know you can talk to me about anything at all, and I mean it, Mr. Caspian. Trust me when I say I'm always here for you—not just as your assistant, but as your brother and friend." Dominic’s words carried a sincerity that struck Caspian more deeply than he wanted to admit.

He bowed slightly before turning to leave, his footsteps quiet but firm.

But as Dominic moved toward the door, his words lingered in Caspian's mind, haunting him.

The idea of confiding in someone, even Dominic, felt both tempting and terrifying. Caspian clenched his fists, his frustration mounting.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, sharing his burden might offer some relief.

With a heavy sigh, the tension in his body finally reached a breaking point. "Wait!" he called out suddenly, his voice sharper than he intended as he stood up, his fists still clenched.

Dominic paused immediately, turning back to look at Caspian, his expression patient and attentive.

Caspian took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak. But when the words came out, they weren’t the full truth—he wasn’t ready to be that vulnerable.

"It's about my friend, not me," Caspian lied, his voice steadier now as he tried to maintain his usual charm, masking the turmoil beneath.

Dominic's lips curved into a small, understanding smile. "Go on, Caspian... I'm listening," he said with a soft chuckle, nodding in encouragement.

"Now, my friend has this girl he's curious about... He wants her to marry him, but she refused. She doesn’t want to be with him, even after all he’s done for her," Caspian explained briefly, his voice tinged with the bitterness of Julia’s rejection.

Even as he spoke, he could feel the sting of her refusal, a blow to his pride and his heart. He kept his gaze averted, pretending to speak casually.

"You mean this friend of yours has a girl he likes, and she rejected him like this? How sure are you that this really happened? Last time I checked, you haven't left the mansion to see any of your friends," Dominic pointed out, his tone teasing but also sharp enough to make Caspian pause.

Dominic’s words hit too close to home, and for a moment, Caspian wondered if he had been too obvious, if Dominic had seen right through him.

Was his story too obvious? Caspian thought inwardly, the weight of the lie pressing down on him.

"Just tell me what I should tell him. He needs advice on how to win her over," Caspian urged, trying to steer the conversation away from himself, desperate to maintain the lie.

His voice had an edge of urgency, hoping Dominic would let the subject slide.

"It's pretty simple, Caspian. If you were the one, I'd advise you to give her some time to think about your proposal. She might like you but just needs time to process everything," Dominic declared, his voice calm and thoughtful.

The sincerity in Dominic’s advice made Caspian smile softly, despite himself. The idea of giving Julia space, of letting her come to terms with her feelings, struck a chord within him.

"If it's still your friend, you..." Dominic began to add, but Caspian quickly cut him off, not wanting to delve any deeper into the subject.

"No! That's enough. I've got what I wanted. I'll tell this friend of mine. You may leave," Caspian commanded, his voice wavering slightly as he tried to keep up the act.

He felt a rush of relief mixed with lingering tension, hoping Dominic wouldn’t press any further.

Dominic chuckled softly, clearly not entirely convinced but choosing to let it go.

He bowed slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he turned on his heels and walked out of the study, leaving Caspian alone with his thoughts.

As the door clicked shut behind Dominic, the study fell silent, leaving Caspian to wrestle with his emotions.

His expression hardened, and a determined sneer curled up on his lips. "No matter what, I'll have to get you and keep you by my side always, Julia. I'll make you mine," he muttered under his breath, the words carrying a quiet but intense will.

The thought of Julia filled his mind once more, and he knew he wouldn’t rest until he had her, no matter what it took.