CHAPTER 7: The Only Window

(Helen’s POV)

I was stretched out and bound to a massive cross-shaped wooden structure. My mouth was sealed shut, preventing me from screaming. In front of me, a gigantic, imposing silhouette loomed, holding a whip that sliced through the air with a deafening crack. I couldn't see the man's face, but the sheer oppression of his physical presence crushed my chest. The steel and leather came hurtling toward my bare skin...

I woke up with a violent start, my heart practically leaping out of my chest, my body drenched in a cold sweat.

It took a few agonizing seconds to realize I was no longer bound to the cross, but lying on the massive king-size bed in my own room. I had barely managed to close my eyes all night. The terror of Damian Vance’s promise and the grim memory of that luxurious torture chamber at the end of the hallway had kept me in a state of constant, exhausting vigilance. I had never seen things like that before. The fear of being broken, of having my dignity ripped away by that monster, was a suffocating weight.

The morning sun was already filtering through the massive glass windows of the penthouse, but I didn't have the courage to set foot outside the bedroom. I was starving, but the absolute dread of opening that door and bumping into my new husband in the hallway kept me curled tight beneath the sheets.

A soft knock on the door made my entire body tense.

"Mrs. Vance?" a mature, feminine voice called from the other side.

"Come in," I answered, pulling the blanket all the way up to my chin.

The door swung open, and a grey-haired woman with a calm demeanor and an immaculate uniform stepped inside, carrying a tray loaded with a full breakfast spread.

"Good morning, ma'am. My name is Judith. I am the head housekeeper, and I am here to serve you and take care of anything you might need," she said, setting the tray down on the nightstand with a gentle smile. "I noticed you didn't come down to the dining room for breakfast, so I thought it best to bring it up."

I breathed a small sigh of relief, seeing it wasn't him. I sat up in bed, staring at the abundance of fruits, pastries, and juices.

"Thank you, Judith," I said hesitantly. "Why does the staff here call... call Damian 'Master'?"

Judith paused for a moment, smoothing down her apron. Her gaze carried a deep, almost reverent respect.

"We call him that because we hold him in very high regard, ma'am. Master Damian is a man of few words, but he protects his own. You don't need to be so afraid of him. He won't hurt you if... well, if the rules are followed."

The memory of the red room and the crack of the whip from my nightmare rushed back to my mind with full force.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," I whispered to myself, swallowing hard.

I ate what I could, feeling the energy slowly seep back into my veins. As I chewed, an idea began to take shape in my mind. A window of opportunity. If I stayed locked in this room, the three days of grace would flash by, and I would be utterly destroyed. I had to act.

"Judith," I called out when she returned to collect the tray. "I need to go to my old house. I left in such a rush that I ended up leaving a lot of important things behind. It’s a bit far from here, in another Chicago neighborhood. Could one of the security guards drive me?"

Judith hesitated, looking at me with an edge of caution.

"It would be best if you asked the Boss directly for permission, ma'am. He is in his office right now."

My stomach tied itself into a fresh knot. Going to his office meant breaking his rule about not disturbing him, but it was my only shot. I took a quick shower, threw on some of the simple clothes that had already been placed in my closet, and walked down the hallway toward the dark wood door Judith had pointed out.

I stopped dead in front of the office door, my heart hammering so loudly against my ribs that I was certain he could hear it from the inside. Raising a trembling hand, I knocked twice.

"Come in," his deep, harsh voice echoed.

I pushed the door open slowly and took a step inside, keeping my eyes cast down. Damian was seated behind a massive mahogany desk, flanked by computer screens and paperwork. He had discarded his suit jacket, wearing only his white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his muscular forearms.

"I'm sorry..." I stammered, wringing my hands. "You told me not to disturb you, but... I really needed to speak with you."

He raised his gélid blue eyes, dropping his pen onto the desk. His undivided attention locked onto me, making me feel utterly minuscule.

"Why are you here, Helen?" he asked, blunt and direct.

"I need to go back to my old house," I explained, fighting to keep my voice as steady as possible so I wouldn't stutter. "I need to retrieve some of my things that were left behind."

Damian narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting into a suspicious, puzzled frown.

"I thought your family had already forwarded all of your belongings to the penthouse."

"They didn't send everything," I lied, holding his gaze for a fraction of a second before looking away. "They forgot things that are very important to me. My textbooks, my notebooks... things I absolutely need if I am going to take my college classes online, just like you suggested."

"I can have new books purchased. Anything you want," he countered, his voice cold and analytical.

"But I want mine," I insisted, taking a step forward and pressing my hands together in a pleading gesture. "Please, Damian. They matter to me. And I also wanted to take the chance to see my sisters one last time before I isolate myself here."

He stared at me in absolute silence for a long, torturous minute, seemingly reading every single line of my face. I could barely breathe, terrified that he would see straight through my lie. My secret savings account, my real identification papers, and the money I had hoarded my entire life were hidden in that bedroom back at the Rossi estate. Without them, I couldn't run anywhere.

"Fine," he finally spoke, leaning back in his chair. "I will have security drive you. But you go straight there, grab what you need, and return with them immediately. I want no excuses and no delays."

"Thank you," I replied, a wave of profound relief washing over my chest.

I turned around and practically bolted out of the office before he could change his mind. The moment the heavy door clicked shut behind me, I pressed my back against the wall and finally released the breath trapped in my lungs.

A rush of pure adrenaline flooded my veins. This was my chance. Damian thought he was sending me under the watchful eyes of his hounds, but he didn't know the layout of the Rossi estate, and he didn't grasp the depth of my desperation. I was going to get into that house, grab my money, and find a way to vanish from Chicago before his guards even realized I was gone. His little game was about to flip.