Chapter 5

I sat there watching them go back and forth, eating a warm cinnamon roll Lana had brought in the bag. It was standard, practical best friend energy, and it was the only thing keeping me grounded in this chaotic, trope-filled nightmare. I had written Lana to be loyal, but seeing her square up to a billionaire red flag who could probably buy her entire bloodline was honestly inspiring.

Cyrus glared at Lana, his eyes darkening as if he were trying to summon an ominous thunderstorm right inside the VIP suite.

“Sir, those are signs of demonic possession.” I said and Lana laughed, shaking her head.

"Lana, he's just upset because his alpha routine isn't working on a girl in a hospital gown. Give him a second, he needs to go G****e time management anyway."

Cyrus turned back to me, his mouth setting into a thin, tight line. "I am surrounded by idiots," he muttered under his breath.

"Hey, I'm a travel agent, please sit down," I corrected him cheerfully, dabbing sugar off my lip with the napkin.

Before he could respond, the  door opened again, and a tall, grey-haired doctor in a spotless white coat walked in holding a tablet. He looked between Cyrus, Lana, and me, clearly sensing the bizarre tension thick enough to cut with a scalpel.

"Miss Rayne?" the doctor asked, checking his screen. "I'm Dr. Vance. I've reviewed your scans and bloodwork."

"Am I going to turn into the Flash, Doc?" I asked. "Or am I good to go home?"

"Surprisingly, your vitals are stable," Dr. Vance said, shaking his head in mild disbelief. "You have some minor surface irritation on your chest and some muscle soreness from the shock, but miraculously, there's no internal damage. You're clear for discharge whenever you feel up to it."

"Great," I said, instantly swinging my legs over the side of the hospital bed, revealing my bare ankles and the scratchy hem of the gown. "Lana, grab my baggy jeans. We are getting out of here and ordering pizza."

"Not so fast," Cyrus's deep voice cut through the room like a heavy iron gate slamming shut.

I stopped, looking up at him as he stepped between my bed and the door.

"Doctor," Cyrus said, not even looking at the medical professional. "Prepare her discharge papers immediately. My private vehicle is waiting downstairs."

"Hold on," Lana chimed in, frowning. "I brought my Honda Civic. I'm taking her home to her apartment."

A tiny, sharp smirk tugged at the corner of Cyrus's mouth, that arrogant, infuriating smirk I hated myself for writing. He reached into his suit pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped the screen twice before holding it up so I could see it.

"Your apartment building was reported for severe electrical instability twenty minutes ago," he said, his tone dripping with fake concern. "The city has sealed the complex for an emergency safety inspection. You have no power, no lights, and no access to your unit for the next forty-eight hours."

My jaw dropped. I stared at his phone screen, then looked up into his cold eyes.

Fucking Cyrus. He didn't just track my location, he probably used his billionaire connections to call in a fake municipal violation on my actual apartment building just to block my escape route.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I whispered, glaring at him like I wanted to throw my hospital heart monitor straight at his face.

"So, as your dedicated client and a responsible citizen," he continued, pocketing his phone and stepping right up to the edge of my bed, towering over me once again, "you will be staying at my penthouse until your living situation is resolved. Under my direct supervision."

A bright, glowing golden text box suddenly flashed directly in front of my eyes, floating in the air where only I could see it:

[NARRATIVE EVENT LOCKED: The Billionaire's Guest]

Objective: Accompany Cyrus Crest to his private residence.

Warning: Plot evasion attempts will result in immediate physical punishment.

I stared at the floating golden words, then looked at Cyrus, who was watching me expectantly, waiting for me to yield to his grand, possessive dark-romance gesture.

He thought he was being smooth. He thought he was playing the brooding protector who saved the helpless heroine from an unlivable apartment. In reality, he was just a walking, talking red flag who was using a supernatural narrative engine to drag me into the "moving into the hero's mansion" trope against my will.

"You really think you're clever, don't you?" I asked , letting out a heavy, defeated sigh as I rubbed my temples.

"I think I am practical," he said, extending his hand down toward me, waiting for me to take it. "Get dressed, Erin. We are leaving."

I looked at his open hand, then looked up at Lana, who was staring at Cyrus like she was ready to pull a butter knife out of her purse and stab him in the knee.

"Lana," I said quietly, sighing. "Go back to the agency. Keep Greg from eating all the donuts."

"Erin, you are not seriously going with this lunatic, are you?" Lana asked, her eyes wide with shock. "He basically just admitted to shutting off your power!"

"I don't really have a choice," I said, casting a sideways glance at the glowing golden error warning hovering in my peripheral vision. "The universe has a very aggressive way of enforcing his schedule. Just... text me if Greg notices I'm missing."

Lana glared at Cyrus one last time before grabbing her purse. "If you hurt her, I'm bringing a crowbar to your office," she threatened, pointing two fingers at her eyes and then at him before storming out of the room.

Cyrus didn't even blink at the threat. He just kept his hand extended toward me, his dark eyes fixed on my face.

"Your belongings are already in the SUV," he said softly, leaning down just enough so his scent of expensive cologne filled my lungs again. "Shall we?"

I looked at his outstretched hand, then scoffed, pushing past him on my own two feet without touching his fingers.

"I can walk by myself, Crest," I said, smoothing down the back of my scratchy hospital gown as I headed toward the changing room to get my baggy jeans back on. "And if your penthouse doesn't have good Wi-Fi, I'm calling the city council."