Prologue

POV: Selina 

I snuggled in the darkness of the closet, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. The tremors coursing through my body seemed to have a life of their own, a wild dance of fear and desperation. I pressed my hands tightly over my ears, trying to block out the noise, the sound of impending doom that was creeping closer and closer.

Now more than ever, I regret leaving my family and coming to school in this huge city. The exciting life in the city was just too good to pass. I gave in without thinking twice, and now here I am, running and hiding from a paranoid man who wants to dominate me. 

“Dear God, save me,” I whispered in my heart. I scoffed at my sorry attempt to pray for help. I don’t even know the right words, I’m so pathetic!

The footsteps outside grew louder, each striking echo rumbling through the walls of the closet. They were deliberate, purposeful, and I could almost feel the weight of each footfall pressing down on my chest. The metallic claws of the heels against the wooden floor sent shivers down my spine, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond the thin walls of my sanctuary.

I couldn’t stop trembling uncontrollably, I covered my ears with both hands, willing myself to vanish from this closet to a safe haven. The sound of the footsteps made my heart beat faster, I knew he was doing this on purpose, scaring the shit out of me and trying to force me out.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to control my ragged breaths, my mind racing with a thousand panicked thoughts. I knew she had to stay hidden, had to keep quiet, but the terror was overwhelming, threatening to consume me whole.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, the seconds feeling like hours as I waited, trapped in my own personal hell. The footsteps drew closer, until they seemed to be right outside the closet door. I held my breath, my entire body tensed, bracing for the inevitable.

And then, all of a sudden, the footsteps receded, growing fainter and fainter until they finally faded into silence once more. I let out a shaky breath, my whole body trembling with relief and exhaustion. I stayed curled up in the darkness, waiting for the fear to ebb away, for the world to feel safe once more.

But deep down in my heart, I knew that the terror would never truly leave me, that it would linger in the shadows, haunting my every step. I waited for the sound of the heels to disappear completely but it felt like they are simply messing with my head. One minute, they are leaving the room, and the next minute they are running back in to report to his PA.

“Boss, she must have found a way out of this building, we’ve searched everywhere and we couldn’t find her.” He reported back to Felix. 

“You really can’t find her, huh?” he asked him. The sound of his voice caused me to panic immediately and I became hot all of a sudden. I tried to remain calm, but I couldn’t help feeling his piercing gaze through the wooden closet doors. I felt as though I was standing right in front of him, staring into his eyes.

There was a slight opening between the doors of the closet, so I leaned forward to peek through the little space and see what was going on. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him looking straight ahead, staring fixedly at the closet doors and smirking at it the same way he would be smirking at me if I were standing right in front of him now.

He took a step in my direction and as the footsteps draw nearer, I realized that he is simply mocking his hidden prey. I realize that I was never hidden from Felix, I have always been the hunted and now I’m within the grasp of my pursuer, Felix Yeats, who coldly smiles as he senses my presence in the closet.

Despite the search being called off by his PA, who respectfully reports the failure to find me, Felix Yeats's gaze remains fixed on the closet, indicating his unwillingness to let me go. He knows I’m hiding somewhere in this room, he’s staring right at the closet, making me feel like I’ve been made already. 

I’m too terrified to peek through the hole again, I have no idea what to expect from him. I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my head between them, letting the tears flow freely down my cheeks. I did not make a sound as I sobbed sadly in the closet, feeling pitiful and sad. Yet, trying so hard not to be found by my pursuer. 

“I could have sworn that she was in here, how the hell did you let her escape?” I heard him yelling at his PA. The butterflies in my tummy did a summersault in joy, I raised my head from my knees and wiped my eyes with my palm as I felt so excited that he doesn’t know I’m in here.

“I’m sorry boss, I have no idea how she got away. But, she won’t get far, I promise. I’ve put the word out already, we’ll find her.” He responded to Felix, sounding so sure that I’ll be found. I laughed at his stupidity and I gave myself a thumbs up for being so smart to evade both Felix and his boys.

“Get out of my sight, you incompetent fool!

Find her fast and bring her to me immediately!” he ordered him firmly. I heard their footsteps once more as they ran in different directions, obviously going to find me. I heard one particular heavy footstep that kept pacing the room angrily. I knew it was him and I stayed still in .y hiding place, willing him to slump and die. 

After a few minutes, I heard his footsteps as he walked towards the door, I heard the door shut firmly and I continued to hear his rescinding footsteps as he walked away from this room. I heaved a breath of relief, smiling happily. I felt like a winner, I feel I’m getting smarter. I waited a few more minutes in case he returns for one reason or another.

With joy and excitement in my heart, I felt a sense of relief as the footsteps fade, I finally mustered enough courage to come out of the closet and find my way out of here. I pushed the doors open slowly, trying not to make any sound that would lead them back here. As I pushed the door open and looked up, my heart skipped beat as I found Felix Yeats waiting like a king for his rabbit, 

“Hey beautiful…

I was wondering how long you intend to keep hiding in there,” he lets out charmingly as if this was some kind of a game to him. I stood there with mouth open wide looking so frustrated and speechless.

“Why, Felix?

What do you want from me?” I let out in frustration and sadness. He smiled and walked towards me, pulling me closer and forcing my face up to gaze into his eyes, 

“By now you should know the answer to that question, cupcake. I want you, Selina, and I won’t let you get away from me.” He affirmed in a hoarse tone that made me hate and love him at the same time. His words are always revealing his deep and possessive affection for me.

But his actions tell a whole different story. He would do anything to keep me by his side and make sure that I cannot escape his control.