ELIANAAs I walked out of the restroom, I could sense Gabriel's gaze following me, his eyes lingering on me even though I wasn't looking directly at him. I could almost picture the smug, annoying smile spreading across his face, a familiar and infuriating sight."You spent so much time, I was almost getting worried," Axel said to me as I returned to the event center, his voice tinged with concern.I bit back a smile, hearing that he'd expressed worry about me. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it meant more than it seemed. The thought lingered.I hated how little words of his made me feel - like a flutter in my chest, a warmth that spread through my veins, and a sense of being seen that I'd never experienced before. It was as if he had this uncanny ability to tap into emotions I thought I'd long buried, emotions I'd never even acknowledged to myself. Those few words, casually spoken, somehow managed to unravel me, leaving me feeling exposed
ELIANAThe thought sent a wave of anxiety through me. I had dug myself into a hole, and now I had to figure out how to get out of it without getting caught. Keeping up with the lie would require careful planning, quick thinking, and a lot of luck. I wasn't sure if I was up for the challenge, but I knew I had to try. The question was, how could I sustain this facade without losing my grip on reality?My mind was a whirlwind of different ideas, each one swirling around me like a vortex, pulling me in different directions. Some ideas seemed plausible, like stepping stones across a rushing river, promising a safe passage to the other side. Others, however, were far-fetched, like grasping at wisps of smoke that vanished into thin air the moment I thought I had a hold of them. As I stood there, mentally juggling these ideas, I felt like a juggler trying to keep too many balls in the air at once. Some ideas dropped to the ground, shattering into a hundred pieces, while others seemed to hover
ELIANA"I am not done with you," he said, his voice low and even, without a hint of anger or frustration. Yet, the words themselves carried a sense of finality, a warning that this conversation was far from over. He didn't raise his voice, but the calmness of his tone only made me feel more uneasy. As he spoke, his gaze roamed over me, from head to toe, with an intensity that made my skin prickle. It was as if he was taking stock of every detail about me, every curve and contour, every aspect of my appearance. I felt exposed, like I was standing in front of him without any defenses. The scrutiny was unnerving, and I shifted uncomfortably, trying to break free from his grip. But he held tight, his fingers still wrapped around my arm, a gentle but firm reminder that he wasn't letting me go anywhere. "I want us to talk," he added, his eyes locking onto mine once more. The words were simple, but the way he said them, the way he looked at me, made it clear that this wasn't a request. It w
ELIANAIt was Gabriel, standing there with that familiar smirk on his face, his eyes locked onto mine with an unnerving intensity. I wanted to ignore him, to turn around and walk away without giving him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence. But my body seemed to have a mind of its own, rooted to the spot as if transfixed by some unseen force. I stood there, frozen in time, my eyes locked onto his. The world around us melted away, and all that existed was the space between us, charged with a tension that seemed to vibrate through every molecule of air. My mind screamed at me to move, to break free from this spell and assert my independence. But my legs refused to budge, my feet seemingly glued to the floor as if weighted down by some invisible anchor. "Don't you think it's rude to invade a female's bathroom?" I said, my voice coming out more firm than I had planned, and to my surprise, I really liked that. The words spilled out of my mouth with a confidence and assertivenes
ELIANAWe stepped through the grand entrance, and I felt a rush of nervousness mixed with a dash of trepidation. The building loomed before us, its high ceilings and ornate details a testament to its age and elegance. As we walked in, the sound of murmured conversations and soft music filled the air, creating a sense of anticipation. I glanced around, taking in the sophisticated atmosphere, and couldn't help but wonder what kind of event this was. Axel's presence beside me was reassuring, even with his twist of attitude, but I still felt a thrill of uncertainty. What would we find inside? Who would we meet? And what was the purpose of this mysterious gathering? My curiosity was piqued, my eyes scanning the room for clues. The air was thick with the scent of fine perfume and the soft glow of candelabras cast a warm light over the assembled guests. I felt a sense of being transported to a different world, one where elegance and refinement reigned supreme. As we made our way deeper in
ELIANAMy face contorted in a painful scrunch as I struggled to contain the agony, each passing second ratcheting up the intensity. It felt like a vise tightening around my heart, making it hard to breathe.Axel's gaze drifted off into the distance, his expression a mask of deep contemplation. He was clearly lost in thought, and his distraction made him oblivious to my growing discomfort. I was left to my own devices, trying to navigate the turmoil brewing inside me.Harlow's voice broke the silence once more, “We've arrived, Alpha,” he announced, and I turned to gaze out the window at the majestic building before us. Its grandeur took my breath away, and for a moment, my discomfort was forgotten in the face of such opulence.I nudged Axel gently, my voice soft as I repeated Harlow's words, "We've arrived, Alpha." But Axel's distant expression told me his mind was still elsewhere, and it took a moment for him to snap back to reality.Axel's sudden jolt back to reality was evident as
ELIANAThe journey felt like it dragged on, but I think it was the awkward silence that really made time crawl.My eyes kept drifting back to Axel, and I found myself sneaking glances at him, unable to look away.I hoped he hadn't caught me staring, but knowing Axel, it's unlikely anything escapes his notice. Those piercing eyes of his probably saw right through my attempt at subtlety.I hoped he hadn't caught me staring, but knowing Axel, it's unlikely anything escapes his notice. Those piercing eyes of his probably saw right through my attempt at subtlety.We were whisked away by the chauffeur, who led us to a sleek, gleaming Bentley Mulsanne - one of Axel's prized possessions. The luxurious vehicle seemed fitting for the evening's events.The chauffeur's voice cut through the silence, his words laced with deference as he addressed me, "Are you sure you're comfortable, Mrs. Draconis?" His question brought me back to the present, and I nodded politely, trying to shake off the feeling
ElianaI wasn't expecting it to happen so fast, but suddenly I was being called out of the maid's quarters and told my clothes were ready for me. I had felt a little bit of excitement when I was told about the event, but now? I didn’t even know what I was feeling. "Thanks," I said to the stranger who handed me the clothes. I didn't recognize his face, but his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as he smiled faintly, a brief, enigmatic smile that vanished almost as soon as it appeared.The interaction left me with a sense of the intricate power dynamics at play within Axel's mansion; it was clear that information was tightly controlled, and I was only privy to what he deemed necessary for me to know, a subtle reminder of my place within the hierarchy.The realization dawned on me that I was merely scratching the surface, and there were countless unknowns waiting to be uncovered, like hidden chapters in a story I was still trying to understand.I only knew what I was allowed to.The
ElIANA I trudged back to the maid's quarters, my head bowed and heart heavy with thoughts that clouded my mind. “Eliana, I've been looking all over for you!” I heard the familiar voice and lifted my head to find Sarah standing there, her face beaming with a bright smile. Her charming smile was meant to reassure me, but the turmoil brewing inside me was too intense, all I could manage was a forced smile. I was sure she could see right through my fake smile, but who could blame me for trying? “Is everything alright, Sarah?” I asked, raising an eyebrow in slight confusion, since we'd just parted ways and now she was saying she'd been looking for me. “Oh, nothing's wrong,” she said with a gentle tone, I just thought I'd check in on you before heading out for my daily duties. But when I realized you weren't in your room, I started looking for you.” Her words were accompanied by a warm smile, still radiating kindness, as she stood there with an air of genuine concern. Despite the warm