Chapter Two

‎CASSIAN

‎

‎The lock engaged on the other side of the door. A soft, final sound. I stood there for a moment, listening. There was no sound coming from her, not a sob, not a scream. Just the silence of a contained variable.

‎My phone buzzed.

‎“Report.”

‎“The transfer is complete, Mr. Vale. All outstanding charges against the Thorne name have been satisfied. The hospital administrator has also confirmed the girl’s new treatment protocol. Funding is secured.”

‎“See that it stays that way.”

‎“Of course, sir. And the father?”

‎“Leave him. He’ll surface. He always does.”

‎I ended the call. The silence of the penthouse was a familiar comfort. Now it was shared. I turned and walked back to her door. I didn't knock. I spoke through it.

‎“Open the door, Lysandra.”

‎A beat of silence. Then, the handle turned. She stood there, her face pale white, eyes staring wide. Still trying to look defiant. A cornered animal.

‎“We need to establish the rules.”

‎“You gave me the rules. I'll spend six months here in a cage. And i should make no contact with anyone.”

‎“Vague terms lead to misunderstandings. I don’t tolerate misunderstandings.”

‎“What else is there to say?”

‎“Everything.” I gestured down the hall. “The living area is there, the kitchen is through that archway. You will eat whatever is provided.”

‎“Or what?”

‎“Or you will stay hungry. Your choice, your consequences.”

‎She hugged herself. “I want to call my sister.”

‎“No.”

‎“I need to hear her voice. I need to know she’s okay.”

‎“She is. My word is the only assurance you get.”

‎“Your word? You bought me at an auction. Your word is worthless.”

‎“It’s worth exactly one million dollars and your sister’s life. It is the most valuable currency you have ever held. You will not speak to her, you will not text her and you will not send anything to her. Is that clear?”

‎She looked away, her jaw tight. “Crystal.”

‎“Good. When I am here, you will be present so we can have dinner together.”

‎“Dinner? You expect us to have dinner together? Like a normal couple?”

‎“I expect us to share a meal. There is nothing normal about this arrangement, and we are not a couple. Do not mistake it for anything else.”

‎“Why? Why do you want me there?”

‎“Because I do. That is the entirety of the reason. Your old life is over and your only job now is to exist within the terms I set.”

‎My phone buzzed again. Sebastian Croft. I silenced it.

‎“Who was that?”

‎“That is none of your concern.”

‎“Everything is my concern now! My life is your property, remember? So who was on the phone? Another one of your acquisitions?”

‎A flash of fire? Good. “He's a rival, or perhaps a nuisance. Something else you need not concern yourself with.”

‎“A rival? Does he know you spent a million dollars on a…”

‎“On a what? Finish the sentence.”

‎She couldn’t. She just shook her head.

‎“You are an expense, a line item. And a very costly one at that. He will eventually hear about it. And he will see it as a weakness. Your presence here makes me vulnerable. Remember that the next time you consider testing my patience.”

‎The color drained from her face. “Vulnerable? What does that mean for me? Wat does it mean for Elara?”

‎“It means the rules are for your protection as much as my convenience. Stray from them, and the consequences will extend far beyond this room.”

‎I turned to leave.

‎“Wait.”

‎I didn’t turn around. “I’m losing patience with that word.”

‎“My father’s debt. Is it really gone?”

‎“Every last cent.”

‎“And the new treatment? The one at the research institute? It’s real?”

‎“It begins tomorrow.”

‎A small, broken sound escaped her. A sob she tried to choke back. “Thank you.”

‎I finally looked at her. The defiance was gone, replaced by a raw, terrifying gratitude. This was more dangerous than her anger.

‎“Don’t thank me,” I said, my voice a bit colder than I intended. “I didn’t do it for you.”

‎I walked away, leaving her standing in the doorway of her new life. The math was simple. I had my asset. Now the real calculation began.

‎LYSANDRA

‎

‎The door shut again. I slid down to the floor.

‎I didn’t do it for you.

‎The words echoed in the sterile silence. If not for me, then why? Why go through all this trouble? A million dollars, an enemy and most of all, a vulnerability.

‎He knew my name. He knew about Elara. He knew about the debt.

‎The auction… he said he wanted me. But he knew exactly what he was buying.

‎My hands were still shaking. I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my forehead on them.

‎Your only job now is to exist.

‎I will... I'll exist for six months, for Elara.

‎A silent scream built in my throat. I swallowed it down.

‎I had to exist, I had to be present. I had to have dinner with him.

‎For Elara.

‎I stood up on unsteady legs and walked to the intercom by the door. I pressed the button.

‎A male voice, crisp and efficient, answered instantly. “Yes, Miss Thorne?”

‎I flinched at the name. “Mr. Vale said… he said there would be dinner.”

‎“Yes, miss. By eight o'clock, in the main dining room. Shall I inform him you’ll be joining him?”

‎I closed my eyes. For her...

‎“Yes,” I whispered. “Tell him I’ll be there.”

‎