chapter Four

was still looking at the ring that had rolled out of my bag, when the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.

The corridor went silent the moment Leonardo arrived.

Clarisse froze and the other maid straightened instantly, bowing their heads.

Leornado stood there, his gaze sweeping over the mess on the floor.

“What's going on here?” he asked.

Clarisse moved quickly “sir, my gold ring went missing. I searched everyone's rooms and it was found in hers.” she said pointing towards me.

Leonardo's gaze shifted to me.

“I didn't take it,” I said without looking away.

He looked at me like he was assessing me, and then turned back to Clarisse.

“And that alone convinces you she stole it.”

Clarisse scoffed. “Of course. It was found in her bag.”

Leonardo took a slow step forward.

“You and her,” he said calmly, “ it's not news that you’re not on good terms.”

Clarisse stiffened. “Maybe that was why she stole my ring”

“Riley is not stupid,” he said. “She knows stealing from you would guarantee consequences."

Clarisse looked stunned. “So you think I'm lying, you would believe a newcomer over me?”

Leonardo didn't answer, instead he said. “Tell me something, how did she enter your quarters?”

Clarrise blinked. “What?”

“Your side of the house, you control access there.”

The maids looked at each other, everyone knew it

“She wouldn’t even know the way,” Leonardo went on. “New staff aren’t allowed near that wing without permission. And you don’t give permission easily.”

Clarrise opened her mouth to speak but she closed it back.

Leornado eyes turned cold.

“So I'll ask you again,” he said. “how Did she steal your ring?”

Clarrise swallowed

“I..she..”

Leonardo's jaw tightened.

“How dare you,” he growled, “create disorder in my house.

Clarisse looked at me with pure disdain and hatred.

“Guards,” he said without raising his voice.

Two men stepped forward.

No..wait.. Clarrise exclaimed

They grabbed her arms.

“Take her outside,” leornado ordered. “and give her ten lashes for disrupting the peace of the house.”

Clarisse struggled, panic breaking through her pride.

Sir.., please

She was dragged out.

Leornado turned to the rest of the maids.

“What are you all still doing here, back to work now.” he said with authority.

They scattered instantly.

He turned his gaze back to me “you, come with me.”

His study was quieter than the rest of the house. The shelves lined with books, a large desk placed near the window with the city lights stretching behind it.

He closed the door behind us.

He walked to his desk, poured himself a drink, then leaned back against the edge, watching me over the rim of the glass

“So” I said, breaking the silence, “is this where you scare people into behaving.”

He looked up slowly, “sit down” he said with a low but commanding voice.

I leaned back against the door, crossing my arms, with a smirk on my face “why? So you can stare down at me and remind me how much of a control freak you are?”

His lips curled up with a slow dangerous smile, he stepped closer until I could feel the heat radiating from him, and I could smell his expensive cologne

“You pretend to be fearless,” he said, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face, tilting my chin up. “You're insolent and you have no idea how dangerous that is.”

“Pretend?” I scoffed followed by a little mocking chuckle…

“Why should I pretend to be fearless when there’s nothing to be scared of?”

His jaw tightened, his gaze dropping briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

“Is that so?” he murmured, stepping closer until the space between us disappeared.

His hand came up, fingers firm as they cupped my jaw, his thumb brushing slowly against my skin like he was testing my nerve.

“Aren’t you scared that that sharp little tongue of yours is going to get you into trouble, little thief?”

I didn’t flinch. I didn’t look away.

I held his stare, matching it, challenging it.

“You’ll have to do more than throw around empty threats to shut me up, Mr. Leo,” I said quietly, my voice steady.

“Do better.”

Something in his expression snapped.

It was quick, but I saw it.

Before I could even react, his hand shot from my jaw to my throat.

He lifted me clean off the ground and slammed me hard against the nearest wall.

The impact knocked the air out of me instantly, pain shooting through my back as a broken gasp tore from my lungs.

“Fucking daredevil,” he growled, his face twisting into something darker, something dangerous.

“Say one more word and I’ll give you a lesson you won’t forget. Try me.”

His grip tightened around my throat, cutting off my air completely.

My hands flew to his wrist, nails digging in as I struggled, my body fighting for oxygen while my vision blurred at the edges.

“L… let… go…” I choked out.

He only smirked, slow and cruel.

“What?” he mocked. “Already giving up? I thought you were fearless.”

Bastard.

If he had the guts, he should let go and see just how fearless I could be.

Almost like he heard my thoughts, his fingers slowly loosened, then he released me completely.

I dropped to the floor, coughing hard, dragging in air like I’d been drowning.

And he just stood there watching silently, like he was enjoying every second of my struggle.

It took a few seconds before I could breathe properly again, before the dizziness settled enough for me to think straight.

Slowly, I pushed myself up.

With my chest still heaving and my throat burning, I locked my eyes on him with a fury that didn’t even try to hide itself.

Without thinking, my hand shot out and grabbed his tie, wrapping it tightly around my wrist before yanking him forward hard.

He stumbled into me, close enough that our breaths collided, close enough that I could feel the sudden shift in him.

For the first time… he froze.

The look on his face said everything. The shock, the disbelief, the way his control slipped for just a second.

Good.

I held him there, not saying a word at first, just watching him, taking in the tension in his jaw, the way his throat moved when he swallowed.

Then I leaned in slightly, my voice low.

“Playing with people’s throats isn’t as fun as you thought, is it?”

That snapped him right back.

His eyes darkened instantly, that familiar intimidation returning, but it didn’t hit the same anymore.

“Let go,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous. “Or else you won’t like what happens next.”

A slow smile spread across my lips.

“Consequences?” I tilted my head slightly, my grip on his tie tightening just enough to remind him I was still holding him there.

“I like consequences, Mr. Leo. Go on… show m—”

I didn’t even get to finish the sentence.

One second I had control, the next he ripped his tie free from my grip, spun me around like I weighed nothing, and bent me forward over his desk.

My palms hit the surface, my breath catching from the sudden shift.

Before I could react, his hand slid to the hem of my gown and pushed it up to my waist.

“What the hell—”

The protest died in my throat as he dragged my panties down in one rough motion, leaving me exposed under his gaze.

Heat rushed through me, sharp and sudden, mixed with anger, shock… and something else I refused to name.

“Here are your consequences, little thief,“ he snarled from behind me as his palm came down hard against my bare skin.