Chapter 6

Adriana pov

Just like that, the tiny hope that maybe... Just maybe, he wasn't all that bad, deflated the minute he opened his mouth.

I should have known that he was only putting up a front for the guests downstairs to see, for them to assume that he was really a nice man.

"I didn't just walk into the fountain of drinks willingly," I retorted sharply.

Funny how I found it hard to respond back to Vivianne and Elias when they were mocking me downstairs but with him, it was easier to voice out my thoughts and anger.

"Of course," he dryly answered and I scoffed.

"You're not saying it's my fault now, are you?" I asked him and he stared down at me with a look that immediately answered my question.

"I don't care what past you had, whatever you did or who you allowed to walk over you. What I won't tolerate, however, is if you keep allowing yourself to be treated as a doormat."

Doormat.

His words cut through my chest but the way his eyes narrowed with anger told me that he wasn't done yet.

"You are my woman, you represent me! You know all that and yet you made a fool out of yourself in front of all those guests?? Don't you have any idea the power you now possess and you chose to use it by being a ... A freaking charity show?!"

I swallowed hard at his words, unable to say anything but then his words kept repeating in my head.

*You represent me*

"You are my woman now, Adriana. Don't bring insult to my name by being mocked like that ever again. You have my complete backing and authority. You are untouchable."

He had his hands in his pocket as he spoke and I had to pinch my lap to be sure that I wasn't dreaming. Did he really just say that I was free to do whatever I want??

Like he would protect me regardless?

What the hell is his deal?

He was blowing hot and cold. It was hard to tell which personality he was going to come up with every single day.

But before I could say anything again, he was already down on his knees in front of me and I sucked in my breath.

He reached for the piece of my clothes sticking out and gently held it.

For a minute I expected him to scold me again for ruining a perfect dress but he didn't. He simply tore it away completely until the long dress I once had on was now a short gown.

"What are you..."

The remaining words choked me in my throat when he gently brushed my knee with his hands as he tried to stand up and I could almost swear that I felt a strong wave of electricity course through my entire body.

His expression remained blank as he stood up and sat next to me on the bed, his hands already reaching for my face.

My tongue suddenly felt so dry and heavy that I could barely talk as he gently cleaned my face with his handkerchief, wiping away all the drink stains on my face.

I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes because I was afraid that whatever was making my hair stand at the back and my knees wobble, would definitely make me lose my senses if I stared at him.

When he stopped it felt like I was robbed of something very important and I let out the breath that I'd been holding since he touched me.

"Stay here," His voice was gruff, a sign that showed that I wasn't the only one affected by his touch but the bored uninterested look on his face said otherwise.

I nodded, unable to come out with a single statement to say to him.

"I'll get someone to bring another dress for you," He continued and then took off his jacket as he stood up before draping it around my shoulder.

I had just opened my mouth to thank him when he walked out of the room without looking back and once again, I was left feeling confused.

Why?

Why on earth does he do this? Act sweet one minute, act cold the next. It was really hard for me to tell which one exactly was his main personality or if he was making this up just to rile me up.

My body slightly shivered as I glanced down at my exposed feet which he touched earlier and I felt my heart beating again.

Why did just a simple touch of his send my entire body into a wave? Why am I craving his touch on me again when I know he's nothing but a sick man obsessed with control.

But that didn't help the fact that the minute I heard a knock on the door I immediately sat up and arranged my dress.

When the door opened and a middle aged woman walked in, I sighed heavily.

What the hell was I expecting? That he'll come back and help me get dressed??

Get your head straight, Adriana. Just because he helped you clean up doesn't mean that he's a knight in shining armor!

He was probably trying to tame me, loosen my guard so that it'll be easier for him to own me like he planned earlier.

"Miss?" The woman called softly and I blinked, surprised at how close she was.

"Oh...hi, Lucien sent you?"

She nodded and gestured to a bag she was holding and I took it from her.

If the dress I was wearing was called gorgeous, the dress I brought out from inside the bag was absolutely stunning.

It was the perfect comeback dress and I stared at it, enamored by how somehow Lucien manages to know the type of color that suits my body.

"Is this..."

She nodded, "I was asked to help you change into it."

I took the red sequin dress and stood admiring it before stepping out of my soiled gown.

When I was done changing into the gown, the woman smiled with satisfaction and then pointed at the door, "He's waiting downstairs."

I stared at the door, my heartbeat increasing with panic as I tried to push away the laughing faces of Adriana, Elias and the other guests when I fell down.

The thought of going down there to meet with them again terrified me but I knew that nothing would change if I continued hiding in here.

Like Lucien said, I can't just keep letting them get away with treating me like a doormat. The more I let them, the more it continues.

"Lead the way please," I politely asked and she nodded opening the door.

My heart was thumping so loud as I made my way downstairs that I was afraid that the sound of music might not be able to drown it but I tried to keep a straight face.

I was just about to step on the foot of the stairs when I looked up and for a minute it felt like the entire room paused when they saw me.

The glances of disinterest they once gave me when Vivianne was bullying me was now replaced with piqued curiosity and admiration.

And in the center of them all, there he was.

Lucien, tall and domineering, making his way towards me with a look that screamed everything but decent thoughts.

When he finally stopped in front of me, I sucked in my breath and watched him, finally bold enough to stare him in the eye.

"Adriana... You look ravishing," he murmured against my ears and then took my hands and let me back to the ball.

As the music played, he placed his hands around my waist and led me to the dance floor.

Everything faded into black and I stared at him as he directed my hands to his shoulder.

I had no idea what was going or what we were doing but as our bodies swayed together to the music, I could tell that I'd gotten into a game more dangerous than anything I know.

And there was no way out.