Chapter 5

Lily barely slept. She tossed and turned all night, her body still humming from Gerald’s rough treatment and the cruel way he left her unsatisfied. 

Frustration burned inside her chest. When the first light of morning crept through the windows, she gave up on rest. 

She slipped out of bed, still wearing the black silk nightdress, and headed straight for the bathroom.

She turned the shower as hot as she could stand. Steam filled the space while scalding water pounded her skin.

It helped wash away some of the tension, but not the anger. After drying off, she pulled on a simple robe and walked toward the living room. Coffee sounded good. She needed something strong.

The moment she stepped into the open kitchen area, Lily froze. A stunning woman stood by the counter. 

Long red hair cascaded down her back. She wore a tight red dress that showed off her full breasts and long legs.

The woman sipped red wine like it was morning coffee and looked Lily up and down with clear disgust.

“Who the hell are you?” Lily asked, crossing her arms.

The woman laughed coldly. She set her glass down and tilted her head. “So you are the new toy. How cute. Gerald really lowered his standards this time.”

Lily felt her blood boil instantly. “Toy? I have a name, It is Lily. And you still have not told me who you are or why you are drinking wine in my kitchen at this hour.”

“Your kitchen?” The woman stepped closer. 

Her heels clicked sharply on the floor. She looked down at Lily like she was something stuck to her shoe. “You are nothing but a paid hole for Gerald to fuck when he feels like it. Don’t get too comfortable, little toy.”

Lily’s eyes narrowed. 

She had dealt with mean girls her whole life on the streets. This one would not intimidate her. “And you must be the bitter ex who cannot let go. Funny how you are here drinking alone while he was balls deep in me last night.”

Cleo’s face twisted with rage. “You have a sharp tongue. Someone needs to punish that mouth of yours. Let me make one thing clear. Do not start thinking you are his mistress. Do not dream about becoming his girlfriend or his wife. Many girls before you tried that game. They smiled, they flirted, they thought their pussy was special. They all ended up broken and discarded. You will be no different.”

Lily stepped forward, refusing to back down. “You sound jealous as fuck. I am not the one hanging around his place uninvited like a desperate side piece. Maybe you are the one still trying to charm your way back into his bed. How pathetic.”

The slap came fast. Cleo’s hand cracked across Lily’s cheek. The sound echoed in the open space. Lily’s head snapped to the side. Heat exploded on her face.

Without thinking, Lily slapped her right back. Hard. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again, bitch.”

Cleo touched her reddening cheek in shock. “You stupid whore!”

At that exact moment, Gerald walked into the kitchen from the hallway. He wore a crisp black shirt and trousers. His presence filled the entire space. Both women went still.

Cleo immediately turned to him with tears in her eyes. “Gerald, thank god you are here. This new girl attacked me for no reason. I was just trying to welcome her and she went crazy. She slapped me. You should punish her properly. She clearly does not know her place.”

Lily opened her mouth to defend herself. “That is a lie. She started it. She called me a toy and slapped me first—”

“That’s enough, it was wrong of you to slap Cleo” Gerald cut her off. His voice left no room for argument. His dark eyes looked cold. “Go to your room, Lily. Now.”

“But she—”

“I said now.” He pointed toward the hallway. “Do not make me drag you there.”

Lily glared at both of them. Her cheek still stung. She turned and walked to her room without another word. The door slammed shut behind her. She heard the lock click from the outside. Gerald had locked her in.

In the living room, Cleo smiled with satisfaction. “Good. She needs to learn respect.”

Gerald’s jaw tightened. A small twitch of anger flashed across his face for a brief second before he hid it. Cleo did not seem to notice. She approached him and ran her fingers down his chest.

“She is trouble, Gerald. You should get rid of her before she causes real problems.”

Lily paced inside her locked room. Her mind raced. Who the hell was that woman, that a  ruthless person like Gerald, would apologize to? 

She grabbed her phone and started searching. First she tried “Cleo Crimson Hollow.” Then “Cleo mafia.” Results came quickly.

Cleo Megalion. Daughter of Don Megalion, head of one of the oldest and most powerful mafia families in the city. Their empire went back generations. They were known for being ruthless and extremely well connected. Crossing her could mean serious danger.

“Fuck,” Lily whispered. She dropped the phone on the bed and sat down hard.

She had fucked up badly. Slapping the daughter of a Don was not smart. Not in this world. Her sarcastic mouth had gotten her into trouble many times before, but this felt different. Deadlier.

She touched her sore cheek and stared at the locked door. Gerald had chosen to believe Cleo’s lies. Or maybe he just wanted to control her. 

Either way, she was trapped in this beautiful cage. The hot shower earlier felt like a distant memory now. Her heart pounded as she wondered what punishment waited for her next.

Outside in the living room, voices continued, but Lily could not make out the words. She leaned back against the pillows and tried to think of her next move. 

She was not weak. She had survived the streets. She would survive this too. But she needed to be smarter. Much smarter than she had ever been.