Still His Prisoner

ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW

I woke up late the next morning, surprised to find the bed empty and the house silent. My first thought was Felix. He hadn’t come storming into the room, hadn’t dragged me by the arm or thrown threats at me the way he always did. The silence felt strange, almost unreal.

I sat up slowly, blinking against the faint light streaming in through the curtains. My head was still pounding, the same dull ache that had been haunting me for days. Maybe it was stress, maybe it was fear. Either way, I felt like I was dragging my body out of quicksand as I got up and walked to the living room.

The sight that greeted me almost made me laugh, though nothing about it was funny.

Morgan was practically drooling, kneeling beside a man in a sharp black suit, kissing his hand like he was some kind of king. Her eyes were glowing, her cheeks flushed. She looked like a girl caught in the middle of a fairytale, while the man she worshiped simply stood there, composed and unreadable.

I froze in the doorway for a moment, staring. So this was Stefan. The great Stefan Laurent. He did look the part—clean cut, every detail of his appearance sharp and deliberate. His tie sat perfectly against his crisp white shirt, and the air around him felt different. Heavy, commanding.

But I had no strength to care. Not now. Not with everything clawing at my head. I just walked past them quietly, ignoring Morgan’s giddy little squeals. My bare feet padded across the tiled floor as I opened the freezer and pulled out a cold bottle of water.

I unscrewed the cap, took a long sip, and felt nothing but the ache inside my chest. Too numb to react. Too tired to even roll my eyes at Morgan’s behavior.

“Mr. Laurent, this is exactly why you should hire me,” Morgan was saying, her voice high-pitched and eager. “I’m efficient, I’m reliable, I’m hardworking, and I already know how to anticipate what a boss like you needs before you even ask.”

I sank into one of the chairs at the dining table, resting my chin against my hand as I watched her practically trip over her words. Stefan didn’t say much. He simply stood there, hands folded neatly in front of him, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes flickered briefly toward me, just once, before returning to Morgan.

She didn’t notice. She was too busy performing. “You won’t regret hiring me,” she continued, her tone dripping with desperation and admiration. “I can be loyal to a fault, and I’m very adaptable. I’ll even work late hours if that’s what it takes.”

I took another sip of water, my lips curving into the faintest bitter smile. Poor Morgan. She thought she was impressing him, but to me, it looked like she was giving him reasons not to take her seriously.

Stefan finally spoke, his voice low and smooth. “Miss Morgan. You seem very eager.”

Morgan nearly fainted at the sound of his voice. “Yes, sir. Very eager. Dedicated. You won’t find anyone more committed than me.”

I leaned back in the chair, watching the scene play out like it was some poorly written play. My best friend trying to prove herself, the man in the suit silently judging, and me… sitting there like a ghost, caught between the wreckage of my own life and the new storm that seemed to be waiting at my doorstep.

Morgan’s voice cracked as she stumbled over another one of Stefan’s questions.

“If you were in charge of a team and two of your employees had a conflict, how would you handle it?” he asked, his tone calm but firm.

Morgan’s eyes darted around nervously. “Um… I would… probably tell them to… uh… figure it out? Like… teamwork solves everything, right?” She forced a laugh, but it died quickly under Stefan’s steady gaze.

I bit the inside of my cheek, watching her squirm. Poor Morgan. She had the enthusiasm, but she had no idea how to keep up with a man like him.

Stefan leaned back slightly, clearly unimpressed. His sharp eyes drifted away from Morgan, scanning the room until they landed on me. It was only for a second, but something in his look made my pulse quicken.

“Morgan,” he said, his voice firm, “thank you, but I need someone who can give me solutions, not excuses.”

Morgan’s mouth fell open. “Wait, sir, please, I can—”

“Actually,” I heard myself say, my voice breaking the air before I could stop it. “If I were in charge of that team, I’d separate the employees and hear both sides. I’d identify the real cause of the conflict and resolve it in a way that benefits both them and the company. Teamwork isn’t just about throwing people together. It’s about structure and understanding.”

The room went still. Stefan’s gaze locked onto mine, sharp and curious, as though he had just uncovered something he hadn’t been expecting.

“And you are?” he asked.

I straightened in my chair, meeting his stare head-on. “Isabella. Isabella Rossi.”

The moment my name left my lips, his expression changed. His jaw tightened, his calm composure slipping for just a second. I frowned.

“What?” I asked, my voice cautious.

He hesitated, then shook his head. “You can’t be hired.”

The words cut through me like a blade. “Excuse me?”

Stefan shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flickering away before returning to mine. “No one can hire you. Not me, not anyone.”

I slammed my water bottle onto the table, anger bubbling in my chest. “Why? Give me one good reason.”

He sighed, lowering his voice. “Because of your husband. Felix Rossi. He’s one of our biggest partners, and if I bring you into my company, it will look like I’m interfering in his personal affairs. It’s a huge risk for me, for anyone. You’re untouchable, Isabella. No company will take you in.”

My blood ran cold. Even here, away from him, Felix’s shadow still reached for me, choking me like a chain around my neck.

“So that’s it?” I snapped. “Even with the hell I’m living in, even with everything he’s done to me, I’m still his property?”

Morgan looked between us, wide-eyed, completely lost for words.

I stood, my chair scraping against the floor. My hands were trembling, my heart pounding with rage. “I’m not his puppet. I’m not his toy. And if Felix thinks he can keep me caged, he’s about to find out just how wrong he is.”

I grabbed my bag and stormed toward the door, my mind already racing. Enough was enough.

I was going to see Felix. Right now.

Morgan didn’t even try to stop me. She just sat there, stunned, watching as I left.