Consequences, really?
1320 Words
VIONNE
I was still trying to figure out who had sent a message from an unknown number when another text from Nora came in.
“Poor Vion. Why aren’t you responding to me? Oh right – you don’t even have a dress. I’ll be kind and send you one. At least you’ll get to see me… and the man you couldn’t keep. See you in a few days. Bye, Vionne.”
Finally, she was done mocking me – for now.
My teeth clenched. My fist tightened around my phone so hard it almost cracked.
I almost threw it across the room, but I wasn’t going to let Nora get to me.
I took a cold shower to cool my head. I was going crazy. I switched off my phone and tossed it on the bed, still irritated—I barely had time to breathe before another SMS ping.
Just six words that made me freeze.
“TRUST DARIEN CALLAHAN AT YOUR OWN RISK.”
I stopped breathing.
“Darien Callahan?” I whispered.
A few minutes in this place and I was already getting messages from unknown numbers. Not the earlier one.
Who was this? I tried to think. Nothing came to mind.
Jesus… Do I have stalkers now? From where? Sent by who?
I wanted to ask, but I stopped myself. My head was already a mess. Not now. Maybe later.
I switched off the phone completely to stop more messages.
Of course, Miss Vivian had shown me the toilet earlier. I walked in, pulled the handle, and opened it.
The moment I stepped inside, my jaw dropped again.
It was huge. Bright white lighting. Spotless. Almost unreal.
“I love it here already,” I said, walking toward the bathtub.
I had no idea how anything worked. Turning on the shower was pure luck.
That’s when it hit me—I was completely out of my depth. I had been talking too much earlier like I owned the place.
Still, I figured it out eventually and finished.
I stepped out with a towel wrapped around me, hair damp.
Then I remembered—
Darien might be watching me.
I tightened the towel instinctively, like that alone could protect me.
I walked to the wardrobe and found a light pink sleeveless dress.
Perfect.
My eyes scanned the room again.
What if he’s watching me? Why would he install cameras in a room meant for a woman?
No—this wasn’t even my house. But he knew I was coming.
I didn’t want to think too much about it.
I put the dress on over the towel first, then let the towel drop.
I smirked at the room.
“You’re not smart, Darien,” I muttered like he could hear me.
I walked to the giant door, locked it, then returned to the massive bed.
I jumped onto it.
Soft. Huge. Nothing like anything I’d ever slept on.
Three normal beds wouldn’t even match it.
It felt too good. Weeks of lying in that small, terrible mould house flashed in my mind.
God.
I was already half asleep when I heard the doorbell.
“Breakfast, Miss.”
Miss Vivian’s voice echoed through the room.
There was some speaker system outside, I guessed.
“I’m not hungry,” I said tiredly without moving.
I didn’t even know if she heard me.
All I knew was I slept.
Peacefully. No crying. No stress. Just sleep.
I don’t know how long I slept, but something woke me up.
I stretched, yawning, my stomach already protesting.
“The f**k…” I muttered, rubbing my belly and rolling over—only to feel something under me.
I froze.
I quickly sat up and pulled back like I had been burnt.
It was the box Nora had sent.
“Holy s**t!” I screamed, jumping off the bed. “No way. I locked that door!”
I pointed at it like someone needed to explain it to me.
Then—
Knock knock.
“Good evening, Miss. It’s time for dinner. Freshen up and come downstairs. Darien is expecting you.”
“Come in!” I yelled.
“The door?” the voice replied.
Only then did I realise—it wasn’t Miss Vivian.
I rushed to the door and unlocked it quickly.
A woman stood there. The same sharp-eyed lady.
“Hello,” I said cautiously.
What was she doing here?
“You—”
“Yes?” I cut in immediately. “How did that get in here? I locked the door.” I pointed at the box.
“No idea. Not my problem.”
“What?” I said, stunned by her rudeness.
“I have no idea.”
“Go get me Miss Vivian,” I snapped, my voice shaking.
She left without another word. No bow. No apology.
Rude-ass girl.
Who even was she?
I stood there, unsettled, staring at the box again.
How did it get inside a locked room?
Miss Vivian had clearly said the door couldn’t be opened from outside.
I waited.
A few minutes later, she arrived.
“Good day, Miss Vivian,” I said quickly, swallowing.
“You don’t greet me —”
“Did you put that in my room?” I cut her off, pointing.
“N-no, I didn’t,” she said.
“Then who did?”
“I don’t think I have any idea but— It shouldn’t be there.”
Silence dragged on.
“Did you leave the door unlocked?” she asked.
“I only opened it when that girl came earlier,” my voice cracked slightly.
More silence.
Then she spoke into her watch.
“Yes, Captain. She’s up now.”
She turned back to me.
“It’s time for dinner, Miss. Freshen up quickly. Captain Darien is expecting you. Come with me—I’ll show you what he requested you wear.”
She started walking like nothing strange had just happened.
I didn’t move.
I just stared at the box.
She turned back.
“Please, Miss. He’s been waiting. Let’s not delay him.”
“Who cares,” I muttered under my breath.
I wasn’t going to look shaken.
I walked back to the bed and sat down slowly.
Then I opened the box.
It wasn’t just any dress.
It was an invitation card for Nora’s engagement party.
Not a wedding. Engagement.
I remembered when my father had told me about their engagement. Even then, I had thought it looked too plain for someone like Nora.
Why was Nora doing extra? Lied it was a wedding?
A small smile formed on my face.
Because I already knew Nora was going to regret inviting a sister she betrayed into the same space.
“This is the dress, Miss.”
I looked up.
My eyes widened.
As a fashion designer, I knew the value of this dress instantly.
Oh my God…
“You mean this dress?” I asked.
"Yes", she smiled sweetly.
“This is for dinner?” I frowned.
“Call it whatever you like, my lady.”
“And if I don’t wear it?”
“You have to. You disrespected him this morning. Don’t do it again.”
“And what if I do again?” I leaned back slightly, pulling my hair behind my ear.
“You’ll face the consequences.”
“What consequences?” I laughed. “Do I look like a maid to you?”
“No, my lady.”
“So what consequences?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
“The rules weren’t even explained to me.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You people are crazy,” I muttered, standing up as I stormed toward the bathroom.
Fine.
I’d get ready.
But I wasn’t wearing that dress.
No matter how beautiful it was.
If consequences were waiting, then I wanted them.
I wanted to see exactly what Darien Callahan could do.
- Writer
