Chapter 8: A suspicious Hospitality
1241 Words
His threat echoed like poison in my head.
Run twice, and I will enjoy the hunt.
I gritted my teeth in anger and something in me exploded.
“I hate you. I hate you so much, Damien.”
It was the first time I’d ever said his name like that. Sharp, raw, and trembling.
Forced to look directly into those spine-tingling eyes, my heart was hammering so violently it hurt. But backing down was no longer an option.
“Hate?” he scoffed. “I’ve heard that so many times. What makes you think yours is special?”
“As expected from a monster like you,” I shot back.
For one second, one impossible second, something flickered in his eyes. Hurt? Anger? I couldn’t tell.
But it vanished too fast to be real.
His grip on me loosened, his aura dropping to a cold, bone-deep stillness.
“Third floor. Fourth room on the left.”
His voice wasn’t sharp. It was controlled and sounded almost scraped.
Before I could blink, he was gone.
The door slammed hard behind him, making me flinch.
Did I… hit a nerve?
Seems like it.
I climbed the stairs slowly, my footsteps echoing far louder than they should in the empty house.
The fourth door on the left swung open with a quiet click.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
The room wasn’t what I expected from a man like Damien. And not the same room I was locked in before.
It was warm and welcoming.
Cream-colored walls, gold light pooling from a hidden ceiling strip, and a bed big enough to swallow me whole. The sheets looked untouched, like they belonged in a hotel I could never afford.
A thick rug sank under my feet when I stepped in, so plush it felt like walking on clouds. The air smelled faintly of cedar and something clean….like fresh laundry and rain.
By the window, long curtains moved with the breeze, letting in the city lights. And on the dresser… a single glass vase with white lilies.
Lilies. They are my favorite.
I stood there frozen, my anger tangling with confusion. This wasn’t a cage.
It was a sanctuary disguised as a room.
But that only made it more terrifying.
I moved further inside, trying to make sense of why a man like Damien would give me a room like this. My fingers brushed the wall beside the dresser and something clicked.
A soft mechanical sound hummed.
Before I could step back, part of the wall slid open, smooth and quietly, revealing a small room behind it.
A wardrobe… no, a fitting room.
Light spilled from inside, warm and white. Rows of clothes hung neatly. Simple but expensive pieces, all in colors I actually wore. Soft sweaters, satin tops, fitted jeans, a few dresses that looked like they’d fall perfectly on my body without even trying.
Every single one tailored to my size.
I swallowed hard.
Nothing about this place felt accidental. He had prepared this room for me long before I stepped into it.
And somehow, that felt more trapping than any cage.
I removed my wet clothes and walked to the bathroom.
The bathroom gave off an indescribable calm feeling. Like I could shut down here at any time I want.
Soft white tiles, a clean counter, and a single wide mirror that stretched above the sink. The lights weren’t harsh, they warmed the room with a glow.
A folded towel sat on the rack, untouched. The shower was a glass stall in the corner, clear enough that I could see the faint steam marks from the bathtub.
I really must agree that his taste in design is topnotch.
I moved to the glass shower, pressed the button marked warm.
The water poured down in a steady, gentle stream.
I stepped under it, letting the warmth sink into my sore skin.
For a moment, everything went quiet. The tightness in my chest eased, and the sting behind my eyes softened. I closed my hands together under the water, watching it run between my fingers.
It felt too good and comforting. Too wrong for a place I was supposed to fear.
When I finally reached for the towel, the mirror was already fogged over, hiding my face like the room itself didn’t want me to see how haggard I looked.
I smiled, gently taking a tissue and wiped the mirror clean before picking up the towel.
After everything, I simply brought out a peach silk pyjamas from the wardrobe, putting it on. The feeling of it against my skin gave me a free and relaxing calm.
I sat down on the bed, my head resting against the headboard. My buried thoughts drifted back into my head and I found myself staring at the ceiling with tears threatening to fall.
I had lived my life on a pin edge for the past few days that I almost didn't recognize my true self.
And Liam…..that cheating b*stard. I definitely won't let him get away with this.
Between pain and anger, I slept off, oblivious to the eyes that watched me sleeping.
**********
I squinted my eyes before opening them wide. Wait a f*cking minute…. I reached out and grabbed my phone. Damn goodness! I actually slept until 1:00pm?
From the mirror opposite, I could see my disheveled appearance. Messy hair and two buttons undone.
I immediately rushed out of bed, took my bath and went downstairs.
I almost collided head-on with a woman holding blankets.
“I'm sorry…I'm sorry”. I breathed.
“It's fine ma'am. We heard you were asleep and didn't want to wake you up”. She calmly muttered.
“As in ‘we’ you mean….”. My speech was completed with my soft gasp.
Six women all in uniform bowed deep in unison.
They said the same words that sounded like they practiced several times before coming here. “Ma'am, we are here to serve you. Feel free to tell us anything you need”.
Oh, the maids. A knowing smile crept up my lips, giving them a firm nod in response.
The dinning room was laid out with different kind of dishes.
Beef steaks, sausage and smashed potatoes, eggs, bacon, toasts, cheese and veggies.
All tailored out on the plates like a five star VIP reservation.
“Thank you”. I nodded. The maids seemed to be senior chefs and had carefully prepared this for me.
I picked up the cutlery and started digging in. I was starving so bad like a dog abandoned in the wild.
“Ma'am please eat this”. A maid pushed the plate of veggies to me. “The Don said you seem to be weak and frail. You know, health is important”.
What?! The beef I was about to put in my mouth almost fell on the table.
“He did what?” I questioned with wide eyes.
She stammered, nervously avoiding my gaze.
The old maid from earlier quickly butted to ease the tension.
“Oh! I almost forgot we've not cleaned up the Lady's room. She had slept all day, the sheets must be rough”.
“Ahh…Yes! I'd go clean it up right now”. Taking the hint and opportunity, the young maid scrambled away.
What really could be Damien's motive? Giving grand treatments and confining me in a locked estate.
- Writer
