My Eccentric Billionaire

You’re… different

CHAPTER FIVE

The van rumbled along, shaking my strapped-down body with every turn. It smelled like leather and cold metal inside, and my eyes were stuck staring at the ceiling, unblinking. Time felt weird, like it was stretching out forever, one minute felt like an hour.

Finally, the van stopped. Doors slid open, and cool night air brushed my face. I could see a huge sky above, dark and full of stars. The smell of pine trees and dirt filled the air. Gravel crunched under the wheels as they rolled me out.

“Watch it,” a calm man’s voice said. “Don’t bump her.”

They wheeled me into a fancy house. Golden lights glowed from chandeliers, and the marble floors shone under people’s shoes. Men and women in black uniforms bowed as we passed, their faces blank, like they were used to strange things happening here.

They took me to a big room with dark wood bookshelves and a low fire crackling in a stone fireplace. Shadows danced on thick rugs and leather chairs. They set my recliner upright in the middle, facing the flames, then left, shutting the double doors with a soft thud.

The quiet was heavy, pressing down on me. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, but inside, I was screaming, my heart racing with fear and anger. I was Maya Lin, not some doll, but no one could hear me.

Then I heard footsteps, slow and steady. Sasuke Drai stepped out of the shadows. His black coat hung loose over his shoulders, and his dark hair fell over his forehead. He walked toward me, each step careful and calculated like he was studying me. His eyes locked on my face, and for a moment, he just stood there, quiet with his expression blank.

“You’re… different,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.

He crouched down, his face level with mine. His eyes were dark, like a stormy night, and they searched mine like he was looking for something. They made me want to hide.

“Why do you look so… sad?” he said softly, like he was talking to himself. He lifted his hand and brushed his knuckle against my cheek. I couldn’t feel it, but inside, I screamed, I’m here! See me!

His thumb paused near my lips, then dropped away.

“Sasuke, what’s with you?” a woman’s voice called from the doorway. I couldn’t see her, but her tone made my stomach twist. “You spent twenty million on this thing, and you’re staring at it like it’s gonna talk. I mean, it would eventually, but not yet hm? It's just artificial intelligence.”

What?

Sasuke stood, pacing around my chair. “Why are you here, Reina?” he asked, his voice cold, I could tell he didn’t want her around.

She laughed, the sound light but mean. “Oh, come on. You buy a fancy doll, and you don’t even show it off to me? Rude.”

He didn’t answer. I heard a drawer slide open behind me, then metal clicking, like he was holding something. My heart pounded, or it would’ve if I could feel it. What was he doing?

“She’s not like the others,” Sasuke said.

Reina’s heels tapped closer, and she stepped into my line of view. She wore a silky red robe, loosely tied, showing her pale legs. Her long black hair fell straight down, and her eyes flicked over me like I was nothing. “Looks like every other toy you keep around here,” she said, rolling her eyes. “What’s so special? You bored again?”

Sasuke didn’t reply. He leaned closer and I felt something cold press against the back of my neck. A sharp pain shot through my head like I was electrocuted. My vision blurred, then cleared.

My fingers tingled, just a little, and my chest felt tight, like I was trying to breathe for the first time. I wanted to gasp, to move, but my body stayed locked.

“Did you break it?” Reina asked, tilting her head. “That’d be a pricey mistake.”

“Quiet,” Sasuke snapped, his eyes still on mine. “Something’s… off.”

“What’s off?” Reina said, laughing again. “It’s a doll, Sasuke. You’re acting weird.”

“She’s not just a doll. Something about her got me,” he said like he was figuring something out. He leaned closer, so close I could see the lines on his face. “What are you?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine.

My mind screamed, I’m alive! Help me!But my lips stayed still, my face frozen. Tears burned behind my eyes, but they wouldn’t fall. He saw something, I could tell because his face changed like he was confused, maybe even scared.

Did he know? Could he help me?

Before I could hope too much, heavy boots stomped toward the door. “Master Sasuke!” a man called, his voice urgent. “We’ve got trouble.”

Sasuke didn’t look away from me. “What is it, Kael?”

“It’s Valent Industries,” Kael said, out of breath. “Their executives are here. They’re outside, demanding we give back Model X-09. They say she was never supposed to leave their lab.”

Reina laughed, delighted. “Oh, this is good,” she said, circling my chair. Her cold fingers ran through my hair. “Your shiny new toy’s got secrets, Sasuke. What’d you buy?”

Sasuke’s jaw tightened, and he kept his eyes still locked on mine. “They can’t have her,” he said, his voice hard like he was ready to fight.

“Why not?” Reina teased, leaning close to my ear. “What’s so special about this one? You think she’s more than just another machine?”

“Enough, Reina,” Sasuke snapped. “Get out.”

She smirked but didn’t move. “You’re no fun,” she said, twirling a strand of my hair. “But I’m staying for this. I want to see what happens when they storm in.”

“They won’t,” Sasuke said, his voice low and dangerous. “Kael, tell them I’ll meet them in the hall. They don’t come in here.”

“Yes, sir,” Kael said, his boots retreating fast.

The fire crackled louder, shadows jumping across Sasuke’s face. My mind raced, fear and hope tangling together. Valent was coming for me. They’d take me back, lock me away, or worse. But Sasuke… he saw something. He wasn’t sure what I was. That tiny spark of hope flickered, but fear drowned it fast. What if he gave me up?

But then, a new sound—a faint, high-pitched whine, coming from my chest. Reina froze, her hand still in my hair. “What was that?” she whispered.

Sasuke’s eyes widened, his face pale. “Kael!” he shouted, stepping back. “Get in here—now!”