Restricted by Chains
1200 Words
Celeste’s breath came in shallow gasps as she stared at the image on her phone.
Adrian—bound, unconscious, helpless.
A thousand emotions clashed inside her—rage, fear, desperation—but above them all was a singular, searing realization.
Damian had won.
For now.
Her grip on the flash drive tightened. She wanted to throw it in his face, to scream, to fight—but what good would it do if Adrian paid the price for her defiance?
Damian stepped closer, his cologne a suffocating mix of power and control. “You’re taking too long to decide, Celeste.”
Her throat was dry, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Where is he?”
A slow, infuriating smirk spread across his lips. “Safe. For now.”
A cold knot formed in her stomach. “You’ve always been a liar, Damian.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “And you’ve always been so predictable. The brave little fighter, always trying to outsmart the devil.”
His fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, and she flinched.
“I gave you everything, Celeste.” His voice turned soft, almost dangerous. “And this is how you repay me? By sneaking around behind my back?”
“You don’t own me,” she snapped, fury bubbling to the surface.
His eyes darkened. “I do now.”
She refused to let him see the fear in her eyes.
“What do you want?”
Damian’s smirk widened. “Oh, Celeste. You already know.”
Her stomach churned. “You want me to stay.”
He tilted his head slightly. “Not just stay. Belong to me. No more running. No more secrets.”
She felt sick.
This was the price of Adrian’s freedom.
Her soul in exchange for his life.
Her fingers dug into her palm, nails biting into skin. “And if I agree, you’ll let Adrian go?”
Damian studied her, then smiled. “Of course.”
Liar.
But what choice did she have?
Adrian’s face burned in her memory—the man who had risked everything to protect her. She couldn’t let him suffer because of her mistakes.
Taking a deep breath, she lifted her chin. “Fine.”
Damian’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “Say it properly, Celeste.”
She swallowed her pride, hating every syllable that passed her lips.
“I’ll stay.”
The Devil’s Bargain
The car ride back to Damian’s penthouse was silent.
Celeste sat stiffly beside him, staring out the window, her hands folded in her lap to keep them from shaking.
Her mind screamed at her to run, to fight, to find another way—but she had made her choice.
For Adrian.
Damian lounged beside her, completely at ease. As if he hadn’t just ripped away her freedom.
“This doesn’t have to be so painful, Celeste,” he said smoothly, breaking the silence.
She clenched her jaw. “I don’t need you to comfort me.”
He chuckled. “No, I suppose you don’t. But let’s make one thing clear—you may have surrendered, but I don’t trust you.”
She met his gaze, defiant. “Good. Because I don’t trust you either.”
His smirk widened. “See? We already have something in common.”
The car pulled up to the towering glass building that housed Damian’s penthouse, and her stomach tightened.
This is my prison now.
Damian stepped out first, holding the door open for her.
Celeste hesitated for a fraction of a second before forcing herself to move. She had to play along, at least until she could figure out another way.
She wouldn’t give up.
Not yet.
Caged
The penthouse was just as she remembered—a stunning, modern masterpiece of glass, steel, and cold perfection.
But to Celeste, it was nothing more than a gilded cage.
Damian watched as she stepped inside, his eyes scanning her every movement. “Welcome home.”
She ignored the sting of those words.
“You got what you wanted,” she said, crossing her arms. “Now let Adrian go.”
His smirk faded. “Patience, sweetheart.”
Her hands curled into fists. “That wasn’t the deal.”
Damian sighed, as if she were being unreasonable. “He’ll be released in the morning.”
The morning.
She hated herself for the relief that rushed through her.
One more night. Then Adrian would be free.
“I want proof,” she said, standing her ground.
Damian’s expression flickered with annoyance but then softened into amusement. “You really don’t trust me, do you?”
She didn’t dignify that with an answer.
With a low chuckle, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick message. A few moments later, her phone buzzed.
A new photo.
Adrian—still unconscious, but unharmed.
A fresh wave of relief crashed over her.
Damian’s voice turned silkier. “See? I keep my promises.”
She didn’t believe him.
Not really.
But she had no other choice.
The First Night
Celeste refused to let Damian see her break.
She walked into the bedroom that had once been theirs, ignoring the memories clawing at the edges of her mind.
The moment the door closed behind her, she locked it and leaned against it, exhaling shakily.
Her eyes burned, but she wouldn’t cry.
Not yet.
The moonlight spilled through the massive windows, casting silver shadows across the floor.
She wasn’t going to sleep.
Not in his bed.
Not when she could still feel his eyes on her, even from across the penthouse.
Instead, she curled up in the chair by the window, knees drawn to her chest, and stared out at the city that had once felt so full of possibilities.
Now, it felt like a distant dream.
Her mind raced.
She needed a way out.
A way to destroy Damian before he destroyed her.
Her fingers curled around the flash drive, still hidden in the pocket of her jacket.
It was her only weapon.
She just had to figure out how to use it before it was too late.
Morning Comes with a Price
The sun was barely rising when a knock sounded at the door.
Celeste’s body tensed.
She didn’t move.
Another knock—this time, more impatient.
“Celeste.” Damian’s voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it.
She pushed herself to her feet and opened the door, forcing her expression to remain blank.
Damian leaned against the frame, dressed in his usual flawless suit, looking as if the events of last night had been nothing but a game to him.
“Sleep well?” he asked casually.
She didn’t answer.
His smirk didn’t falter. “Come. We have unfinished business.”
Her stomach twisted. “What business?”
Damian’s eyes gleamed. “Your official return to my side.”
Her hands clenched into fists.
This was far from over.
But for now, she had to play the part.
She lifted her chin, stepping past him.
Damian smiled, pleased.
But as they walked down the hall, Celeste made herself a silent promise.
He may have won the battle.
But the war was just beginning.
- Writer
