Chapter 23 : The Gift
429 Words
The following afternoon, Elena tried to keep her head down at work. She buried herself in files, emails, and endless typing, desperate to distract herself from the storm inside her chest.
But Adrian never allowed her peace for long.
“Elena.”
His voice was low, commanding. She looked up from her desk to see him standing at his office door, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding a small black box.
“Come in,” he ordered.
Her pulse stuttered. She followed him inside, shutting the door softly behind her.
On his desk, he placed the box and pushed it toward her. His dark eyes stayed locked on hers. “Open it.”
Elena hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly as she slid the lid off. Inside lay a necklace delicate but unmistakably expensive. A fine gold chain with a small pendant shaped like a crescent moon, encrusted with tiny diamonds.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her throat tightening.
Adrian stepped closer, his height overwhelming, his scent filling her senses. “It’s more than beautiful. It’s a mark.”
Her brows furrowed. “A mark?”
He leaned down, his lips near her ear, his voice a husky whisper. “So every time you wear it, you’ll remember who you belong to.”
Her breath caught. She shook her head quickly, clutching the box to her chest. “Adrian, I can’t accept this. Daniel—he’ll notice—”
“Let him notice,” Adrian interrupted sharply, his jaw tense. His hand came up, brushing against her cheek, tilting her face toward him. “I want him to notice. I want the whole world to know you’re mine.”
The intensity in his voice both terrified and thrilled her. Her heart raced as she stared into his dark, relentless eyes.
“Adrian… please…” she whispered, but her voice betrayed her it wasn’t rejection. It was longing.
His lips curved in a dangerous smile. “Wear it. And if you don’t-” his fingers grazed her collarbone, slow and deliberate, “—I’ll put it on you myself.”
Elena shivered, torn between guilt and the fire that consumed her whenever he touched her.
She knew she should refuse. She knew she should walk away.
But later that night, when Daniel kissed her goodnight and she lay awake staring at the ceiling, her hand drifted to the small box hidden deep in her purse.
And the truth hit her like a dagger:
She wanted to wear it.
She wanted to feel his mark against her skin.
- Writer
