Chapter two
1039 Words
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Leon sat in his study, reviewing a stack of reports when a single knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and his assistant stepped inside.
He didn't look up.
She placed a pile of documents on his desk.
"Those are the projects awaiting your approval, sir."
He flipped open the first file, scanned its contents, and signed his name without hesitation.
"Any leads on what I asked for?"
"No, sir." She paused. "It seems as though he just... vanished."
The corner of Leon's lips lifted into the faintest smile.
"I want him found. Dead or alive."
She gave a single nod.
"Yes, sir."
Leon returned to the documents before him, but after a moment, he noticed she hadn't left.
He finally looked up.
"Something else?"
"I'm curious, sir."
He waited.
"Why did you buy an untrained girl?"
His expression remained unreadable.
"I don't explain my decisions."
She lowered her gaze.
"Understood, sir."
A knock interrupted the silence.
The door opened, and one of the guards stepped inside before bowing respectfully.
"Sir. The girl has arrived."
Leon closed the file in front of him.
"Bring her in."
----Andrea
"Move" the guard shoved me
"I have legs, asshole" I snapped back and his glared before he shoved me through the door.
I barely caught myself before I face-planted.
Real gentleman.
The door shut behind me with a loud click.
Well...
Guess I wasn't escaping now.
I looked around.
The room was huge. Dark wooden shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, every one of them filled with books. There was a fireplace crackling quietly in one corner and a desk that looked expensive enough to buy an entire house.
Who even needed a desk that big?
Then my eyes landed on him.
He stood by the window with one hand tucked into his pocket, looking out over the estate.
He didn't acknowledge me.
Didn't even glance my way.
The guard cleared his throat.
"Sir. The girl."
"Leave."
Just one word.
The guards didn't move.
"Sir, should we—"
"I wasn't asking."
...
Well.
That shut them up.
A few seconds later, the door clicked shut, leaving the two of us alone.
He still hadn't turned around.
Was this some kind of intimidation tactic?
Because if it was...
It was annoyingly effective.
Eventually, he turned.
Those grey eyes met mine again.
Cold.
Quiet.
Like nothing in the world could surprise him.
I crossed my arms.
"If you're waiting for me to start crying, you'll be standing there for a while."
Nothing.
Seriously?
Did this man have a daily word limit or something?
He walked over, stopping a few feet away.
"Name."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You bought me before asking."
"Your name."
"Andrea."
He gave a small nod.
Then...
Silence.
Again.
God.
This was painful.
"So..." I said. "Do you always make conversations this awkward?"
If possible, his face became even more unreadable.
"You interfered."
"So?"
"The guard."
"I don't like bullies."
His eyes stayed on mine.
"Neither do I."
Was this man physically incapable of having a normal conversation?
He studied me for what felt like forever before speaking again.
"You'll have your own room."
I frowned.
"Wait..."
He stopped but didn't look back.
"That's it?"
"For now."
"No threats? No creepy speech about how I belong to you now?"
Nothing.
Then...
"I have no interest in making people obey out of fear."
That caught me off guard.
Before I could ask what he meant, he reached for the door.
"Get some rest."
The door opened.
He walked out without another glance.
I stared after him.
"What the hell..."
Either this man was completely insane...
Or I had just walked into something far more complicated than I thought.
----
The maid stopped outside a pair of double doors and pushed them open.
"This will be your room."
I frowned.
Room?
Not cell?
Not basement?
Room?
She stepped aside, allowing me to walk in.
Okay.
This was definitely not what I'd been expecting.
A king-sized bed sat against the far wall, neatly made with dark grey sheets. There was a fireplace, a couch by the window, a bookshelf, and a door that probably led to the bathroom.
I turned slowly.
"Is this a joke?"
The woman looked genuinely confused.
"No."
"So... whose room is this?"
"Yours."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Right."
She waited.
I waited.
Neither of us moved.
Finally, I sighed.
"What's the catch?"
"There isn't one."
I laughed.
"Good one."
Her expression didn't change.
"It isn't a joke."
That was somehow more concerning.
"If you need anything, ring the bell."
She pointed to a small silver bell on the bedside table.
"Dinner is served at seven."
"Am I required to attend?"
"No."
"...Seriously?"
"Yes."
She gave me a polite nod before walking out.
The door clicked shut.
Silence.
I stood there for another minute.
Then another.
Waiting.
For what?
I wasn't sure.
Maybe for someone to burst in laughing.
"Surprise! Back to the dungeon."
Nothing happened.
Slowly, I walked around the room.
I opened the wardrobe.
Clothes.
Women's clothes.
My size.
Nope.
Didn't like that.
I checked the bathroom.
Clean.
Spotless.
No chains.
No hidden psychopath waiting behind the shower curtain.
Good start.
I walked back into the bedroom and tried the window.
It opened.
I blinked.
Wait...
It actually opened?
I leaned out.
Huge mistake.
Below me stretched acres of gardens, fountains and perfectly trimmed hedges.
Beautiful.
Also completely useless.
At least a dozen guards patrolled the grounds.
Some with dogs.
Others carrying rifles.
Right.
So technically...
The window wasn't locked.
The outside just happened to be impossible.
Smart.
Very smart.
I shut the window and flopped onto the bed.
It was ridiculously comfortable.
I hated that.
Nothing about this made sense.
He buys me.
Doesn't threaten me.
Doesn't lock me in a cell.
Gives me a room instead.
Didn't even touch me.
What kind of slave buyer does that?
A knock pulled me from my thoughts.
"It's dinner time," the maid called from outside.
I stared at the door.
I wasn't hungry.
Actually...
That was a lie.
I was starving.
I sighed.
"If this turns out to be my last meal..."
I pushed myself off the bed.
"...I hope they know how to cook."
- Writer
