CHAPTER FIVE| The Morning After
1002 Words
Chapter 4 – The Morning After
The first rays of sunlight crept in through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the marble floor.
Zara stirred, her eyes fluttering open as unfamiliar scents filled her nose—leather, expensive perfume, something woody in the air.
She sat up slowly, confused for a second… and then everything rushed back.
The mansion. The three men. The fear.
She glanced around the room. It was far too beautiful for the way she felt. The bed was massive, covered in white silk sheets and soft pillows that still held the faint scent of something masculine.
The walls were painted cream with gold trimmings. A chandelier hung above, its crystals still sparkling as if mocking her.
Zara got up from the bed and walked to the window. The compound looked even bigger in the morning. Fountains glistened in the early light, and gardeners were already at work, trimming flowers and sweeping paths like it was any normal day.
But nothing about this was normal.
A knock at the door startled her. She didn't answer. The door opened slowly anyway.
Roberto stepped in holding a tray. “Breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry,” she muttered, backing away.
He placed the tray on a glass table. “You need strength.”
“I said I’m not—”
“Don’t make this harder than it already is,” he cut in before turning around and walking out.
She stared at the food—omelet, toast, and tea—but didn’t touch it.
Her stomach growled, but she ignored it. Minutes passed. Then more. The silence grew louder. She sat back on the bed, arms wrapped around her knees, trying to stay calm.
Around mid-morning, another knock came. But this time, the door didn't open on its own.
Zara didn’t speak.
“Zara,” a smooth voice called. Adrian.
She froze.
“I know you’re in there. Can I come in?” he asked, voice calm but playful.
She didn’t reply.
“I’ll take the silence as a yes.”
The handle turned, and he stepped in slowly, dressed in black slacks and a loose gray shirt, his curls slightly messy. He looked like he just rolled out of a magazine, but his eyes were sharp.
“Good morning,” he said with a grin.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
He raised his hands. “Easy. Just checking on you.”
She stood, arms crossed. “Tell your friends I want to leave.”
Adrian chuckled. “Friends? That’s cute. You think we’re just friends.”
“You kidnapped me.”
“You were delivered,” he corrected, walking casually around the room like he owned it.
“There’s a difference.”
Zara glared at him. “What do you people want from me?”
He looked at her, serious for the first time. “You’ll find out soon. But for now, shower, eat, get dressed. Matteo hates lateness.”
She blinked. “Lateness for what?”
“Meeting,” he said simply and walked out before she could ask more.
Fifteen minutes later, she walked into the sitting room. She wore the black dress laid out for her—a simple but elegant thing that hugged her body more than she was comfortable with. Her hair was still damp from the shower.
The three men were seated like kings in their palace.
Adrian smirked when he saw her.
Matteo didn’t even look up—he was flipping through a file.
Luca’s eyes met hers briefly. Calm. unreadable. Like he could see straight into her.
She stood at the edge of the room, unsure of where to sit. No one told her. The silence built until finally Matteo spoke.
“You’ll be living here.”
Zara’s mouth twitched. “Against my will.”
“Yes,” he said flatly.
“You can’t just—”
“You’ll be taken care of,” Luca interrupted quietly.
Zara turned to him. “I didn’t ask to be taken care of.”
“But you need it,” Adrian chimed in.
She clenched her fists.
“I’m not yours. I’m not some pet you can just feed and dress and expect to stay.”
“You’re not a pet,” Matteo said, finally looking at her.
“You’re an investment.”
The word hit her like a slap.
“You’re disgusting,” she spat.
Adrian stood up, slowly. “Careful, sweetheart. That mouth might get you in trouble.”
Luca tilted his head, watching her but saying nothing. Matteo didn’t move, but his jaw tensed.
Zara stood her ground. “You’re not scaring me.”
Adrian smirked. “Not yet.”
There was a beat of silence before Luca rose. “Show her the house,” he told Roberto, who had been standing silently near the wall.
Roberto nodded.
“I can walk myself,” Zara hissed.
“No,” Matteo said. “You’ll go where we say, when we say. Get used to it.”
Zara stared at him, shaking slightly. But she didn’t cry. Not this time.
Adrian winked at her.
“We’ll talk later.”
Roberto led her through endless hallways—an indoor pool, private cinema, library, game room. Every room more beautiful than the last, but none of it impressed her.
Eventually, they reached the garden. Flowers bloomed in impossible colors, and a swing hung from a tree in the corner.
She stepped onto the grass, breathing in the fresh air. For a moment, just a moment, it almost felt peaceful.
Then she looked at Roberto. “Why are you helping them?”
He didn’t answer at first.
“I’m not helping them,” he said quietly. “I’m surviving.”
Zara stared at him. “So now I have to survive too?”
He nodded once.
She turned away, arms folded, eyes on the sky. Survive, she repeated in her head.
Not escape.
Not fight,
Just survive.
Thank you! for reading ❤
- Writer
