Chapter 6: Under His Roof
1060 Words
Aria stood in the center of the room long after Dante left.
The door had closed quietly behind him.
But the silence it left behind felt loud.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
She turned slowly, her eyes scanning the space around her.
The room was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Everything was perfectly arranged—clean, elegant, untouched.
Like it had been designed for someone else.
Not her.
“This isn’t real,” she whispered.
But the words didn’t comfort her.
Because deep down…
She knew it was.
She walked toward the bed and dropped her bag, her fingers lingering on it for a moment.
This was all she had brought with her.
A small piece of the life she had just left behind.
Her chest tightened.
“This is your life now,” she murmured softly.
The words felt foreign.
Heavy.
Like they didn’t belong to her yet.
A soft knock came at the door.
Aria froze instantly.
Her heart jumped slightly before she forced herself to speak.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a woman stepped inside.
Composed. Professional.
Her expression calm, but observant.
“Good evening. I’m Elena,” she said politely. “I’ll be assisting you.”
“I don’t need assistance,” Aria replied quickly.
Elena gave a small, understanding smile.
“It’s not optional.”
Of course it wasn’t.
Nothing here was.
“Dinner will be served shortly. Mr. Moretti expects you downstairs.”
Aria let out a quiet breath, brushing her hair back.
“Of course he does.”
The walk to the dining room felt longer than it should have.
Every step reminded her that she didn’t belong here.
That this place…
Was his.
The dining room itself was just as overwhelming.
Large.
Elegant.
Cold.
Dante was already seated.
Still.
Composed.
Like everything around him existed under his control.
Her chest tightened slightly as she stepped in.
“You’re late,” he said without looking up.
She frowned.
“Do you always start conversations like that?”
Now he looked at her.
His gaze sharp.
Unreadable.
“Sit.”
The single word carried quiet authority.
Aria clenched her jaw but sat across from him.
A plate was placed in front of her, but she barely noticed it.
Her attention was on him.
“This is unnecessary,” she said after a moment.
“What is?”
“All of this,” she gestured slightly. “The house. The control. The rules.”
Dante studied her quietly.
“Like you’re what?” he asked.
“Owned.”
The word fell between them.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
“You signed the contract,” he said calmly.
“That doesn’t mean I belong to you.”
“No,” he replied. “It means you follow my rules.”
Aria exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.
“And what are your rules?”
Dante set his fork down with quiet precision.
“Rule one: you don’t leave this house without my permission.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
Frustration sparked inside her.
“Rule two: you don’t ask about my business.”
Her jaw tightened.
“And rule three?”
A brief pause.
“You don’t disobey me.”
The calmness in his voice made it worse.
“You can’t be serious,” she said.
“I am.”
Anger flared in her chest.
“I’m not a prisoner.”
Dante’s gaze didn’t waver.
“No,” he said quietly.
“You’re under my protection.”
That word again.
Protection.
It sounded safe…
But felt like a cage closing in around her.
“And if I don’t follow your rules?” she asked, lifting her chin slightly.
Dante leaned forward just a little.
“Then you put yourself in danger.”
His voice dropped.
“And I don’t tolerate risks.”
Something in his tone made her pause.
Not fear.
Something deeper.
Something that made her uneasy in a different way.
Aria looked away first.
“Fine,” she muttered. “I’ll follow your rules.”
“For now.”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“I expected nothing less.”
“I’m not doing this for you,” she added quickly.
“I know,” he said calmly.
“For your mother.”
Her chest tightened instantly.
Her fingers curled slightly under the table.
He always knew exactly where to hit.
Dinner ended in silence.
Not peaceful.
Heavy.
Filled with words neither of them said.
Later that night, Aria stood by the window in her room.
The city lights stretched endlessly outside.
So close.
Yet completely out of reach.
She wrapped her arms around herself, her fingers gripping her sleeves slightly.
This place felt controlled.
Like every movement she made would be seen.
Like nothing here truly belonged to her.
“You’ll get used to it.”
Her breath caught.
She turned quickly.
Dante stood by the door.
Silent.
Watching.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough.”
Her heart beat faster.
“You should knock.”
“I did.”
She frowned.
“I didn’t hear—”
“Exactly.”
That didn’t help.
At all.
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Controlled.
Aria didn’t move.
Couldn’t move.
He stopped just a few steps away.
Too close.
Close enough for her to feel his presence.
The air shifted.
Tense.
Different.
“You’ll adjust,” he said quietly.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Steady. Intense.
“And if I don’t?” she asked softly.
A small pause.
Then—
“You will.”
The certainty in his voice sent a chill through her.
But this time…
It wasn’t just fear.
Because for the first time—
Being this close to him didn’t only feel dangerous.
It felt… unfamiliar.
Confusing.
Something she didn’t understand.
And that scared her more than anything else.
Dante’s gaze dropped briefly—then returned to hers.
Like he had noticed something.
Something she didn’t want him to see.
“Get some rest,” he said finally.
Then he turned.
And left.
Aria stood there long after the door closed.
Her heart still racing.
Her thoughts still tangled.
Everything felt different now.
More complicated.
More dangerous.
Because the problem wasn’t just him anymore.
Or the contract.
Or the rules.
It was the way she felt when he was close.
And that…
Was something she couldn’t control.
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