โค๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ 8: ๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ โค๏ธ
483 Words
The black Rolls-Royce sped through the quiet streets of the city.
Aria sat in silence, clutching Adrian's jacket tightly around her shoulders. Her hands were still trembling from what had happened.
She stole a glance at Adrian.
His expression remained cold as he stared out the window, his jaw clenched.
"Are you okay?" he finally asked.
Aria let out a shaky laugh.
"I almost got kidnapped... and you're asking if I'm okay?"
A flicker of guilt crossed his face.
"I'm sorry."
She turned to him in surprise.
"The great Adrian Knight... apologizing?"
"If I had assigned security to you earlier, this wouldn't have happened."
Aria sighed.
"It wasn't your fault."
Before Adrian could reply, the car stopped in front of a breathtaking mansion.
The iron gates slowly opened, revealing a grand estate surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains.
Aria's eyes widened.
"This... is your house?"
"My home," Adrian corrected.
One of the maids opened the car door.
"Welcome home, Mr. Knight."
Adrian nodded.
"Prepare the guest room."
The maid smiled politely.
"Right away, sir."
---
Inside, the mansion was even more stunning.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and marble floors reflected the warm golden lights.
Aria had never seen anything like it.
She looked around nervously.
"I feel like I don't belong here."
Adrian looked at her.
"You're my guest."
"Only until it's safe."
His gaze softened.
"Only until it's safe."
---
After dinner, Adrian showed her to a spacious guest room.
It was bigger than the apartment she shared with her mother.
"If you need anything," he said, "my room is across the hall."
Aria smiled awkwardly.
"I'll be fine."
He nodded and closed the door behind him.
As soon as she was alone, she sat on the edge of the bed.
Everything had happened so quickly.
A new job.
A mysterious billionaire.
An attempted kidnapping.
None of it made sense.
---
Meanwhile...
Adrian entered his private office and loosened his tie.
A few moments later, his head of security, Ethan, walked in.
"The men we captured are refusing to talk."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"Find out who hired them."
"We're trying."
"And increase security around Aria."
Ethan hesitated.
"Sir... may I ask something?"
"What is it?"
"Why are you risking so much for someone you've only just met?"
Adrian remained silent for a long moment.
Then he quietly replied,
"Because I have a feeling this isn't a coincidence."
---
Across town, inside an abandoned warehouse...
A man dressed in black stood in the shadows.
His face was hidden beneath a mask.
One of his followers knelt before him.
"We failed."
The masked man smiled.
"I expected that."
"What should we do now?"
The man's smile widened.
"If we can't get the girl..."
"...we'll use the one person she can't bear to lose."
He placed a photograph on the table.
It was a picture of Aria's mother.
โก๏ธ ๐ป๐ ๐ฉ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
... โก๏ธ
- Writer
