Empire Of Ashes

Now face the punishment

Jordan pov

I smiled, staring at the CCTV screen.

She finally broke the rules.

I knew she would—and she did.

But what truly surprised me… was Harper.

Why would she encourage her? Harper never talks to anyone, not even the maids. She's always been cold, focused, loyal.

So why this girl? Why Angel?

She’s really lucky. But not for long. I’ll punish her and send her away. That’s the only way to keep things under control.

I must’ve dozed off watching her. When I woke up, it was already late. I had a meeting with my friends, and watching Angel all night had drained me.

Dragging myself out of bed, I headed into the bathroom, did the usual routine, and dressed quickly. I couldn’t afford to be late. They’d be arriving any moment.

As I stepped out, I saw Harper in the hallway. She greeted me calmly.

“You look good this morning,” I said casually.

She didn’t smile.

Strange. I don’t usually joke, and she knows that. Maybe she was just shocked I did.

“Serve that devil a feast,” I ordered flatly. “She hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. But make sure she stays in her room. My friends are coming.”

Harper nodded without a word.

Then I paused.

“Did you notice anything about her? Did she… break any rules?”

I asked it casually, but it was a test.

Harper hesitated for half a second—barely noticeable. But I saw it. She managed to hide her expression well, though.

“No sir, I didn’t discover anything,” she said smoothly.

A lie.

Harper just lied to me.

She’s never done that before. Not once.

And now… because of a poor, ragged girl—Angel—she did.

Who is this girl?

What kind of power does she have to shake even the most loyal of my people?

I said nothing as I walked away…

but my mind was racing.

And I no longer trusted Harper.

,.......

Angel pov

I felt a soft hand on my cheek as I slowly opened my eyes. My head was pounding. I winced, clutching it in pain.

Too much champagne last night… and way too many i********: reels.

Free Wi-Fi is both a blessing and a curse—my new phone connected automatically, and before I knew it, I was deep in the rabbit hole of funny dog videos and dancing uncles.

I slept crazy late.

When my vision finally cleared, I saw Harper standing over me.

Damn.

The whole room was a mess.

“I’ve been in here for thirty minutes and you were snoring like a pig,” she said, arms folded.

My face heated with embarrassment. I buried my head in the blanket.

She smirked. She definitely noticed.

“Master Jordan said breakfast’s being prepared for you,” she added, more softly this time. “So get up, bathe, and come down.”

“Thanks,” I muttered through a yawn, dragging myself off the bed.

Harper glanced around. “Your room’s a disaster. I’ll send the maids in to clean.”

I nodded sleepily.

After freshening up, I raided the wardrobe and picked a simple but elegant outfit. Standing in front of the huge full-length mirror, I couldn’t help but grin.

Damn. I’m beautiful. Crazily beautiful.

I headed to the giant dining room and stopped short.

Wow.

Laid out in front of me was a buffet fit for royalty: yellow salad, pumpkin rice, curried chicken, and a colorful parade of fresh fruits.

I didn’t hold back.

The chicken tried to put up a fight, but I showed it who’s boss.

By the time I was done—almost an hour later—I was so full I could barely move. Truth be told, I needed a forklift to roll me back to my room.

But Harper’s words echoed in my mind:

“Jordan has an important meeting.”

That was my chance.

I had to find a way out of here.

I began exploring the house again. The place was ridiculously huge—hallways, staircases, floors that seemed endless. It felt like a maze built to keep people in, not out.

Then I reached another floor…

And froze.

Through a partially opened door, I saw Jordan.

He was in a meeting—with his so-called friends.

And then it hit me.

Jordan is a mafia boss. A drug lord.

How was that even possible?

Before I could even blink, someone grabbed me from behind and shoved me inside. I hit the cold floor, my head slamming hard against it.

Jordan pov

The room fell into silence as Charles slammed the table again, disagreeing with every word like his life depended on it.

“We don’t need the Italians. They’ll turn on us the moment we trust them,” he growled.

Benjamin leaned forward, unfazed. “That may be true, but they offer us the best deal. We need them to move the cocaine. No one else pays like they do.”

Everyone clapped—including me. It was a solid point.

Charles scoffed. “Do what you like.”

Just as the tension eased, the door burst open.

Miranda stormed in, dragging Angel by the arm like she was some captured thief. The girl’s face was pale, her lip slightly bleeding.

“I caught her,” Miranda hissed. “She was listening. The maid—she heard everything.”

My chest tightened.

I stared at Angel—small, trembling, eyes wide with guilt and fear. Stupid girl.

I was going to set her free. But now?

Now she’s a threat.

“She’s not one of our regular maids,” I said bitterly. “She’s one of those poor little girls my father ‘rescues’ just to dump here.”

Charles shot up from his seat. “She already knows too much. Kill her now

I stared at Angel—small, trembling, eyes wide with guilt and fear. Stupid girl.

I was going to set her free. But now?

Now she’s a threat.

“She’s not one of our regular maids,” I said bitterly. “She’s one of those poor little girls my father ‘rescues’ just to dump here.”

Charles shot up from his seat. “She already knows too much. Kill her before she speaks.”

I reached into my coat and pulled out my gun. The cold metal felt perfect in my hand.

Angel collapsed to her knees, trembling. “Please… I didn’t mean to—”

“Shut up,” I snapped.

I took a step forward, raising the gun.

“I should just end you now,” I whispered, my finger tightening on the trigger.

“Wait!” Damien stood, his voice cracking with urgency. “Please. Don’t kill her. She’s just a girl. Punish her, lock her away—anything. Just don’t take her life.”

I stared at him, stunned.

He dared to interrupt me?

He dared to defend her?

I lowered the gun, my voice calm.

“Take her to the dark room,” I said coldly. “Torture her until she can barely breathe. Make her wish she was dead.”

Angel screamed as my men dragged her out. Her pleas echoed through the hall like the cry of a dying animal.

Damien looked away.

“She’ll die,” he whispered.

I stepped close to him, my face inches from his. “You dare challenge me now?”

He said nothing.

Miranda moved to touch my arm. “You missed me, didn’t you?”

I pushed her off like filth. “You? You’re just another mouth with pretty lies. Just like her. Both of you are nothing to me. And if you cross the line… I’ll remind you just how cruel I can be.”

And with that, I walked away—

calm… collected…and heartless.