BOUND BY HIS PROMISE CLAUSE

THE DEVIL WEARING A SUIT

CHAPTER 7:

Maya’s POV

The moment the butler stepped aside, an unsettling realization settled over me.

No one in this mansion looked surprised to see me.

Not the guards stationed outside the towering entrance.

Not the maids moving silently through the endless hallway.

Not even the butler himself.

It was as though my arrival had been scheduled long before I had decided to come.

A chill crawled beneath my skin.

"Miss Cole," the butler said politely, gesturing toward the grand entrance. "This way, please."

Jennifer leaned close enough for only me to hear.

"If this man serves human meat for lunch, blink twice."

I shot her a warning look.

"Jennifer."

"What?" she whispered innocently. "Rich people have weird hobbies."

Despite the knot twisting inside my stomach, I almost laughed.

The butler pushed open two enormous mahogany doors.

The mansion swallowed us whole.

Oh my! Crystal chandeliers glittered above us, their golden light reflecting across spotless marble floors.

Expensive paintings decorated every wall, while fresh white roses filled crystal vases that probably cost more than everything inside my grandmother's house combined.

Jennifer's mouth slowly fell open.

"...I suddenly understand why women marry billionaires."

I nudged her shoulder with my elbow, fighting back a smile.

She rubbed her arm dramatically.

"What? I appreciate the architecture."

"You've appreciated enough." I replied.

"I've barely started." The fact that she's not even joking about that is creepy.

The butler continued walking, pretending not to hear us.

Or perhaps hearing us and simply choosing not to care.

We followed him through what felt like an endless maze of hallways before stopping inside a breathtaking hall dominated by a magnificent staircase.

The room was silent... It was too silent. The kind of silence made every heartbeat sound too loud.

The butler turned toward us.

"Mr. Vale will be with you shortly."

Before either of us could respond, he bowed politely and disappeared. Then doors closed behind him.

Jennifer slowly turned toward me.

"...Did he just abandon us?"

"I think he did." I responded, looking around confused

She glanced around too nervously.

"I don't like this."

"You were excited twenty minutes ago." I asked

"I've matured."

Just the response I expected.

"In twenty minutes?"

"Fear changes people." She said, moving closer to me.

I shook my head.she's just unpredictable

"You watch too many crime documentaries."

"They prepare me for situations exactly like this."

"What situation?" I asked

She pointed around dramatically.

"Giant mansion." "Creepy silence. "Mysterious billionaire."

"This is how horror movies begin."

I opened my mouth to answer.

A deep male voice echoed through the enormous hall.

"Relax."!

Every muscle in my body froze.

The voice was calm, smooth, and well controlled.

"I don't hunt my guests." The voice continued.

Jennifer's eyes widened as she stepped closer to me like she wanted me to swallow her.

This was her idea, so why is she more scared than I'm.

"...He heard me." She muttered.

Neither of us had seen anyone.

Slowly... I lifted my head.

Standing on the balcony above us was a man dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit.

One hand rested casually inside his trouser pocket. The other held a crystal glass filled with amber liquid.

His dark hair was neatly waxed and combed back, every strand perfectly in place.

His sharp jawline, broad shoulders, and piercing blue eyes gave him an almost unreal appearance.

Power radiated from him effortlessly. Not because he demanded attention because he expected it.

His gaze settled on me.

It was so cold, unreadable, and almost calculating.

Jennifer leaned toward me.

"... He's prettier than my future."

I nearly coughed.

"Jennifer!"

"What?" she whispered. "I'm just being honest."

Without taking his eyes off me, the man spoke.

"If you're going to compliment me..."

His voice remained perfectly calm.

"...at least do it loud enough."

Jennifer's face drained of colour.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes," I muttered.

She grabbed my arm almost immediately.

"I take it back." I yelled calmly, taking back my hands.

"You can't." She said, holding me again...

"I was talking about the chandelier."

I blinked at her, giving her a dramatic look that made it clear I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"The chandelier?"!

"It has... handsome cheekbones." She said boldly.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing....This was hardly the moment.

The man finally began descending the staircase.

Each measured step echoed throughout the mansion.

He wasn't trying to intimidate us....He simply existed that way.

By the time he reached the last step, my palms were damp.

He stopped only a few feet away.

Up close... He looked even more dangerous.

Every movement was precise.

Every expression is controlled.

Everything about him screamed absolute authority.

"So."

His gaze never left mine.

"Miss Maya Cole."

The way he spoke my name sent an unexpected shiver through me.

"You came."

I lifted my chin...my face looking like I was in a war front

"You expected me." I said

"It would've been disappointing if you hadn't." He replied

His confidence irritated me instantly.

"You seem awfully sure of yourself." I fired back.

"I usually am." He replied calmly without even giving a single sign of any kind.

Jennifer quietly whispered,

"I kind of hate how attractive and confident he is."

I stepped on her foot.

"Ow!"

Lucian's lips twitched ever so slightly.

Not a smile nor quite.

"I assume Miss Jennifer will survive."

Jennifer blinked in surprise.

"You know my name?"

"I make it my business to know the names of those who accompany my guests." He said firmly.

She looked at me in horror.

"Maya..."

"What?" I answered like I wasn't surprised, too.

"I'm scared... but respectfully." She said.

I almost smiled... but isn't what I'm here to do.

Taking a deep breath, I met Lucian's piercing gaze.

"You photographed me."

"No." He replied.

My expression changed on an instance.... "No?"

"I had someone photograph you." He argued

His honesty caught me completely off guard.

"You admit that?"

"I don't waste time denying facts." He admitted

Anger burned inside me like I was going to explode the next secs.

"You had no right."!

His expression remained unchanged.

"I saved your life."

"I never asked you to." I challenged.

For several long seconds everywhere was silent... No one spoke.

Then Lucian took one deliberate step toward me very closely.

"No."

His voice dropped almost to a whisper.

"You asked death."

"And it answered."

The words struck me harder than I wanted to admit.

My throat went dry instantly.

I hated that he wasn't entirely wrong.

"I wasn't asking anyone for help."

"No." His eyes never left mine....

"You were asking the world to stop hurting you."

A lump formed in my throat.

How could he say that so calmly?

How could someone so cold understand something so personal?

I clenched my fists, angrily

"You know nothing about me." I yelled at him.

For the first time...

A faint smile appeared on Lucian's face. It wasn't warm or kind.......It was the smile of a man who already knew the answer before the question had been asked.

He slowly circled around me.

"I know where you grew up."

My heartbeat quickened faster this time.

"I know the junior school you attended."

I turned to face him.... I have never felt so dumb all my existence.

"I know the hospital your grandmother visits every third Thursday."

Jennifer's expression changed completely. We really underestimated him.

I stared at him, almost terrified

"What...?"

"I know the name of the doctor who diagnosed your mother."

air left my lungs... I could barely stand on my feet anymore

NO!

That wasn't possible.

"...How?"

Lucian finally stopped walking.

His eyes met mine once again.

"You think I investigated you."

I swallowed a dry throat hard.

"You didn't?"

He shook his head once.

"No, Miss Cole."

His voice was calm enough to send another chill through my body.

"An investigation suggests I had to search for information."

He slipped one hand into his pocket.

"I already knew where to find it."