Bound
1257 Words
The morning light filtered through sheer curtains, dancing across the walls of the guest room like flickering ghosts. Katriel opened her eyes slowly, her head pounding from a sleepless night. For a few seconds, she forgot where she was until she turned and saw the velvet headboard, the unfamiliar chandelier, the enormous walk-in closet.
Then she remembered:
She was married.
To Zayn Qin.
By contract.
By force.
The diamond ring on her finger glinted under the light, mocking her.
She sat up and stared blankly around the room, the silence pressing against her chest. There were no messages on her phone. No good mornings. No welcome-to-the-family texts. Just a calendar reminder:
Business Dinner 7:00 PM. Dress appropriately.
So it begins.
A light knock at the door made her stiffen.
“Yes?” she said cautiously.
The door opened slightly, and a maid stepped in. She was dressed in black with a crisp white apron, head bowed respectfully.
“Madam, Mr. Qin asked me to remind you: You’re expected to be ready by six.”
That was it. No breakfast. No greeting. Just a cold, scheduled reminder like she was an accessory.
“Thank you,” Katriel whispered, and the door closed again with a quiet click.
She wrapped her arms around her knees, her body trembling with a cocktail of nerves, anger, and disbelief. This wasn’t a home. It was a palace filled with ice and the king ruled without warmth.
---
Hours later, she stood before a full-length mirror in the walk-in closet, staring at herself in a sleek black evening gown. It hugged her waist and fell gracefully down to her ankles. A diamond pendant, which had been left for her on the dressing table without a note, now rested at her collarbone.
She looked elegant. She looked expensive.
She didn’t feel like herself.
The door creaked open.
Zayn stood there in a tailored navy suit, sharp and calculated, like he had just stepped off a magazine cover. His dark eyes swept over her slowly, cold but appraising.
“You clean up well,” he said flatly.
Katriel raised an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
He walked into the room, adjusting his cufflinks. “You’ll do. Don’t say anything stupid during dinner, and don’t embarrass me.”
“I wasn’t planning to say anything at all,” she replied.
“Good. Speak only when I ask you to.”
She turned toward the mirror again, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. “Is that how you treat all your business arrangements?”
Zayn stepped closer until he stood directly behind her, his reflection towering over hers in the mirror.
“No,” he said smoothly. “But you’re not just business, Katriel. You’re a liability I chose to control.”
She flinched slightly.
Zayn watched her reaction with mild amusement, then turned and left the room without another word.
---
The car ride to the dinner was silent. Zayn sat beside her but didn’t acknowledge her presence. His phone buzzed constantly with texts and business alerts, but he didn’t speak a word to her. Katriel tried not to fidget, but her fingers twisted in her lap, anxious.
When they pulled up in front of the luxurious rooftop restaurant, the valet opened the door, and Zayn stepped out first. He offered his hand.
It wasn’t romantic.
It was for show.
Still, Katriel placed her fingers into his, and the warmth of his palm made her stomach twist with strange emotions.
The host immediately bowed. “Mr. Qin, your table is ready. This way.”
As they walked in, people turned to stare.
Some whispered.
Some smiled politely.
Others mostly women glared.
Zayn didn’t notice. Or he didn’t care.
He led her to a private table at the edge of the rooftop, where another man in a burgundy suit was already waiting. He stood when he saw them.
“Zayn!” the man greeted, smiling like a shark. “And this must be the new Mrs. Qin.”
Katriel froze slightly under the man’s gaze. There was something calculating about him.
Zayn placed a firm hand on her lower back. “Katriel, this is Damien Lin. He owns the distribution rights to Qin Corp’s European channels.”
Damien offered his hand, and she shook it politely.
“You’re even prettier than the photos,” he said smoothly. “Zayn always did have good taste.”
Katriel smiled tightly. “I hope I can live up to the reputation.”
Zayn sat down without comment, and Katriel followed.
Dinner started.
Talk of contracts, revenue projections, trade routes, and expansions filled the air. Katriel stayed quiet, as instructed, nodding occasionally and keeping her posture perfect.
But when Damien turned to her and said, “Tell me, Mrs. Qin, what do you think about expanding into Germany?”her heart skipped.
Zayn’s hand froze on his wine glass.
Katriel felt his gaze, sharp and warning, but Damien was looking at her expectantly.
She took a breath.
You’re not a fool, Katriel. You’ve read the news. You worked in your father’s company.
She answered calmly, “Germany’s market is competitive, but stable. It’s not about expansion,it’s about positioning. If Qin Corp can localize branding to appeal to middle-tier buyers, it’ll grow without losing luxury appeal.”
Silence.
Then Damien laughed softly. “Well said. Someone did her homework.”
Zayn said nothing during the rest of the dinner, but Katriel could feel his silence wasn’t peace , it was pressure.
There was a storm behind his eyes, quiet and brewing.
She smiled politely at Damien, engaging only when spoken to. She answered questions carefully, professionally, without overstepping. But Zayn didn’t touch her again. Not even for show.
When dessert was served, he finally stood. “Thank you for the dinner, Damien.”
Damien smiled, eyes flicking back to Katriel. “Of course. Your wife is more impressive than you let on.”
“She’s not here to impress you,” Zayn said coolly.
Katriel’s breath caught.
Damien only chuckled. “Touchy, are we?”
Zayn didn’t reply. He simply turned to Katriel and gestured for her to stand. His jaw was tight, lips thin, fingers curled slightly. She rose and offered a final polite smile to Damien, then followed Zayn toward the elevator.
They descended in silence.
Not the kind of silence that settles gently. This one felt like a sword being sharpened.
---
The moment they stepped into the back seat of the car, the tension snapped.
“What the hell was that?” Zayn asked without looking at her.
Katriel flinched. “I answered a question.”
“I didn’t give you permission to speak.”
“You didn’t stop me either.”
He turned his head, eyes sharp. “Because I was watching to see how badly you’d embarrass me.”
Katriel’s chest rose. “Then you should be thanking me. Damien seemed impressed. That can’t be bad for business.”
Zayn scoffed and leaned back, one hand pressed to his temple like her presence was a migraine.
“I don’t need you to impress anyone. I need you to obey.”
His voice was colder than the air conditioning.
Katriel clenched her hands in her lap. “I’m not stupid, Zayn. If you didn’t want a woman who can speak for herself, you shouldn’t have married one.”
“I didn’t marry you because I wanted you,” he said, voice sharp. “I married you because I needed c...
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