DEVIL IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CHAPTER 3 — THE PENTHOUSE

The silence was suffocating.

Aarya felt it the moment the elevator doors slid open.

Not the peaceful kind.

Not the calm kind.

This silence was heavy.

Controlled.

Like even the air here obeyed him.

Jungkook carried her out without a word, his grip firm, unshaken—like she wasn’t struggling, like she wasn’t hitting his chest seconds ago.

Like she belonged there.

“I said put me down!” Aarya snapped, her voice echoing faintly against the marble walls.

Nothing.

Not even a glance.

Her frustration burned hotter.

The space they entered was massive.

Cold marble floors. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows revealing the glittering Seoul skyline. Minimalist furniture—expensive, sharp, untouched.

No warmth.

No life.

Just like him.

Finally, he set her down.

Aarya stumbled slightly as her feet touched the ground, instantly putting distance between them.

Her eyes scanned the place again.

Penthouse.

Of course it was.

Everything about him screamed power.

Money.

Control.

She turned back to him, anger flashing in her eyes. “What is this? Some kind of sick joke?”

Jungkook loosened the cuffs of his black shirt, completely unfazed.

“This,” he said calmly, “is where you’ll be staying.”

Her heart dropped.

“No.”

The word came out instantly.

Firm.

Defiant.

His gaze lifted to hers slowly.

“Excuse me?”

“I said no,” Aarya repeated, her voice stronger now. “I’m not staying here. You don’t own me.”

A flicker.

There it was again.

That dangerous flicker in his eyes.

Before she could react—

He moved.

Fast.

Too fast.

Aarya barely had time to gasp before her back hit the wall, his hand pressing beside her head, trapping her.

Not touching.

But close enough to feel.

Close enough to suffocate.

“You really don’t understand your situation,” he said quietly.

Her breath trembled—but she didn’t look away.

“I understand perfectly,” she shot back. “You’re a criminal. And this? This is kidnapping.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“Careful.”

“Or what?” she challenged.

A dangerous silence followed.

For a moment—

it felt like the world stopped breathing.

Then—

He leaned closer.

Close enough that she could see every detail in his eyes.

Dark.

Cold.

Endless.

“Or you’ll force me to remind you exactly who you’re dealing with.”

Aarya’s heart slammed against her ribs.

Fear crept in.

Real fear this time.

But still—

she refused to back down.

“I’m not scared of you.”

A lie.

A stupid, reckless lie.

But she held it.

Jungkook studied her for a long moment.

Then suddenly—

he stepped back.

Just like that.

The tension snapped.

Aarya blinked, confused.

What—

“You’re hungry.”

She frowned. “What?”

“You haven’t eaten,” he said, walking past her as if nothing had happened. “Sit.”

“I’m not sitting!”

He stopped.

Slowly turned his head.

And that was enough.

That one look—

sent a chill down her spine.

“Sit.”

Not loud.

Not aggressive.

But final.

Aarya clenched her fists.

Every instinct in her screamed to refuse.

To fight.

To scream.

But something deeper—

something primal—

told her to be careful.

Very careful.

With slow, reluctant steps, she moved toward the dining table.

Sat down.

But her eyes never left him.

Jungkook picked up his phone briefly, murmuring something in Korean.

Within minutes—

someone knocked.

Aarya’s head snapped toward the door.

Hope surged.

“Help—!”

The door opened before she could finish.

A man stepped in, placing food on the table without even looking at her.

Then he left.

Just like that.

No reaction.

No concern.

Nothing.

Aarya’s hope shattered instantly.

“They won’t help you,” Jungkook said calmly, taking a seat across from her.

Her chest tightened.

“Eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

His gaze didn’t waver.

“Eat.”

“I said I’m not—”

The fork hit the table sharply.

Aarya flinched.

Not because it was loud—

But because of the look in his eyes.

Dark.

Warning.

Final.

“Don’t test me.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Thick.

Aarya swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly as she picked up the fork.

She hated this.

Hated him.

Hated how her body reacted to his presence.

She took a small bite.

Jungkook leaned back slightly, watching her.

Not eating.

Just watching.

Like she was—

interesting.

Unpredictable.

Dangerous in her own way.

It made her skin crawl.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked finally, her voice quieter now.

He didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze shifted to the city outside.

Lights flickering in the darkness.

“Because I have to.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

Her jaw tightened. “You think you can just keep me here forever?”

His eyes returned to hers.

Sharp.

Steady.

“Yes.”

The certainty in his voice made her stomach drop.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, I won’t let you.”

A slow smile curved his lips.

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I always have a choice.”

Another silence.

Then—

he stood up.

Aarya instinctively tensed.

He walked toward her.

Slow.

Measured.

Each step echoing in the quiet room.

Her breath hitched as he stopped right in front of her.

Then—

he bent down slightly.

Their faces inches apart.

“If you try to run again…” he said softly, his voice almost gentle—

too gentle—

“I won’t stop you next time.”

Her heart skipped.

Hope flickered.

But then—

“I’ll just make sure you can’t.”

It died instantly.

Her blood ran cold.

He straightened.

Turned away.

“Your room is upstairs. Second door on the left.”

Aarya didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Didn’t breathe.

“I suggest you rest,” he added. “You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” she demanded.

He paused.

Just for a second.

Then glanced back at her.

And that look—

That look made her stomach twist.

“For surviving me.”

Her heart dropped.

And without another word—

he walked away.

Leaving her alone.

In a place that didn’t feel like a home.

Didn’t feel like safety.

Didn’t feel like anything but—

a beautifully decorated cage.

Aarya sat there for a long time.

The food untouched.

Her mind racing.

Her chest tight.

But slowly—

very slowly—

her fear began to shift.

Into something else.

Something stronger.

Something dangerous.

Determination.

She lifted her head, her eyes hardening.

“You don’t own me,” she whispered into the empty room.

And somewhere upstairs—

unseen—

Jungkook stood in the shadows, watching through the security screen.

Listening.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

“Let’s see how long that lasts.”