Bought by the underworld CEO

Chapter 10 ( She laughed for someone else )

Ares left for his company, but Zoya sat there still. Not doing anything.

Some maids felt pity for her. She was just 22 and had to face all this. They wanted to talk to her but were afraid of Master Ares, so they dropped the idea. One maid whispered, "Girls her age are full of life, but it’s the opposite for her."

The head maid snapped, "Everyone, get to work and stop gossiping. There are cameras installed throughout the entire penthouse."

Zoya sat at the dining table like a statue until noon. Then afternoon. Then evening.

The servants and maids passed by, but no one dared to tell her to move.

In the afternoon, she heard voices. Pleasant, happy voices. After a whole day of deathly silence, now there was a sweet, teenage voice.

Zoya walked outside to the garden and saw a young teenage boy, maybe 18 years old, planting new flowers and trimming plants.

Zoya stood back, thinking he would avoid her like every other maid and servant. But to her surprise, he came over and introduced himself.

He said he was Leo. He was working today instead of his uncle, who was sick. Zoya smiled and nodded. He was the first person here who talked to her like this — energetic and friendly.

Zoya found him funny and laughed, but Leo got embarrassed. "Did I say something wrong? Was I embarrassing?"

Zoya said, "No. I just... I haven’t laughed like this in a long time."

Leo grinned. "Wow, big sister, you look very pretty when you laugh."

Zoya smiled and ruffled his hair. It had been about a month since anyone said anything nice to her without wanting something in return.

Leo had a bubbly personality, and Zoya was happy with him. She talked. A lot. It had been weeks since she’d spoken to someone from her heart.

Zoya used to garden at home, so she helped Leo. They were laughing and talking about amusement parks. They were happy. But someone was not.

Ares was watching them on his laptop through the cameras installed throughout the penthouse.

He crushed a wine glass in his hand. His assistant, Luna, came in to tell him they’d secured the deal, but saw his bleeding hand and called the office doctor.

The doctor bandaged him and said not to get it wet. Ares was a little drunk and kept mumbling, "Why was she laughing with that teenager? He doesn’t even have muscles. I’m better looking than him."

He slurred at Luna, "You’ve been with me since the orphanage. You know me. I’m the better choice for her."

Luna asked softly, "Do you like her?"

Ares got angry. "Why should I like her? I bought her. She’s mine. I don’t let things that are mine go."

Luna helped him down to his car and put him in the back seat.

She got into her own car and remembered: When Ares was 3, his dad left him and his mother for another woman. When he was 5, his mother left him at the orphanage gate and said she’d be back. She never came back.

Ares had worked hard to get where he was now, but he didn’t know how to love or trust people — only how to lock them in a gilded cage.

She snapped out of it and followed his car to the penthouse. At 7:30, they arrived. Luna helped him inside.

Ares saw Zoya and Leo making Zoya’s favorite cake. Laughing, chatting. But they fell silent when he entered. Zoya’s face fell. Leo, cheerful, greeted him first, but Ares ignored him, glaring at Zoya.

Luna tried to handle the situation. "Zoya, his hand is injured, so take care of him. And Leo, go home. It’s getting late."

Leo said, "But the cake—"

Luna cut in, "Zoya will handle it."

Leo nodded, then hugged Zoya and left. They had became friends till now.

Leo had hugged her as friends do, but Ares took the hug the wrong way.

Luna asked Zoya to check on Ares because he was drunk, and she had to go back to her son and husband. Zoya couldn’t refuse her.

Zoya went to his room. He was unbuttoning his shirt. She covered her eyes and turned to leave, but Ares stopped her. "Help me change my shirt."

Zoya said, "I’ll call a male servant."

Ares scoffed. "It’s just a shirt. Just help with it."

Zoya helped him, but kept a lot of distance between them and her eyes down fixed at the floor. Every time Ares stepped closer, Zoya moved back in a second.

Ares had enough. "So you can be all lovey-dovey with that little gardener but have issues being near me?"

Zoya said, "What?"

Ares got angrier and pushed her against the wall, pinning both her hands above her head. "You were laughing all day with him, but with me you make this face."

He said in frustration, "You just like that he’s young. Just 18. You’re 22. Both a perfect match, aren’t you? You characterless b_tch."

Zoya slapped him. Her eyes filled with tears from the humiliation. She took two steps toward the door, but Ares caught her, pinned her to the wall again, and tried to kiss her. She kept moving her face away.

She finally freed her hand and slapped him again, then pushed him and ran to her room, crying. She locked her door and collapsed on the bed.

Ares kept screaming Zoya’s name in frustration and anger.

After 15 minutes, Zoya heard a knock on her door. Ares asked her to open it, but she didn’t even reply. Ares started banging on the door. It seemed like he would break it down if she didn’t open it. But she didn’t want to open the door.

_End of Chapter 10*

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