Chapter 3
1262 Words
The elevator ride was silent, but the tension crackled like a live wire between them. Emery could feel Nicholas’ gaze on her, weighing her, stripping her defenses one by one. Every inch of her body was wound up so tightly she thought she might snap any moment.
One thing she was certain of, was that she had to find a way out of this mess.
Several thoughts began to flow through her mind.
She imagined she had not gone to the exhibition, probably just taken a stroll somewhere else. Maybe gone to see a movie or hung out with Ava. But then, it was Ava that had invited her to the exhibition. Now she wished she had rejected it. If only she could turn back the hands of the clock, then it might be possible.
In all her thoughts, she never blamed Ava. Her best friend was only doing what she could to help her achieve her dreams. And who would have predicted it would turn out this way?
It was nobody’s fault.
Yes, it was. The careless person who had bumped into her and caused her to spill the wine. That’s who was to blame.
How could he or she, whoever it was, be so unaware of the environment and bump into someone peacefully standing in front of an artwork?
Emery wished she had seen this person. But she was caught up in the moment, panic and other emotions running through her so that she didn’t even think of it. Now she was in a mess from someone else carelessness and she alone was facing the consequences.
The doors slid open with a quiet chime, revealing a penthouse so vast and luxurious it felt like stepping into another universe. Floor to ceiling windows framed the glittering cityscape, the furniture was sleek, expensive, but devoid of warmth just like its owner.
Nicholas released her wrist and stepped forward, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it carelessly over a chair. He moved with unshakable confidence, a predator in his own territory.
“I assume you would rather take the deal than attempt the impossible and pay me back,” he said, pouring himself a drink. His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, a quiet challenge that sent a chill down her spine.
Emery clenched her jaw. “I can find the money. You’re the one trying to limit my choices.”
Nicholas chuckled, low and rich. “You think so?” He turned, leaning against the bar. “So, let’s do the math then.”
He took a slow sip of his drink before continuing, his gaze never leaving hers. “The painting you ruined was worth two million dollars. I doubt you have that tucked away.”
Her stomach twisted. “Well, I can work—”
“Let’s be generous,” he interrupted. “Say you find a decent paying job. You’d need at least twenty years to pay me back, and that’s without interest.” He set his glass down and walked towards her. “And I always charge interest, Emery. I always do.”
She took a step back, only to hit the wall behind her. Nicholas caged her in with a hand placed beside her head. “So, tell me lady, how exactly do you plan to pay me?”
Her heart pounded. He was too close, his scent, dark spice and expensive whiskey invading her senses. She hated the way her body reacted, the way her breath became faster despite her best efforts to stay unaffected.
“I…” Her voice failed her. Her heart thumping, her breath faster and her mind restless.
His lips brushed the shell of her ear, his breath warm and taunting. “Say it. I’m all ears.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, trembling. “I don’t have a choice.”
A satisfied smirk ghosted across his face as he pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. “No, you don’t.”
She wanted to hate him. She wanted to fight. But the truth was undeniable.
She was trapped.
“You don't have money Emery, which is a problem,” he murmured. “Fortunately for you, I believe in solutions.”
Her stomach twisted. “What do you mean?”
He leaned in slightly, his intoxicating expensive cologne filling her senses. “You can’t pay me in money, but there are other ways to settle a debt.”
Her skin went cold. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, but I am.” His voice dropped lower, silk over steel. “You have two choices, Miss Clarke. Find a way to pay me back… or let me own you for a year.”
Her breath caught. The words hung between them, heavy and inescapable. It was a villain move.
“You want me to—?”
“I want you to belong to me,” he clarified, amusement flickering in his eyes. “You’ll do as I say, when I say it. One year, and the debt is erased.”
She took a shaky step back. “That’s insane.”
“At first, you said I was limiting your choices, and then we’ve dealt with that point and established the fact that you indeed, can’t pay me back,” Nicholas didn’t blink. “So what’s insane here Emery, is you thinking you have another option.”
“I… maybe I-“ The words failed her. She really wanted to plead her case, negotiate an easier corner, but there was no point to be made at the moment. Everything seemed to leave her brain instantly. She was helplessly empty.
Nicholas looked at her expectantly, patiently waiting for her to continue. But when it was obvious she wasn’t going to say anything, he extended a hand, as if offering a deal with the devil himself. “What will it be, Emery?”
Her stomach churned. Her pride screamed at her to walk away. But her reality left her no choice.
With trembling fingers, she took his hand and sealed her fate. No contrary thoughts.
Emery’s breath came in shallow gasps as she stepped out of Nicholas Vale’s place, her heart pounding like a drum inside her chest. The weight of his proposition hung over her like a storm cloud, suffocating and impossible to ignore. One year. One year of belonging to him. The very idea made her stomach twist in both fear and something far more dangerous.
She hated herself for that.
Clutching the strap of her worn out bag, she rushed toward the elevator, her mind spinning. This was insanity. There had to be another way. But no matter how many times she tried to calculate her options, the answer was the same: she had none. Two million dollars? It was so much that she knew she wouldn’t make it in a lifetime, let alone in time to avoid whatever hell Nicholas planned to put her through.
The elevator door slid open, and she stepped inside, pressing the button with trembling fingers. As the elevator descended, she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push away the memory of his voice, smooth and commanding, laced with dark amusement.
“You belong to me now, Emery.” The statement continued to play in her mind, defiling her efforts to shut everything out.
A shiver ran down her spine.
The moment she reached the lobby, she forced herself to straighten up, to push back the suffocating panic. She would figure something out like she always did. She had to.
- Writer
