Chapter 4: Trapped.
957 Words
Serena barely slept that night. Her mind was a tangled mess, a web of fear, uncertainty, and something far more dangerous—excitement. Damian Blackwood had just dropped a bombshell, offering her not just protection but a place in his world.
A world that devoured the weak.
As the sun bled into the horizon, she made up her mind. She wasn’t going to be swallowed whole.
Sterling Enterprises – The Next Morning
Walking into the office felt different now, like stepping onto a battlefield where the enemy was unseen but deadly. Whispers followed her as she made her way to her desk, the usual office gossip amplified to a dull roar.
Do they know?
It was impossible. She hadn’t breathed a word, but something about her must have changed. Maybe it was the way her shoulders squared, as if bracing for war, or how her fingers trembled slightly when she picked up her coffee.
Before she could sit, her phone buzzed.
Damian: My office. Now.
A shiver ran down her spine. She swallowed hard, smoothing her skirt as she approached his door.
She knocked, but before she could wait for a response, his voice—low, commanding, dangerous—cut through the air.
“Come in.”
She stepped inside, and the moment she did, the energy in the room shifted.
Damian stood by the window, his back to her, tension radiating from his broad shoulders. The city skyline stretched behind him, a kingdom he ruled with an iron fist.
“You took your time,” he said without turning.
Serena crossed her arms. “It’s called working, Damian. You should try it sometime.”
A ghost of a smirk flickered across his face before he turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers like a predator eyeing its prey.
“You’ve had the night to think,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with steel. “Have you reached a decision?”
Serena inhaled sharply. “I have.”
She met his gaze, steady and unwavering. “I’m not moving in with you.”
Damian’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. “I see.”
She expected anger. Instead, he moved with the slow precision of a panther, stalking toward her until he was close enough for her to feel the warmth of his presence.
“You’re being reckless,” he murmured. “You think you can handle this on your own, but you don’t understand the forces at play.”
Serena arched a brow. “Forces at play? Damian, this isn’t a mafia war. I’m pregnant, not being hunted.”
His eyes darkened. “A woman carrying the child of one of the most powerful men in this city is a target whether she likes it or not.”
She frowned. “A target for what?”
Damian exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “There are people who would use this against me. Competitors. Rivals. The media. My enemies.”
A chill crawled down her spine. “You think someone would come after me?”
He didn’t answer right away, which was answer enough.
Serena swallowed hard. “Damian, I can’t just upend my entire life. My apartment, my independence—it all matters to me.”
He studied her, his expression unreadable, then sighed. “Fine. Keep your apartment.”
Relief flooded her.
“But,” he added, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming, “you will have security. Non-negotiable.”
Serena opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes told her it was useless.
“Damian, I don’t—”
“I won’t take chances with your safety,” he cut in. “Or the baby’s.”
Serena clenched her jaw. She hated feeling like a chess piece in someone else’s game, but the truth was, she didn’t know what kind of dangers lurked in Damian Blackwood’s world.
Finally, she exhaled. “Fine. But I’m choosing the security detail.”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “Agreed.”
Just as she turned to leave, his voice stopped her cold.
“There’s something else.”
She turned back, heart pounding. “What?”
His gaze darkened. “I had you investigated.”
The room tilted. Serena’s breath caught in her throat. “You what?”
Damian remained impossibly calm, his expression unreadable. “You think I wouldn’t do my due diligence?”
Rage ignited inside her. “You had no right.”
“I had every right.” His voice was low, dangerous. “You’re carrying my child. That makes you my responsibility.”
Serena took a step back, fury boiling in her veins. “I am not your property, Damian.”
He held her gaze, unflinching. “No, but you are in my world now. And in my world, I don’t take risks.”
Serena clenched her fists. “Did you find what you were looking for?” she snapped.
Damian studied her, then slowly leaned against his desk. “You’re clean. No skeletons. No hidden motives.”
A humorless laugh escaped her. “Well, thank you for that glowing review.”
His expression remained cold. “I had to be sure.”
Serena shook her head. “You don’t trust anyone, do you?”
Damian didn’t answer.
She turned, heading for the door, but before she could leave, his voice stopped her once more.
“Serena.”
She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder.
His blue eyes locked onto hers, something unreadable flickering in their depths. “This isn’t a game.”
Her throat tightened. “I know.”
She walked out, but the moment the door clicked shut behind her, one terrifying thought gripped her heart.
She had just entered a world she might never escape
- Writer
