Tangled in His World
812 Words
The silence in Adrian’s car was louder than any argument Maya had ever had. Her heart pounded, her fingers twisted together in her lap, but she refused to look at him. Not after what just happened. Not after the way he had pulled her against him like a possession in front of her entire office.
Dominic Vale.
The name pulsed in her head like a curse. She could still see his smirk, hear the taunt in his voice. She didn’t know who he was, but one thing was clear: he wasn’t going away.
Adrian’s jaw flexed as he drove, his grip on the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white.
“Who is he?” she demanded finally, her voice breaking the tension.
Adrian didn’t answer right away. His eyes stayed fixed on the road, his expression carved from stone.
“Adrian,” she pressed, her voice sharp now. “Who is Dominic Vale?”
At that, his gaze flicked to her, dark and unreadable. “Someone you don’t need to worry about.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “You mean the man who walked into my office and practically declared war on you? The man who called me your bird as if I’m” She broke off, her chest heaving. “Tell me the truth.”
Adrian’s hand left the wheel and closed over hers before she could pull away. His touch was warm, steady, maddeningly firm.
“The truth,” he said, his voice low, “is that Dominic Vale is dangerous. And he will use anything anyone to get under my skin. That includes you.”
Her breath caught. “So what, I’m just… a weapon in your little rivalry?”
His gaze burned into hers. “No. You’re mine.”
The words stole the air from her lungs. She hated how they made her pulse quicken, how they twisted inside her chest like both a threat and a promise.
“You can’t just claim me like that,” she whispered fiercely. “I didn’t agree to this.”
“You signed the contract.”
“That was business!”
He leaned closer, his voice a dark velvet whisper. “Everything with me is personal.”
Her heart thundered. She yanked her hand away and turned toward the window, fighting the tears stinging her eyes. She should have been furious. She was furious. But beneath the anger, something else simmered something she couldn’t name, something she didn’t dare admit.
The car slowed. She blinked and realized they weren’t heading back to her apartment. They were pulling up to his penthouse.
“No,” she said quickly, panic flaring. “Take me home.”
Adrian’s gaze cut to her. “Home isn’t safe.”
“Safe from what? Him?”
“Safe from everything that follows me,” he said, his tone final.
The elevator ride was suffocating. Maya stood rigid as Adrian swiped his keycard, leading her into his world of glass walls, polished marble, and a skyline that stretched forever. It was beautiful. It was terrifying. It was his.
She whirled on him as soon as the door closed. “You can’t keep me here like some”
“Like what?” His voice was calm, but his eyes blazed.
“Like some bird in a cage!”
He took a step closer. She took one back, but the wall was already at her spine.
“You think this is a cage?” he asked softly. His hand lifted, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “No, Maya. This is the only place you’re untouchable.”
Her breath shuddered. The heat of his nearness scrambled her thoughts. She hated the way her body reacted, leaning toward him even as her mind screamed to resist.
Then her phone buzzed.
Adrian’s expression hardened instantly. He pulled back, letting her fish the device from her bag.
Her blood ran cold when she saw the message.
Nice cage. How long before he clips your wings? – D
Her hand shook so badly she almost dropped the phone. Adrian took it from her, his eyes narrowing as he read. His jaw tightened, his entire body radiating fury.
“He found your number,” Maya whispered, her voice cracking. “He knows where I am.”
Adrian’s hand cupped her chin, forcing her gaze up to meet his. His eyes burned with possessive fire.
“This is why you don’t fight me,” he said, each word deliberate. “Because Dominic will not stop. And if you’re not under my protection, Maya you won’t survive him.”
Her pulse raced, fear twisting with something more dangerous. She didn’t know if Adrian was saving her from Dominic… or if he was keeping her for himself.
Either way, she was tangled in his world now. And there was no way out.
- Writer
