The billionaires addiction

And it Begins

Chapter 5

It's been three weeks since I last saw Caspian after the rushed wedding ceremony. He was nowhere to be found. The grim reaper had said I was ordered to rest until my wrist healed and I was able to work. The very thought of the son of a dumpster ordering me around left a bitter taste in my mouth. But I had no choice; he had the upper hand at the moment. Thankfully, I had gotten everything clear from the doctor he brought; otherwise, I was going to go mad. Everyone in the house acted like I was some contraband that was to be avoided, down to the maids, who, I felt, made it a goal to stay where I couldn't see them. Sighing, I pushed myself from the bed and headed to the bathroom to take my bath.

The silence in the mansion was deafening. Caspian's absence created a void, leaving only a lingering unease. The doctor's visit had been a blessing—not just for the release from my self-imposed bedrest but also for the brief escape from the suffocating atmosphere. The monotonic sentences that we exchanged were the only human interaction I had in three weeks. It was not as if I was particularly interested in a conversation with the grim reaper. There was something evil about him that I just couldn’t place.

Emerging from the bathroom, I quickly got dressed as I surveyed the vast bedroom. Boredom gnawed at me. Work as a secretary? The very idea was laughable. I had skills and talents that went far beyond filing and taking dictation. This gilded cage couldn't hold me forever. There was a reason why I refused to work in the secular world. I couldn’t be bound by societal norms.

An idea sparked in my mind. Caspian, with his vast fortune and business dealings, must have a home office. A place where the real work happened, away from prying eyes. Finding it would be my first act of rebellion, a tiny exploration within the confines of my captivity.

My gaze fell on the door to my room as I pictured the expansive library at the end of the hallway. Perhaps, just perhaps, it held a hidden door—a secret passage leading to his inner sanctum. My pulse quickened with a thrill of anticipation. It was a long shot, but desperation fueled my determination.

Slipping out of the bedroom, I ventured towards the library. The heavy oak doors creaked open, revealing a room lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A mahogany desk sat in the center, overflowing with papers and leather-bound books. Disappointment washed over me. No hidden doors, no secret passages. Just a room filled with knowledge I couldn't access.

Suddenly, I remembered I was taken to his office on the day I signed my doom. I tiptoed towards the ground floor, careful not to make any noise like a stealth cat on a mission. Thankfully, I didn’t come across anyone as I slipped quietly into the office. I closed the door as soundlessly as possible. I pulled each and every drawer I could find, looking for anything I could use as leverage over him, even though he would not be so stupid as to leave one lying carelessly around.

Having found nothing, I was on the verge of giving up when a hidden compartment within the desk caught my eye. My heart leaped into my throat. Could this be it? Carefully, I examined the ornate carvings until I found a small, almost invisible lever. With a satisfying click, a section of the desk swung open, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, nestled amongst stacks of documents, lies a small, sleek phone.

The phone felt deceptively heavy in my hand, a tangible symbol of my victory over Caspian's and a potential path to freedom. My fingers grazed the cool metal as I debated my next move. A sound, almost imperceptible at first, cut through the office's silence—a deep voice echoing from the hallway.

"Anna Mae?"

The blood drained from my face. Caspian. Panic clawed at my throat, constricting my breath. I fumbled with the phone, shoving it back into the hidden compartment just as the library door swung open, revealing Caspian himself.

His gaze fell on me, and his expression was a stormy mix of anger and suspicion. "There you are," he said, his voice clipped. "I was beginning to think you'd vanished like the rest of my things."

His words sparked a flicker of defiance within me. Gone was the meek woman who'd stumbled into this gilded cage. Anger bubbled up, replacing my fear.

"And what exactly would I be taking, Mr. Thorne?" I countered, my voice surprisingly steady. "Your vast collection of priceless art? Your fleet of luxury cars?"

A muscle tickled in his jaw. "Don't play coy with me, Anna Mae," he growled. "I know about the phone."

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I held his gaze. Bluff it out, Anna. "The phone? What phone?"

He stalked towards me, his imposing presence filling the room. "Don't lie to me," he spat, his voice low and dangerous. "You can't be trusted, and you're proving me right all the more."

The audacity of his words ignited a fire within me. Gone was the fear, replaced by a white-hot anger. "Trusted?" I echoed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is that what you call k********g a woman and forcing her into marriage?"

Caspian's eyes narrowed, but before he could retort, a new voice cut through the tension. Anaf emerged from the door, his usual stoicism replaced by a flicker of concern. "Mr. Thorne," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "We have a situation."

Caspian's glare shifted towards Anaf. Frustration flickered across his face. He looked back at me, his expression unreadable. "We'll continue this conversation later, Isabella," he said, his voice laced with a barely concealed threat. With a curt nod to Anaf, he turned and strode out of the library, leaving me alone with the weight of his suspicion and the silent promise of a coming storm.