Behind closed doors
1299 Words
STELLA
I stood by my car as soon as I got home,staring at my reflection,half-expecting my knees to give out now that it was over. My shoulders finally relaxed
That wasn’t so bad, I told myself.It was a lie,it was totally horrible .
My phone buzzed as I made to open the door to the house.
New Email …. Zina skilinski
My heart skipped.I opened it immediately
Subject: Resumption Notice
I read it once,then again and again, just to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating.Tomorrow?? that's crazy.
I let out a shaky laugh, pressing my phone to my chest.I got the job, just like that.The excitement rushed in fast,followed immediately by something heavier. Because with the job came everything else. Responsibility, priority, change but at least I won't get to see the devil all the time .My phone buzzed again
This time, a message.
James: You’re smiling. I can feel it,and it's annoying.My breath caught, I slipped my phone back into my bag without replying.because for once, the smile on my face had nothing to do with him.Oh my God,I can't wait for tomorrow!!!!!!
I screamed.
THE DUNGEON
Many feets down the mansion, smell of iron and old magic.Savire’s head lolled forward, chains biting into his wrists where the hook held him upright. His chest hitched weakly, each breath a battle he was already losing.
“You were going to tell her what exactly?” she
demanded, her voice sharp but trembling beneath the anger.
“The truth Carrington!! You're a disgrace,how about I tell James who you really are” Savire said, lifting his chin despite the pain, eyes steady
His lips curled. “You’re a monster.”
She raised her hand.
The air thickened instantly,pressure closing around his throat. Savire gasped, legs jerking helplessly as his body lifted off the ground. His fingers clawed at nothing, breath stolen, vision blurring.
“You will tell her nothing,” she hissed. “you’ll speak of nothing to anyone,cause absolutely no one will hear your voice again.”
With a flick of her wrist, she hurled him back.
Metal rang as his body slammed against the hook near the narrow window. He cried out once,short, broken,before the sound dissolved into a choking gasp. Blood slid slowly down his abdomen, dripping to the floor in quiet, damning drops.
The door burst open.She flinched, spinning around.
James stood in the doorway.His face was blank.
“How did you find this place?” she demanded quickly. “Who….”
He didn’t answer.He stepped forward slowly
Each footstep echoed, measured and deliberate, like time itself was bending to his will. The torches along the wall flickered violently as he passed.
She backed away instinctively. “Don’t make me do something crazy, James,” she said, her lips shaking now. “You know I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
James stopped beside the table right next to Savire’s barely moving body.
His gaze never left her.
“Mum,I can feel everything in this house,” he said calmly.“You know that.”
Savire stirred weakly, coughing..”She's not your mum, she's…..” she snapped his neck before he could finish.
“Trash,he threatened to destroy our family,so I did what a mother would do…protect”she said
James’s eyes flicked to him for half a second and something ancient and dangerous moved beneath the surface.Then he looked back at her.
“You are not my mum,I killed my entire family” he said. “And you lied in a house that answers to me.”
She swallowed hard. “James… listen..”
The torches blew out all at once.
Darkness swallowed the room.
BLUEVARD LTD
I stood in front of his desk holding a folder I didn’t remember picking up, my mind racing while my face remained calm,or at least, I hoped it did.
“You’re late,” he said.
I blinked. “I….”
“Not in time,” he added, glancing at his watch. “In thought.”
Heat crept up my neck.
“I was reviewing the schedule you sent,” I said carefully and uhmm my mum was kind of missing so….
He studied me for a moment, then nodded once.
“ Sit.”
I sat.
“Tell me,” he continued, “what would you do if a client walked in angry, demanding answers you don’t yet have?”
The question caught me off guard.
“I’d listen first,” I said after a pause. “People calm down when they feel heard.”
“Even if they’re wrong?”
“Especially then.”
Something unreadable crossed his face.
He stood suddenly, moving toward the door. “Come with me.”
I barely had time to grab my notebook before following him down the hall. We stopped outside the conference room, voices already raised inside.
“Stay here,” he said quietly.
Then he opened the door.
A man inside was pacing, voice sharp, frustration thick in the air. Arthur stepped in like he owned the room,well… he did.Minutes passed.
Through the glass, I watched him work.Different,he was aggressive, I couldn't hear but you could tell he was raising his voice,the man slowly sat down.Arthur glanced back at me once.
Then, unexpectedly, he gestured.
Me?
I hesitated, then stepped inside.
“Miss Owen,” Arthur said, “what’s the first issue you noticed in this case file?”
Every eye turned to me.My heart pounded, but I spoke.
When it was over, the client left calmer than he arrived.Arthur closed the door behind him.Then he turned to me.
“You didn’t panic,” he said.
“I wanted to,” I admitted.
A corner of his mouth twitched.
“That’s why you’re here,” he said.
He stopped by another office and gave me a “you can keep going” look.I gave a small nod and went straight to the office.I think he stopped by “Zina's”
Yea, that's her name,I remembered she told me they were engaged so not surprising.
ZINA
Arthur didn’t knock. Zina looked up from her laptop, surprise flickering across her face before she masked it with professionalism. The office smelled faintly of coffee and her perfume,soft, distracting. Arthur closed the door behind him, slower than necessary, the click of the lock sounding louder than it should have.
“You called for me, sir?” she asked, steady voice, careful posture.
He didn’t answer immediately. His gaze lingered,longer than usual
“You sent the shortlist,” he said finally. “Good work.”
“Thank you.” She nodded, fingers tightening around her pen.
He took a step closer. Then another.
Zina’s breath hitched, subtle but real. “Is that all?”
“No.” His voice dropped, rougher than he intended. “It isn’t.”
Silence filled the room, heavy and electric. She stood slowly, instinctively.Arthur reached out, stopping just short of touching her, his hand hovering near her wrist.
“This isn’t appropriate,” she said, pretending not to want it.
“I know,” he replied. “Tell me to leave.”
She didn’t and that was all the permission he needed.Arthur cupped her face gently, giving her time to pull away. She didn’t, Instead, she leaned in, closing the distance herself, their lips met, a spark turning into heat.The kiss deepened. Controlled at first, then less slow.
Zina’s hand fisted in his shirt, anchoring herself as if the floor had shifted beneath her. Arthur’s thumb brushed along her jaw, sending a shiver through her that she couldn’t hide. For a moment, the world narrowed to warmth and breath and the quiet sound of hearts racing too fast.
He pulled back first, resting his forehead against hers.
“This can’t happen again,” he murmured.
She swallowed, eyes dark.
- Writer
