News Flash
1069 Words
Chapter 005
News Flash~
JULIET
Sleep didn’t come that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.
Him and his damn beautiful face.
I turned in bed, staring at the ceiling.
The storm outside had passed, leaving the night heavy and still.
My thoughts were louder than the silence though.
Who did he think he was, telling me who I could talk to?
And why, why did a part of me feel something twist when he commanded me?
No. It was wrong.
Will this always be like this?
Him controlling everything I do?
And why would my father put him up as my guardian?
Was it the reason he was invited to my birthday dinner that night?
Adrian Volkov.
I closed my eyes, recalling the cold icy expression of his stare.
He was my father’s associate, my guardian for the next three years.
That was all. Nothing more.
Still, I couldn’t stop remembering how close he’d been.
The faint scent of his cologne, wood, citrus, and something darker.
I hated that I noticed.
A knock came at my door and my heart jumped.
I sat up. “Who is it?”
“Adrian.”
I hesitated. “It’s late.”
“I know.” A pause.
“Open the door, Juliet.”
Something in the way he said my name made it impossible to say no.
Against my better judgment, I got up, walked to the door, and opened it slightly.
He stood there in black trousers and a loose shirt, sleeves rolled halfway.
His hair was damp, as though he’d just showered.
He looked… less guarded, but more dangerous.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said.
“I wanted to make sure you were… adjusting.”
I folded my arms.
“You mean, adjusting to your rules?”
His lips twitched. “Among other things.”
I leaned against the doorframe. “You don’t have to check on me like a child. I’m fine.”
“I don’t check on children,” he replied. “I check on people I’m responsible for.”
The way he said responsible for didn’t sound innocent.
It sounded like ownership.
Ownership.
Ownership...I couldn't get that over my head.
My heart picked up pace.
“Well, I’m not your responsibility, Adrian. You’re my guardian by law, not by choice.”
He stepped closer, closing the distance between us until I had to tilt my chin to meet his eyes.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he murmured.
“I always choose what I want.”
For a second, I forgot to breathe.
What does he mean by that?
He stepped back.
“Breakfast will be served properly tomorrow,” he said, his tone suddenly formal again.
“The staff will be instructed to attend to you. But I expect you downstairs at seven.”
“Expect?” I repeated, scoffing.
“You talk like this is a command.”
“It is.”
My fingers curled around the edge of the door. “You really think you can control me?”
He looked at me, really looked.
As if the answer was obvious.
Maybe it was.
Then, softly: “Go back to bed, Juliet.”
And before I could say another word, he turned and walked away, his footsteps fading down the corridor.
~••~
Morning came faster than I'd expected.
The mansion was quiet except for the faint hum of the house staff moving about.
I was dressed in jeans and a soft cream sweater, determined to ignore him, to prove that I wasn’t going to be one of his rules.
At exactly seven, I walked into the dining room.
Who ate breakfast at seven?
He was already there, coffee cup in hand, reading the morning paper like a man the colonial master he was.
“Good morning,” I said, flatly.
He looked up briefly. “Good morning.”
I sat across from him, taking a small sip of orange juice, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
“About last night,” he began, folding the newspaper.
“I don’t tolerate disobedience, Juliet. Not when I’m responsible for your safety.”
I laughed dryly. “You mean your ego.”
His eyes lifted.
“Be careful.”
“With what?”
“Your words.”
I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek.
Then, my phone buzzed.
Emma again.
Why does she pick the worst times to call?
I hesitated, glancing at him.
He didn’t say anything, just stared, maybe daring me to answer.
I picked it up, ignoring the warning in his eyes. “Emma?”
Her voice came out quick and worried. “Juliet, where have you been? Everyone’s been trying to reach you! Richard said you...”
The line went dead.
I frowned. “Hello?”
No signal.
When I looked up, Adrian was watching me.
“What did you do?” I asked, suspicion rising in my chest.
He leaned back in his chair, with a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
“This house doesn’t allow personal calls without my approval.”
My blood ran cold. “You’re joking.”
He didn’t blink. “You’ll learn the rules soon enough.”
“You can’t just isolate me!”
“I can,” he said simply, “and I will, if it means keeping you safe.”
“Safe from what?”
His eyes darkened. “From the world that wants to use you. From people who want what you’ve inherited. But most importantly, from yourself.”
I stood abruptly, the chair scraping the floor. “You’re insane."
“Maybe,” he said, standing too, “but you’re still under my roof, eating my food."
The silence between us snapped like a taut wire.
I turned and stormed toward the stairs, my pulse racing.
“You can’t keep me locked away, Adrian. I’m not your prisoner!”
“Juliet.” He called.
"You're insane and I'm not going to sit here and watch you dictate my life like it's a TV series and you have the remote!"
"Sit Down!" I jumped, eyes wide open as he pushed back my chair, gesturing that I take a seat.
His eyes didn't leave mine as he dared me to do otherwise.
He's dangerous.... he's really dangerous.
And so I did what any normal person would do, I bolted for the door.
TBC
- Writer
