Chapter 7 THE OVERNIGHT FEE
971 Words
The room was quiet, except for his steady breathing.
Dora waited until she was sure he was out. Only then did she open her eyes. The dried tears on her lashes felt like sand, stinging every time she blinked.
But that was nothing compared to the rest of her. She felt like she’d been run over. Her body ached, but her heart felt even worse.
She lay there, stiff in his arms. She wanted to sleep, but her brain wouldn't shut up. It kept repeating one thing over and over:
It was gone. Her innocence. Everything.
She knew she should have fought harder. She should have pushed him away. But in the end... she had given up.
What now? she wondered. How do I protect my heart from a man like him?
"Grandma..." she whispered into the dark. She missed home. Finally, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off.
In the shadows, Lucian’s eyes snapped open. He wasn't groggy or tired. His gaze was cold and sharp.
But for the first time, that ice was starting to crack.
Sunlight streamed through the window the next morning.
Dora groaned as she rolled over. A sharp pain shot through her, reminding her of everything from last night.
She reached out, but the bed was empty. He was already gone. She felt a weird pang in her chest—not exactly sadness, but something close. Before she could think about it, there was a knock at the door.
"Young madam? Are you awake? Want some breakfast?" It was the butler.
Dora pulled the silk sheets up to her neck. Her face burned. "No! I... I'm not hungry. Thanks!"
She forced herself out of bed. Every step hurt. She got dressed quickly and headed downstairs. The dining table was huge and covered in food, but the house felt dead. It didn't feel like a home.
"Butler Lee," she said, looking around. "Where is everyone? Did his father and Auntie Yun eat already?"
Looking at all that food and no people, she felt a weird wave of pity. Had Lucian grown up like this? Eating alone in this giant, lonely museum?
The butler didn't say much. He waved the other servants away and pulled something from his pocket. He placed a Black Card and a pair of car keys on the table.
"What’s this?" Dora asked.
She already knew. Her stomach twisted. It felt like a slap in the face.
What does he think I am? Is this my pay for last night?
That bastard. He ignored her when she said no. He took what he wanted all night. And then he left before she even woke up, leaving a credit card behind like she was a hooker.
The butler bowed. "The Master left these for you."
"His orders?" Dora hissed. "Everything is his damn orders! I don't want this!"
What did she want then? She didn't even know. All she knew was that she wanted an apology. And an explanation.
She grabbed the card and keys, bolted upstairs, and then charged back down like she was on fire.
"Young madam, where are you going?" Butler Lee ran to stop her, sensing something was wrong.
"To kill someone!" Dora snapped. For a second, her cold expression looked exactly like Lucian's. She pushed past him and disappeared through the front door.
"The financial expenses for this quarter have..."
In the grand conference room, an executive was trembling as he presented the numbers. The air was thick with tension. Everyone was hyper-focused—except for Lucian.
For the first time in his life, his mind was wandering.
The voice beside him stopped. Lucian snapped back to reality, his face turning into a mask of cold authority. "Continue."
No one noticed his distraction. Except for one person.
Ethan sat there, watching his friend behind sharp glasses. A small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Interesting, Ethan thought. The man who swore off women after being burned was finally showing a crack in his armor.
"Next," Lucian said, ignoring Ethan’s look.
BANG!
The heavy double doors swung open, hitting the wall with a loud thud.
"Lucian ! I—wait." Dora froze. Her face turned bright red as she realized the room was full of people.
The entire room went silent. Every executive was staring. Who was this girl? Who had the guts to scream the CEO’s full name?
Lucian’s eyes flickered when he saw the dark circles under her eyes. His heart pricked, but his face stayed like stone.
"The meeting continues. Ethan, you take over."
He stood up, his six-foot-two frame towering over everyone. "You. My office. Now."
He marched toward the door. After a few steps, he stopped and shot a lethal glare at Ethan, who was grinning like a fox.
Ethan didn't flinch. He just gave a wicked smile that made half the women in the room blush. Lucian hated it.
Once they were inside his office, Lucian turned around. After last night, things felt... different. He felt a shift he didn't like.
To keep Ethan from mocking him later, he made his voice extra harsh. "Don't ever show up here like this again. Consider this a warning."
"Apologize!" Dora yelled, ignoring his threat. She didn't want his rules. She wanted a 'sorry.'
She threw the Black Card and the keys at his feet. They clattered against the expensive floor.
"I don't want your money! Do you hear me? Take it back!" Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.
- Writer
