Chapter 18: He knows
1109 Words
Nadia’s POV
My breath stops, dying in my throat. The heavy thuds of his footsteps grows louder. He is close, only a few seconds away.
Panic is screaming at me to run, but where do I run to? The room is an expansive trap.
Desperation shoots through me as I scan the room. The heavy mahogany desk has no covers, he will definitely see my legs if he sits down. The floor to ceiling bookshelves are completely against the wall. If I try the window, it’s draft will give me away and it’s a two story drop to the driveway below.
The footsteps come to a stop directly outside the door, the brass handle moves slightly. I sprint toward the far corner of the room, slipping into the shadow between the curtains and the wooden cabinet resting against the wall. I press my back flat against the concrete, pulling the thick fabric of the curtain to cover my front. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, praying the rapid sound of my heart beat doesn’t give me away.
The heavy double doors swung open with a sharp click.
The air in the room shifts and grows heavy with his oppressive heat that follows him everywhere. He slams the door shut behind him.
The rustle of his wool coat being shed is the next sound I hear, followed by by the soft clink of a bottle against a glass crystal. He’s pouring a drink.
“I know you are in here, piccola,” his voice rumbles, slicing through the dead silence.
I freeze, completely stunned. My heartbeat increases, thumping so loud I am very sure he can hear it.
He knows. God. I’m dead meat.
I take in deep, shaky breaths and brace myself to step out, to face whatever terrifying punishment awaits me, but his footsteps doesn’t move toward the corner, instead, i hear the creak of his leather chair as he sits behind the desk.
“You have two two choices. Come out of the shadows,” he says, his tone dangerously smooth and unbothered. “Or you can continue hiding behind the drapes like a frightened child. And trust me, I don’t have patience for games today.”
I slowly push the velvet curtains aside. My hands are trembling violently I have to ball them into a fist and shove them into my pocket. I step out into the dim light of the study, completely stripped bare under his piercing gaze.
He is sitting back in his chair, a crystal tumbler of amber liquid hangs loosely on one hand. His tie is slightly loosened, his dark hair slightly disheveled, but his eyes — heavens, his eyes are sharper than blades. They slowly sweep over me as I take hesitant steps forward, stopping a few feets from the desk.
“Tell me… what were you looking for, Nadia?” he purrs, taking a slow sip of his drink.
I swallow hard, blinking rapidly as my fists ball tighter. “I… I wasn’t looking for anything,” I lie, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound defiant. “I was looking for you. The maids said that you left, I wanted to… talk to you.”
A dark, gritty smile settles at the corner of his lips. He drops the glass with a soft thud that made my heart almost Jump out of my chest.
“To talk to me,” he repeats, the words leaving his lips and merging smoothly with the air. “In my private study. Which you know is strictly off-limits. With the scent of your perfume lingering right by my safe.”
He stands up, my instinct screams at me to take a step backward, but I force megs to stay pinned to the same spot. He moves around the desk, his long, predatory strides bringing him closer until his closes the between us and is looming over me. The sheer size of him making me feel so small.
He reaches out, his large hand wrapping around my throat almost tenderly. He doesn’t squeeze or choke me, but the threat is clear. My skin burns against the heat of his palm, a strong chill suddenly runs down my spine. He tilts my chin up, forcing me to look into darkness of his eyes.
“I’ll make one thing clear, piccola,” he whispers, his breath hot against my cheek. “You are just an amateur trying to play games with a man who rewrote the rules of the same games. You are dying to know what the ‘revenge’ is all about, aren’t you?”
I blink rapidly, but I don’t answer. The panic in my eyes suddenly gives me away.
His grip shifts, gently brushing over my lower lip, right at the same spot he had bitten earlier. “You want leverage. You are trying to find the missing pieces. You think if you find out why I hate you so much, you can use it as negotiation for your freedom.”
He chuckles, a low, dangerous sound that vibrates against my ear.
“Look all you want, piccola,” he whispers, his lips brushing against my ear. “But remember this, Nadia. The truth won’t set you free. When you finally find out what your family did to mine… you will realize how lucky you are that I haven’t killed you yet.”
He pulls away, shoving me slightly and walks back to his desk. I stand frozen, watching him as he picks up a stack of documents as if the terrifying conversation between us never happened.
“Get the f**k out, Nadia,” he commands, not sparing me a glance. “And when next to decide to play detective in my mansion, make sure you don’t wear perfume.”
He knew. He knew I was in here the exact moment he walked in.
I turn on my heel and fled the study without a backward glance. My heart is pounding so hard against my ribs. I sprint down the hallway, his word echoing repeatedly deep in my mind.
‘When you finally learn what your family did to mine…’
Reaching my bedroom, I step in and lock the doors behind me, slumping to the floor. I am more terrified than the scene in the dining this morning.
He didn’t stop me. He dared me to keep looking. He thinks the weight of the truth will break me. A stray tear streaks down my cheek, but I wipe it off before it falls. I have to find out the truth, no matter how long it takes.
I will find out the truth.
- Writer
