The gates of Diago's mansion opened with a slow, mechanical hum, and the black car I rode in slid through like I was entering another world. A world of power, secrets, and danger.
I stepped out, my heart pounding louder than my heels on the marble floor. The air felt heavier here. The house-no, the mansion-was massive. Like something out of a movie. Chandeliers bigger than my entire bedroom hung from impossibly high ceilings. The walls were lined with expensive art pieces, dark statues, and golden details that gleamed under the dim lighting.
The butler, a tall man in a perfectly pressed suit, greeted me with a simple nod.
"This way, Miss," he said with a voice so calm it made me feel smaller.
I followed him in silence, my legs feeling a little shaky. Every step I took felt like I was sinking deeper into Diago's world-like I had passed a line I could never uncross.
When he opened the door to my room, I froze.
It was beautiful. No-beyond beautiful.
A giant bed stood in the center, dressed in soft white and gold linens, surrounded by velvet curtains. A balcony stretched out beyond the glass doors, overlooking the massive garden below. Everything was rich and elegant, from the crystal lamps to the antique vanity that looked like it belonged to a queen.
"Get yourself comfortable," the butler said gently. "Master will return later."
He left before I could ask anything.
I sat on the bed, hands clutching the edge of the silky sheets. What was I doing here? My chest was tight, and my stomach twisted with nerves. I was living in the mansion of a man who claimed to have no heart-and yet, somehow, I still wanted to be near him.
Later, needing a distraction, I left the room and wandered down the grand staircase. The silence in the mansion was haunting. I found one of the maids and asked quietly, "Is Mr. Diago home?"
She gave a respectful bow. "Master is currently at work, ma'am."
Of course he was. Probably off somewhere making dangerous deals or sitting in some blood-stained office surrounded by men who feared him. I nodded and continued walking, trying to ease the unease inside me.
As I turned a hallway I hadn't explored before, something caught my eye.
A door. But not just any door.
It was carved with a large, black snake design. The detail was eerie, its eyes practically glowing under the dim hallway light. I don't know why I reached out. Maybe curiosity. Maybe stupidity. But the moment my fingers brushed the handle, a voice startled me.
"Miss."
I turned sharply.
It was the butler again.
His expression was unreadable, but his voice was firm. "Master does not permit anyone down this hallway. Please... come with me."
I blinked. "What's in there?"
He paused just a second too long.
"I'm sorry, Miss. You must return to your room."
Something in his voice told me not to press it further.
Back in my room, I couldn't stop thinking about that door. The way the snake's eyes had almost looked alive. What was behind it? Why was it so guarded?
But that wasn't why I was here. I had a deal to focus on. A fantasy I was finally living.
Later that night, just as I was brushing my hair, a soft knock came at my door. My heart skipped. I opened it slowly-and froze.
The woman standing there was breathtaking.
Tall, with glowing skin and long silky hair, she looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. In her arms, she held something red and delicate.
"Good evening, ma'am," she said with a sweet smile. "Master has requested your presence. He asked that you wear this."
She unfolded the red nightgown-and I nearly choked.
It was... sexy. Way too sexy. Silky, lacy, and revealing in all the right places. I blinked at it, speechless.
"Would you like me to assist you in getting dressed?"
I hesitated, then nodded.
She walked in gracefully and began undressing me with the ease of someone who had done this a hundred times. Her fingers worked like magic, and before I knew it, the red nightgown was hugging my body like a second skin.
When I looked in the mirror, I didn't recognize myself.
The soft fabric clung to every curve, the neckline dipped daringly low, and the slit on the side ran high up my thigh. I looked... confident. Dangerous. Seductive.
"Perfect," the maid said with approval. "Please follow me. Master is waiting."
My throat went dry.
I followed her down a corridor I hadn't seen before, my bare feet silent on the rug. She stopped at a large red door, knocked once, then opened it and gestured for me to enter.
I stepped inside and gasped.
The room was drenched in red. Red curtains. Red sheets. Red candles flickering in every corner. It smelled like something forbidden-like spice and lust and heat.
I stood there nervously, unsure what to do.
Then the bathroom door creaked open.
And he stepped out.
Diago.
His black hair was still wet, water droplets gliding down his hard chest and abs. A white towel hung dangerously low on his hips, clinging to the sharp lines of his body. His eyes locked onto mine-and I swear I couldn't breathe.
He didn't speak. He simply walked forward, calm and silent, before sitting on the edge of the bed like a king taking his throne.
And he just stared at me.
Like I was something to be devoured.
I felt bare. Not just physically, but mentally. Like he could see every thought running through my head. Like he could feel the way my heart pounded like crazy.
The room was so quiet, I could hear my own breathing.
I was dressed like a fantasy... but I was standing in front of a man who didn't believe in love, who didn't care about hearts or happy endings.
So why was I trembling?
Not from fear... but from something else.
Anticipation.
Heat.
Desire.
He still didn't say a word. He just leaned back slightly, spreading his knees apart, letting the towel ride even lower on his hips. I quickly looked away, my cheeks burning.
"You look different, kitten," he finally said, his voice like velvet laced with sin.
"I-I... the maid gave me this," I stammered.
A small smirk curved his lips.
"I know. I told her to."
I blinked, unsure what to say.
"You wanted this," he said, voice darker now. "To know what it's like to be with someone like me. Someone you could love... even if they'll never love you back."
I swallowed hard, unable to deny it.
"Then welcome to my world, kitten," he murmured, leaning forward slightly. "Let's see