Ariella sat in the backseat of the black Rolls-Royce, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone pale. The city lights blurred past the window, but her mind wasn't on the roads — it was stuck back in that smoky room, with her father's silence echoing louder than any words.
He didn't even look at me…
Lucien Kane sat beside her, silent, unreadable. His presence filled the space like heavy smoke — calm, commanding, dangerous. He hadn't spoken a word since they left the casino. He didn't need to. Everything about him screamed control.
"You're angry," he finally said, his voice deep, calm.
She whipped her head toward him. "You bought me like an object."
Lucien didn't flinch. "I bought a year of your time. You agreed by stepping into this car."
"No. I didn't agree to anything. I was forced—"
"You're here," he cut in sharply, turning to face her fully. "That's all I need."
Ariella's jaw tightened. "So what now? I'm your prisoner?"
He smiled faintly, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "No, Ariella. You're my property. There's a difference."
She glared at him, her voice trembling. "You can't just own people."
"In my world, I can own whatever I pay for."
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it, giving her a moment to breathe. She turned her eyes to the road again, every instinct in her screaming to run. But where would she go? She had nothing. No money. No family. No protection.
Except maybe from the very man who just purchased her.
"We'll set some ground rules," he said, tucking his phone away. "No leaving without permission. No lying. No secrets. You will attend events with me, dress how I say, speak when spoken to, and smile when required."
She turned slowly to face him, her voice bitter. "And in return?"
"You get to live in luxury," he said flatly. "And when the year is over, you'll walk away with enough money to never depend on a man like your father again."
She blinked. "So this is a business deal."
"It always was."
The car slowed to a stop in front of a high-rise building that practically touched the clouds. A private elevator waited. Lucien stepped out first, then turned to her.
"Come."
Ariella hesitated, the weight of her entire future pressing down on her heels.
Then she stepped out.
And the doors closed behind her.