The elevator doors slid open, revealing a foyer of polished marble and muted light. Jaks strode forward, his footsteps echoing in the vast space. A young woman, no older than twenty, stood by the entrance, her expression lighting up as she saw him.
"Welcome home, Jaks," she said, her voice soft. "Do you need anything? Dinner? A bath drawn?"
Her beauty was undeniable. Long, raven hair cascaded down her back, framing a face with delicate features. She was dressed in a gown of shimmering silk, a style that seemed to belong to another era. But the smile on her face didn't quite reach her eyes.
Jaks didn't respond. He simply moved past her, his pace quickening as he headed towards a hidden door.
The girl's smile faltered, her expression clouding with a familiar disappointment. She watched him disappear, then slowly closed the door, the sound swallowed by the opulent silence.
A closer look revealed the secrets hidden beneath her beauty. The faint marks, like the imprint of teeth, marred her neck and wrists. They were barely visible, but they were there, a constant reminder of the life she led.
She sighed, her gaze drifting across the vast living space. It was a masterpiece of modern design, yet it felt cold and empty. The low lighting cast long shadows, obscuring the details, as if trying to hide the truth.
She knew Jaks's routine. He would head straight for the bath, as if something was chasing him. As if he couldn't stand the feel of his own skin.
She turned and headed towards the kitchen, her footsteps soft against the polished floor. She would prepare his bath, even if he didn't ask. It was her duty, her role in this strange, gilded existence. And she would wait, as she always did, for the moment when he might finally see her.