*mildly edited; please point out mistakes :)*

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❝I can't tell if it's killing me or making me stronger.❞ -Unknown

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Juliet's POV

I ran out of the room with the speed of lightning, all feelings of embarrassment rushing through my veins. My heart was beating so fast, I could feel it in my throat.

When I reached the last stair, I ran into Luciana who grabbed my shoulders before I could move any further. She gave me a concerned look when she saw the tears but I just shook my head as a way of saying, 'not right now'.

I moved past her and to the small room allotted to all the maids, including me. I sat on the makeshift bed sobbing my soul out. I cried for my lost dignity, I cried for my parents. I cried because I wanted to go home already and I cried because I couldn't believe I was still mildly attracted to the jerk.

It was pathetic, really. The teeny tiny bit of crush I had developed over the man whose name I still didn't know and who was an absolute A grade asshole with no sympathy. Maybe it was Stockholm syndrome, but I wasn't really held hostage here. Kind of. Now though, I was ready to go home.

And so I spent the next few hours, trying to come up with a safe escape plan to execute at night. I could try asking him to let me go nicely as I wasn't held here prisoner but I didn't want to risk it. Who knows, what he could do if I angered him further. Kill me perhaps.

---

I failed. At planning an escape route. And so now at 1.17am, I decided to say fuck it and just go for it. Plan or not. It was a dumb move I guess but I was too far gone to stop now. Might as well start preparing for my funeral.

I stalked the dark hallways, silently. I knew where the estate doors were, which was the main entrance and where the guards particularly stood most of the time. I had enough time in these past weeks to analyze the functioning of this place. It may not be much but it will do enough.

Just as I begin to take a turn, I heard voices. I stopped against a wall remembering to keep my breathing still. It was 2 guards from what I could make out. I couldn't hear what they were saying though. They continued their steady walking and turned a turn to the opposite direction of where I was standing. I sighed quietly, Thank Heavens that went well.

I stealthily turned to where they came from and tip-toed to an entrance towards the right side of the estate. It was a gate that was not very heavily protected but you wouldn't know about it unless you took a tour of this place in depth. Which I made sure to take as soon as I started staying here.

I reached the door and looked around for anyone in sight before slowly twisting the knob, only to find it locked. I cursed under my breath. Just my luck, of course, it would be locked.

Keys. Keys, where I can find tho--

My thoughts vanished as soon as I heard clicking of metal against metal and a deep voice resonating, "Looking for these?"

I turned to face the owner of the voice. The fucking jerk. I shut my eyes closed, awaiting my poor fate. I am going to die. I know it. He is going to kill me and leave me here to writhe in pain--

"Open your fucking eyes!"

I instantly obeyed my eyes shooting open and landing on his shoes. They looked very expensive and...powerful. Could probably crush my spine with those. I grimaced imagining the pain.

His feet moved towards me and my breathing stilled in fear or anticipation, I couldn't quite decipher. He bent down his body till his mouth was against my ear and I almost whimpered at the slight contact.

"I am going to show you just what happens when people try to disobey me." He whispered in my ears so sensually, it was almost sexy.

If not for the words he uttered and the deadly tone underlining it.

---

He let me go after that threat. It has been almost 2 days and I haven't heard from him or of him since. After he said those words to me, almost immediately something in his mood had shifted and he had commanded me to go to my room. I, of course, did so without hesitation but now I am beginning to second guess that decision. Maybe I should have stayed and asked him---

What the fuck am I thinking, no way am I seriously considering having another encounter with him willingly. I should be happy that he is not making good on the said threat he gave me and has left me completely alone.

Then why does it make me feel the exact opposite?

It was Sunday morning when I finally broke and asked Luciana about his whereabouts. I hadn't told her about what happened in his office that day or the failed escape attempt. That topic was pretty much left alone and none of us bothered to bring it back up.

She looks at me, surprised. "You don't know? Sir Killian has left for Spain, he won't be back for another week."

Killian, that's his name? Suits him though. It's dark like his aura. And him leaving? How did I not figure it out? It pretty much explains his disappearance and everyone being more relaxed around here.

She adds, "He goes there every once in a while to meet his grandmother."

"Does he have any other family?" I blurt out curiously.

Something shifts in Luciana's eyes, too quick for me to ponder on it before she replies,

"No. No, his parents are dead and he has no siblings except a deceased younger brother." She said, her last words muttered out almost painfully. I watch her reach up a finger to rub under her eyes and it's then I realize that she is crying.

Before I can ask her what that's about, she whispers an excuse me, leaving the room to me and my thoughts.

I wonder what that was about but I am guessing she needs her privacy.

Right now, my main focus is this place. And the mystery that surrounds it. I already know Killian is not just a normal rich man. He is involved in something much more darker...deeper.

And I don't know if I am ready to find out or not.

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a u t h o r' s
n o t e:

i am so late on this update but its up now and you have reached the end of it. hope you enjoyed. things are just starting to get interesting. more interaction scenes between killian&juliet should be expected ;).

thanks for reading :*

much love,