CASSIE POV
Two days in this mansion, and it already felt more like a home than the twelve years I'd spent with Alexandra. This was a new day. A true dawn.
My eyes snapped open as a beam of sunlight cut across the room. I moved through my new routine mechanically: a scalding shower to shake off the remnants of sleep, then downstairs for breakfast. The strangest part of this new life was my host's absence. For two days, I hadn't so much as caught a glimpse of him. The man who had orchestrated my rescue didn't seem to care if I existed. His indifference was a problem; it would delay my plan. We had an agreement-to break Alexandra, our shared enemy, my tormentor, his rival-but how could we collaborate if he was a ghost?
"Morning, ma'am. What would you like for breakfast?" a maid asked, her tone practiced and polite.
"The usual, please. Bacon and eggs." I took my seat at the immense dining table, the silence pressing in on me. I ate slowly, each bite a bitter accompaniment to the memories of Alexandra. When I was done, I retreated to my room, my mind churning with useless, frantic questions.
Why are you hiding in here? a voice in my head-my own, yet sharper-demanded. Search the place. Learn something.
The thought was a spark in the dark. Repressing a thrill of fear, I left the room and drifted downstairs, my gaze cataloging every closed door. One, marked with a discreet plaque, caught my eye: Private Office – Restricted Access.
My pulse quickened. I glanced down the hall-empty. Without allowing myself a second thought, I slipped inside.
The room was cold and drowned in dim light, the air smelling of old leather and ambition. It screamed mafia boss. The door clicked shut behind me, the sound unnaturally loud in the silence. My heart hammered against my ribs. Before me stood a massive desk, surrounded by shelves groaning with files and ledgers. A soft, red light blinked on a security camera in the corner, its beep a steady, unnerving pulse.
Then, footsteps. Close.
I darted for a large oak cupboard, squeezing inside just as the office door opened. Through the slats, I watched a maid scan the room. "Must have been a rat," she muttered, and with a dismissive shrug, she left, the door latching firmly behind her.
I stumbled out, my breath coming in gasps. This was my chance. I went straight to the desk, my hands trembling as I sifted through piles of documents. I lost track of time, my focus absolute, until I saw it-a file tab labeled with the name that was both a curse and a motive: Alexandra.
I didn't hesitate. The pages revealed a man far deadlier and more cunning than I had ever imagined. My skin crawled. I also discovered my benefactor's true name: Max. Not a billionaire, but a trillionaire, with a portfolio of five multi-million-dollar companies and a list of aliases that spanned the globe.
I carefully returned everything to its place, smoothed my dress, and walked out of the office, projecting a calm I didn't feel.
Back in my room, I processed the avalanche of information, my eyes perpetually drifting to the clock. 6 p.m. This was when Max usually returned, and though he had ignored me until now, that ended today.
I waited in the sitting room, my nerves stretched taut. At exactly 7 p.m., the front door swung open.
There he was, carrying several glossy shopping bags. I rose, smoothing my dress.
"Good evening, Mr. Max."
He offered a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Cassie. How are you settling in?" His voice was calm, casual.
"Well, thank you." I held his gaze.
He looked at me for a long moment, the silence stretching thin. "This is for you," he said finally, extending the bags.
"Thank you," I repeated, accepting them. The gesture was unexpectedly generous.
We stood there, locked in a silent standoff. I opened my mouth to speak just as he began, "So-"
He gestured for me to continue. "Ladies first."
"May I ask you for something?" I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
He nodded and gestured to the plush sofa. As we sat, he summoned a maid without a word. She returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. The liquid looked dark and intoxicating.
"No, thank you. I don't drink," I said, holding up a hand.
He fixed me with a frown, a silent command that brooked no argument. The look sent a chill through me, a stark reminder of my precarious position. Reluctantly, I accepted the glass.
The wine was a fire in my throat. I closed my eyes as it burned its way down, spreading goosebumps across my skin. He laughed, a low, soft sound. "You were saying?"
I took a steadying breath. "I want to discuss our collaboration. Taking down Alexandra. We need a plan, and we need to start now."
He didn't answer. Instead, he refilled my glass. "Relax, Cassie. We have time."
An hour later, the room was tilting. My head spun furiously, the wine unraveling my thoughts. I tried to stand, to put distance between us, but my legs buckled. I collapsed against him, his arm snaking around to catch me.
Through the alcoholic haze, I looked up at him. I had no clear plan, no coherent thought. Only a dangerous, heat-filled instinct, and the terrifying knowledge that I was no longer in control.
