"It can't be…!"
Aria screamed as she jolted awake from her sleep.
Her chest rose and fell as she gasped for air, her breathing uneven. Sweat covered her forehead and slid down her face, dampening the strands of hair stuck to her skin. Her entire body trembled despite the fact that the air conditioner was on filling the room with cool air.
Her mind was still trapped in the graveyard Damien took her to.
Fresh graves of her family.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks as her gaze wandered around the room in confusion, her breathing still unstable. The graveyard she remembered was gone.
Instead, she was inside a huge, luxurious room.
The walls were painted in white and cream colors, decorated with golden designs that shines brightly under the golden chandelier. The furniture surrounding her looked just as extravagant.....gold-trimmed tables, velvet curtains, and polished marble floors.
Aria frowned slightly, her mind struggling to catch up with reality.
Where… am I?
She realized she was lying on a massive king-sized bed covered in soft silk sheets.
But something else immediately caught her attention.
Her clothes.
The elegant gown she had been wearing earlier was gone.
Instead, she was now dressed in a fitted blue shirt that clung to her curves and a deep blue short skirt that barely reached mid-thigh. White socks stretched up her legs, reaching just above her knees, though they did little to hide the smooth length of her legs.
Her red hair had been neatly packed into a ponytail behind her head.
Aria slowly raised a hand and touched it, confusion spreading across her face.
"Who the hell changed my clothes…?" she muttered under her breath.
Her heart pounded harder as realization struck.
The shirt she wore was slightly revealing. The neckline dipped low enough to expose the top of her cleavage. Because she was naturally busty, the fabric stretched tightly across her chest, making her feel far more exposed than she was comfortable with.
It felt humiliating.
Almost deliberate.
Her breathing grew sharper as panic crept into her chest as she also noticed a apron tied around her neck and waist and a scarf was neatly wrapped around her head like someone had dressed her up for work.
Her eyes widened.
"What the hell is this…?"
Aria immediately jumped off the bed and rushed toward the door.
Her bare feet hit the cold floor as she grabbed the handle and turned it desperately.
Locked.
"Open the damn door!" she shouted, slamming her fists against the hard surface.
Her voice echoed through the quiet room.
"Where's that motherfucker Damien?!" she yelled again, her voice breaking with anger and fear. "Open the damn door!"
"You asked for me?"
The cold masculine voice came from behind her.
Aria froze instantly.
Her entire body stiffened as if someone had poured ice down her spine.
Her legs felt weak.
She knew that voice.
"The motherfucker you were calling for is right here."
Fuck.
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
He's here…? In the room with me? How the hell didn't I notice that?
Slowly, she swallowed the lump forming in her throat then she forced herself to turn away from the door.
Her gaze slowly moved toward the direction where the voice had come from and the moment she saw him....
Her body completely gave up. Herknees buckled beneath her as she collapsed onto the floor.
Standing only a few feet away from her was Damien.
He was shirtless, showcasing his well-defined chest and perfect abs, highlighting the powerful build of his body. Years of training had carved every muscle with sharp precision.
A dark scorpion tattoo stretched across one side of his torso, the ink looking almost alive against his skin.
Dangerous.
Intimidating.
Exactly like the man himself.
A white towel was loosely wrapped around his waist, hanging low enough to expose the deep lines of his hips and the strong V-shape of his abdomen.
He looked like he had just stepped out of the shower.
And somehow… that made the situation even more terrifying.
Damien looked down at her with a raised eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
"What are you still doing on the floor?" he asked casually, letting out a quiet scoff. "Didn't you say you wanted to see this motherfucker?"
Aria's fists tightened against the marble floor.
Rage burned through her chest, overpowering the fear for a brief moment.
"You monster!"