NOVA
The bed felt like clouds beneath me—too soft for a place this cruel. The silence in this mansion was almost eerie, like the walls were holding their breath. No voices. No sounds. Just me, lying still in a cage that looked too beautiful to be a prison.
It had been a full week since my reckless little escape attempt—the rope made of blankets, the 3 AM adrenaline, and then him, standing there like he'd been waiting for me the whole time.
Since then, nothing. No words from him. No threats. No consequences. Just silence.
I was still being fed—decent food, new clothes, everything I needed—but it was always delivered by that cold-faced man. His secretary or assistant or whatever. No matter how many times I tried to speak to him, he wouldn't respond. Not even a glance. It was like I was invisible. Like I didn't exist at all.
I hadn't tried to escape again. What was the point? I'd been watching. Observing. And this place… it was ironclad. Guards at every corner. Locked doors. Hidden cameras, probably. I was trapped, and I knew it.
That was when I heard the door creak open behind me.
I flinched, jerking up from my thoughts. My heart jumped to my throat. I turned quickly—and of course, it was him.
Julius.
I rolled my eyes instinctively. I didn't even care anymore.
"Oh, darling," he said, amused, "already rolling your eyes at me?"
His voice carried that familiar mockery. That smugness. That… Julius-ness.
"Do you have any manners?" I snapped. "Or are you always this—ugh, I don't even know the word. Stupid, maybe? Arrogant?"
I glared at him, arms crossed.
"You ever heard of knocking? You know, especially when entering a woman's room?"
I didn't even care how he reacted. Everything about him irritated me—his face, his eyes, his ridiculous smirk. Just… him.
He didn't flinch. Just stepped further inside.
"This is my house," he said casually, "and that makes this room mine, not yours. You're just... occupying it."
Oh, I was going to kill him. If I ever got the chance, I was going to snap his smug little neck.
"Why are you even here?" I snapped. "Because I definitely didn't want your face to be the first thing I see this morning. It ruins the day."
He raised a brow, clearly entertained.
"Funny," he said. "I was thinking the same thing. But I might have something that'll interest you. Something that could even… benefit you."
His words made me pause. That smug expression still lingered, but now there was a flicker of something else.
"A favor from you?" I scoffed, turning away from him and flopping back onto the bed. "The only thing I expect from you is your horrible attitude."
"I was thinking we could strike a deal," he said, stepping closer. "But it looks like you're not ready for it."
A deal?
I froze. My curiosity was faster than my pride.
"…What kind of deal?" I asked, slowly sitting up.
He smirked. "Now we're talking."
"I need information. Some data. Specific files. And I think you can help me get it."
"Let me guess…" I said, my lips curling into a smirk. "You want to take down an enemy. And your little employees couldn't pull it off, so now you're turning to me."
That made him pause. Not with shame—more like reluctant acknowledgment.
"Not exactly," he said, trying to brush it off. "I just figured you had a lot of free time on your hands."
Please. He wouldn't come to me unless he needed something only I could do. Which meant I had leverage now.
"Well," I said, walking up to him, "if you want my help, I have one condition."
His eyes narrowed. "Which is?"
"You let me go."
He tilted his head, amused again. "Nice try."
"I'm serious," I said, standing firm. "You want my skills? Then I want freedom. I help you, you let me leave."
He chuckled, stepping closer. "Darling, I'm not stupid."
"Then find someone else," I snapped. "Because you know damn well I can get you what you want—stuff your people couldn't even dream of accessing. You saw what I did to your own system. I got in. I did that."
His jaw flexed, and something dark flickered in his eyes. He was trying not to show it, but I'd hit a nerve.
"I knew it," he said. "You hacked my system on purpose. There was a reason behind it. Who were you working for?"
I stepped back, folding my arms. "Let's just say I had a reason. Believe what you want. But unless you're letting me out of here, I'm not lifting a finger."
He stared at me for a moment, unreadable.
Then finally—finally—he exhaled sharply. "Fine."
My heart jumped.
"Fine?" I repeated.
"I'll let you leave," he said slowly, "but… when I need you, you come. When I call, you show up. If you don't… I'll find you. I'll drag you back here if I have to. And believe me, darling, next time there won't be deals."
Oh. Oh my God. Did I… win?
I tried to hide the thrill in my chest.
"Deal," I said coolly. "In fact, we can start today."
He raised a hand, but instead of shaking mine, he reached for my wrist and suddenly—slammed me against the wall.
My breath caught in my throat.
His body was close, far too close. His eyes boring into mine.
"If you do anything stupid," he said, voice low, deadly, "if you even think about betraying me—you'll see exactly what I'm capable of. And believe me, sweetheart, it's not something you want to find out."
My heartbeat was going insane. My body tensed. He was too close. I couldn't think.
His hand tilted my chin upward, making me look into those dark, merciless eyes.
"Do you understand me?" he asked quietly, dangerously.
I managed a nod.
Satisfied, he released me and walked away without another word.
The door shut behind him with a soft click.
I let out the breath I didn't know I'd been holding and leaned against the wall, heart pounding in my chest. My cheeks felt warm.
Why… why was my heart beating like that?
I hated him. I hated him. So why… why did he leave me flustered?
No. I shook it off.
It didn't matter.
What mattered was—I had power now.
This was it. My one shot. I didn't care about morals anymore. This was survival. I'd play this game.
Because it was ride or die.