Kaia's eyes flung open at the sound of a knock on her door. She was curled up on the floor, her head resting on her knees. She sprang up and bolted to open it, only to find the butler
"Uncle Stellan….."
"Mrs Blackwood, the young master has ordered you join him for breakfast" he bowed
Kaia scoffed….Mrs Blackwood??, they didn't even have a wedding, just papers and wine.
"Tell Zayne I said no" she folded her arms
"I will not advise you to refuse Mr Blackwood's offer"
Kaia narrowed her eyes at the butler, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "And why not? I'm not his servant, Stellan. I don't have to do anything he says."
Stellan straightened, his expression unchanging. "With all due respect, Mrs. Blackwood, it is customary for a wife to join her husband for breakfast, especially when he has requested your presence. It would be wise to comply."
"Wise?" Kaia echoed, incredulous. "What's wise about pretending we're a happy couple when we both know this is just a business arrangement?"
Stellan's gaze softened slightly, but he remained firm. "It is not my place to question the nature of your relationship, but I assure you, Mr. Blackwood values your presence. He is not one to take rejection lightly."
Kaia sighed, running a hand through her tousled hair. She could feel the weight of Stellan's words pressing down on her. Zayne was stubborn, and if she refused him now, it would only lead to more tension between them.
"Fine," she relented, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm not dressing up for this. I'll go in my pajamas."
Stellan's lips twitched in what might have been a suppressed smile. "As you wish, Mrs. Blackwood. I will inform the young master that you will be joining him shortly."
As he turned to leave, Kaia called after him, "Wait! What if I don't want to sit with him? What if I just want to eat in my room?"
Stellan paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Then I would advise you to prepare for a rather persistent knock on your door, as Mr. Blackwood is not one to be easily deterred."
With that, he departed, leaving Kaia alone with her thoughts. She leaned against the doorframe, contemplating her next move. Zayne was infuriating, but there was a part of her that was curious about what he would say.
With a resigned sigh, she shuffled back to her room, her mind racing. Maybe breakfast wouldn't be so bad. After all, it was just a meal. And who knew? Perhaps she could find a way to turn the tables on him.
As she changed into a pair of comfortable sweatpants and a loose t-shirt, she couldn't shake the feeling that this breakfast would be anything but ordinary, she felt a flicker of determination. She would not let Zayne get under her skin. Instead, she would approach this breakfast as a strategic meeting, a chance to gather intel and maybe even gain the upper hand.
After brushing her hair into a messy bun, she glanced in the mirror, giving herself a small nod of encouragement. "You've got this," she whispered, trying to bolster her confidence. With one last deep breath, she made her way to the kitchen.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of sizzling bacon. Zayne was already at the stove, his back turned to her as he flipped the strips with practiced ease. The sight of him, so at home in the kitchen, was both infuriating and oddly captivating.
"Morning," she said, trying to keep her tone neutral.
He turned, a smirk playing on his lips. "Look who decided to join the land of the living. I was starting to think you'd sleep through breakfast. Kaia didn't find any humor in his words.
"What??, you're just gonna ignore me?" He smirked, backing her again " It just takes time princess, you'll grow to love me" he assured, his tone alluring. Kendall rolled her eyes, after that beating he gave her sister….love??, she could never.
As she settled at the table, she couldn't help but observe him. There was something about the way he moved, the confidence in his actions, that both annoyed and intrigued her. She had to remind herself that this was a game, and she needed to play it smart. She didn't want him to please his inner ego by thinking she was depressed. A thought suddenly struck her as he picked up his fork to eat
"I want to see my sister" she said, gawking directly at him, her voice flat. Zayne paused, lifting his head to meet her gaze
"Princess, you miss her already??" He smirked as he stuffed some bacon in his mouth "Don't forget that you're mine now, and I have every control over you even if this is just a contract" he said, his voice husky and low.
"Zayne, please, it's been 3 days since you tortured her"
"So??" He asked
"I'll be quick I promise" she winced, her voice was brittle and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Zayne's smirk faltered for a moment, a flicker of something softer crossing his features before he masked it with indifference.
"Three days isn't a long time, princess. You should be grateful for the peace," he replied, his tone dismissive as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Besides, what makes you think she's even in a state to see you?"
Her heart sank at his words, but she refused to let him see her fear. "You don't have to do this. You can let her go. She's innocent in all of this."
Zayne chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Innocent? You think innocence matters in this world? It's a game, and you're both just pieces on my board."
"Then let me play for her," she pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice. "I'll do anything you want. Just let me see her."
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Anything? That's a bold claim, princess. What could you possibly offer that I don't already have?"
"Freedom," she said, her voice steadying as she found her resolve. "If you let her go, I'll be yours completely. No more games, no more contracts. Just you and me."
Zayne leaned forward, his interest piqued. "You think you can bargain with me? You think you can just trade your sister's life for your own?"
"I'm not trading her life. I'm offering you a choice," she replied, her heart racing. "You can keep torturing her, or you can have me. I'll be your prisoner, your servant, whatever you want. Just let her go."
He studied her for a long moment, the tension in the air thickening. "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish," he finally said, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. "But I like a challenge."
"Then let me see her," she insisted, her voice firm. "Let me prove to you that I can be more than just a pawn in your game."
Zayne's smirk returned, but this time it was laced with curiosity. "Very well, princess. I'll consider your offer. But know this: if you fail to impress me, the consequences will be dire, for both you and your sister."