She pressed her back against the cold leather seat, her breath coming in short, shaky gasps. The city lights flickered past the tinted windows, but her mind was trapped in a whirlwind of fear and confusion. Who was this man really? What did her father have to do with him?
The car's interior was silent except for the steady hum of the engine and the heavy footsteps of his bodyguards surrounding the vehicle. She tried to steady her trembling hands, but the harsh grip of reality tightened around her like a noose.
Suddenly, the man's voice cut through the silence, low and dangerous. "You're going to listen carefully. This isn't a game. Your father made deals he can't take back, and now, so are you."
She swallowed hard, her eyes locked on the shadowed figure beside her. "What do you want from me?" she whispered, voice barely audible.
A cruel smile twisted his lips. "Control. Loyalty. And if you don't give it, things will get very unpleasant."
Her heart sank, but deep inside, a spark of defiance flickered. She wasn't going to be a pawn—not without a fight.
---
She clenched her fists in her lap, forcing her voice not to crack. "My father's mistakes aren't mine," she said through gritted teeth.
The man turned his head slightly, amused. His cold gaze met hers with unnerving calm. "Mistakes?" he repeated. "Your father didn't make mistakes. He made deals. With me. And deals with me always come with a price."
He leaned in closer, his voice like ice against her skin. "You're the payment."
Her breath caught in her throat.
The car pulled into a long, gated driveway, surrounded by towering trees and guarded walls. Cameras followed every angle. As the gates creaked open, she realized she wasn't going home anytime soon.
The mansion loomed ahead like a shadowed beast in the night—grand, but hauntingly cold. He stepped out first, adjusting the cuff of his black suit with deadly precision. One bodyguard opened her door without a word.
She hesitated.
"If you don't step out now," the man warned, his voice calm but sharp as a blade, "you'll be dragged out."
Her legs moved on instinct. She stepped into the chilled air, every sense screaming danger. But even as fear gnawed at her, something inside whispered:
Survive. Watch. Learn.
Because whatever this was… she wasn't going to let it break her.