The interior of the Maybach felt like a pressurized chamber, wrapping us in a tense silence. The sharp point of the paring knife was a cold, unyielding truth between us, threatening to pierce the fabric of Roman's five-thousand-dollar suit—or more.
"Careful, Eva," Roman whispered, his voice smooth but dangerous, yet he made no move. "A slip of the hand, and you'd be a murderer. My security would have you in a cage before my heart even paused."
One of the security guards looked on with concern, but Roman signaled for calm.
My gaze sharpened, fierce and unwavering.
"Then we'd both be where we belong," I snapped back, my hand trembling slightly but the knife held steady.
Roman's eyes studied my face, searching for any sign of bluffing. He found none. A dark, twisted spark of amusement flickered in his eyes. He reached up, not to grab my wrist, but to slowly wrap his fingers around the blade itself. I gasped.
"You might cut yourself," I warned.
"A little blood is a small price for victory," he murmured, tightening his grip. He pulled the knife closer to his chest, forcing me to lean in until our foreheads almost touched.
"If I get cut, your Leo will be buried under litigation, debt, and misfortune until there's nothing left of him but a memory."
My breath caught in my throat. The monster was thorough—he hadn't just bought my presence; he had collateralized my morality.
"You're a parasite," I hissed, the heat from his body making my skin tingle. "You feed off the lives of those who actually contribute to the world."
"I'm the host, Eva. Without me, the world doesn't turn. Without my compassion, Leo would have been a cripple in a tenement," He added, suddenly twisting the knife out of my hand with a swift, brutal motion and tossing it to the floor.
"Now, put the toys away. We're arriving."
The limo slowed as the gates of the Claudius Estate swung open like a dragon's mouth. The mansion, a fortress of glass, steel, and lights, overlooks the city from the highest hill.
As the car stopped, Roman leaned in, his lips close to my ear. "Tonight, you dine with me—no knife, no cheap insults. You'll wear the dress I choose, and you'll pretend to be human. Or I'll have my men change the locks on Leo before the first course is served."
He stepped out without offering a hand, confident I'd follow. Inside, the mansion was a cold museum of awards he'd won. I was led to a bedroom larger than Leo's entire apartment, where a deep blood-red silk dress lay on the bed, like a wound.
"I must find a way out," I whispered to my reflection, clutching the edge of a marble vanity.
Two hours later, I descended the grand staircase. Roman waited at the bottom, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. His gaze lifted, and for the first time, the mask of boredom slipped. His glass paused mid-air.
"Red suits you," he said softly, his eyes traveling possessively over me. "It's the color of the warning light you're trying so hard to hide."
"It's the color of a warning, Roman," I replied, stepping onto the marble floor. "I hope you're good at reading signs too."
We sat at opposite ends of a table that felt like a continent, silence heavy with unspoken words, broken only by the clink of silver and china.
"Why me?" I finally asked, gazing at him through the flickering candlelight. "You have women falling over themselves for you—women who would kill to be in your arms. Why choose a waitress who hates your guts?"
Roman set his glass down.
"Because a lion in the jungle only proves its kingship when challenged. They have a price tag I can see from a mile away. But you... You looked at me at that gala like I was something stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Interestingly, your Leo is living his best life now".
He leaned forward, the light catching the predatory glow in his eyes. "I don't just want your body, Eva. I want to see the moment you realize that I'm better than him. That little brat you call your 'hero' must learn a lesson. You're probably the only thing he's proud of. He will watch you choose me in a few days".
I let out a sharp, dry laugh. Then you've wasted your money.
"You could live a thousand years and you'd never be half the man Leo is. He has a soul. You only have money to bury your atrocities"
Roman's face darkened. He snapped his fingers, and a servant appeared instantly. "Bring the dessert. And bring the tablet".
The servant placed a screen in front of me. My heart stopped. It was a live feed of a dark alleyway. Leo was there, limping toward his apartment, unaware of the two men following him in the shadows.
"One word from me", Roman said, his voice a low, terrifying hum. "And he doesn't make it to his front door".
"You promised!" I screamed, standing up so fast my chair toppled. "You said if I came here, he'd be safe!"
"Well, he is safe for now". Roman stood up and walked toward me, his shadow looming over the table. "But my 'promises' are like subscriptions, Eva. They require monthly renewals. And your first payment is due now". He reached out, his hand sliding into my hair, tilting my head back. "Tell me, he whispered. Tell me you want to stay here. Say it like you mean it, or I'll let those men finish what I started months ago".
I looked at the screen, at Leo's tired, beautiful face, and then at the monster in front of me. I felt the bile rise in my throat as I forced the words out. "I want to stay", I choked out, the lie tasting like ash. "Please don't hurt him".
Roman smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He leaned down, his lips grazing my neck.
"Good girl. Now, let's go to my study. I have a new contract for you to sign. One that makes you mine in every way for thirty days".