It had been weeks! Weeks since I had to watch Micheal shamelessly throw himself at Alexander, and he let him. Weeks since Alex’s voice had cut through the ballroom, ordering me back to the penthouse like I was just a dog. Like a fool, I went.

He hadn’t come back to the penthouse or even called since. I told myself it was just for now, that he would call, that he would want me around again. At least the silence meant I was free, but silence from Alexander Veyron was worse than chains. It was punishment, it was proof that he could forget me like that. After the first week, I got furious. When a servant brought my breakfast, I had to ask if they had heard from him.

“Mr. Veyron won’t be back for a bit, sir. He’s on a business trip,” he said politely.

I froze, business trip my ass. He’s with Micheal, obviously. I knew that, the jerk didn’t even tell me but told the servants. This was about my little outburst in the ballroom, and he is punishing me for it. I thought about leaving, but where would I go? Back to my dumpy apartment with my roommate? Besides, I was close to getting enough money for my sister’s medical treatment. This isn’t about me right now. I’ll push my feelings down, keep quiet, and get paid. Easy.

The penthouse felt like a prison, a beautiful cage of glass and steel where the city lights made fun of me every night. I wandered around, restless, half-wanting him to show up in the doorway with that sharp suit and his sharper mouth. Half-wanting him not to, because the moment he did, I would fall apart again.

Michael’s laughter bugged me more than Alex’s not being here. I could still hear it in my head, the sound of someone who knew he had what I didn’t. By the third week, the silence was driving me up the wall. I tried watching TV, working out in the gym Alexander had put in, reading the books on his shelves mostly old, all of them smelling like him. None of it worked.

The truth was, every part of this place reminded me of him, and no matter how much I faked it, I wanted to hear him again. I wanted him to look at me again, I wanted his hands on me, his mouth shutting me up. I desired Alexander Veyron.

The worst part of it all was that every time the elevator made a sound, every time I heard footsteps, I held my breath, waiting and praying……pathetic.

When the doors finally opened one night, I thought I was seeing things. Alexander walked in like he owned the world, which he did. Black suit, tie loose enough to make being bad look hot. He looked at me once, his face blank, as if the weeks of silence didn’t mean anything. As if I didn’t mean anything.

My heart went crazy. I told myself I wasn’t going to react and let him know how his silence affected me. My mouth on the other hand….…

“You remembered where you left me, then?” I blurted out.

His mouth moved a little, like he was annoyed but amused. He came closer, each step showing dominance, which I pretended not to feel.

“Don’t think me being busy means neglect, Ethan. I gave you space and you lack nothing. You should be thankful.”

“Thankful?” I said, and my laugh was bitter. “You go away with Michael all over you, and I’m supposed to thank you for ignoring me?”

His eyes got small, sharp and cold. “Careful.”

But I wasn’t. I was tired, empty, and mad, “Do you like it?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Showing me off, then dumping me for him? Does it turn you on to watch me wait like some pet?”

His jaw got tight. For a second, we just stood there, the silence thick and dangerous. Then he was right in front of me, the heat making it hard to breathe. His hand went to my throat, pressing, making me look at him.

“What I do is none of your business. Do you think Michael matters to me?” His voice went low, a growl that made my skin prickle. “You think anyone does? I don’t care about anyone.”

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to, but the image of Michael next to him was stuck in my head, “Then why him?” I whispered.

Alex’s hand tightened on my throat, it was beginning to hurt. His eyes stared into mine, empty.

“I don’t explain myself to you, Ethan,” he finally said, but his voice wasn’t as hard as usual. “You’re here because of the contract you signed. Don’t ask me questions again.”

He let go of me like I disgusted him and turned away, but I couldn’t stop staring at him, my heart yelling questions I couldn’t ask. I wanted to yell. Instead, I crossed my arms.

“What if I said I don’t want to be here anymore?”

Alexander looked hard at me, the corner of his mouth twitching. He came closer to me, leaned down, “And where,” he asked softly, “would you go, Ethan?”

The question hit me harder than I thought because the answer was… nowhere. I had nowhere to go.

I tightened my jaw. “You don’t own me.”

His hand came up, slowly, his fingers touching my cheek. My skin burned. “Then why,” he whispered, “do you let me?”

I hated him for being right. I was shaking, stuck between wanting him and being heartbroken.

That night we ate dinner without talking. When it was over, Alexander left without a word to me. He went upstairs, his steps heavy. I heard the lock turn on his office door. I sat there after the plates were gone, staring at where he had been, my skin aching where he touched me. I hated myself for it, for wanting him, my body going against me even when I wanted to leave.

I wanted him, not him giving orders or him being in charge. The man who could make me burn with one look, who could destroy me with a touch and the worst part? He knew it. I went to bed aching for him.

……………………………..

The next morning, I ate breakfast alone in the big dining room, the clock ticking louder than my heart. The silence pressed on me until I couldn’t stand it. Halfway through my coffee, one of the servants came in quietly, bowing his head like they all did, which always made me feel weird.

“Sir,” he said softly. “You have a call. Would you like to take it?”

I frowned, no one ever called me here. “Who is it?”

He waited a second. “A young man. He said he’s your… roommate.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Put him through,” I said quickly, standing up.

I ran to the small room where the phone was, grabbing it like it was going to save me.

“Ethan?” The voice I knew filled my ear, warm, making me feel like myself again, reminding me of a life that felt like it was a long time ago.

“Chris,” I breathed. “God, it’s so good to hear your voice. How are you? How’s—” I stopped. “How’s my sister?”

“She’s good,” Chris said right away, his voice making me feel better. “The doctors say she’s doing okay, responding to treatment. You don’t need to worry, she’s being taken care of.”

I felt so relieved I almost fell over. I sat down, closing my eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for being there when I can’t.”

“You would do the same for me,” he said. Then his voice changed, like he was keeping something back. “Actually… something came for you. It arrived yesterday.”

I opened my eyes. “For me? What is it? Who’s it from?”

There was a pause.

Chris’s voice went down, like he wasn’t sure about it. “The note said it was from your father.”

Everything stopped, for a second, I couldn’t breathe or think. I almost dropped the phone, my heart racing. My father? The man who abandoned his family, left me with nothing but broken promises and a sister to take care of? The man who I haven’t seen since I was a kid?

I swallowed, my voice rough. “What… what did it say?”

Chris waited again. “Ethan, maybe you should see it yourself.…..he wants to meet. He said it’s time.”

Time. The word echoed in my head like a bad thing. “Burn it.”