He carried her past a stair down the hallway into the dining room.
But Rhea did pay mind to her surroundings any longer—she was fuming.
He placed her on the table edge.
Rhea’s feet touched the cold marble floor as she imdiately tried to get off the table, but he stood between her legs, blocking her way.
Then he placed a plate of food on her lap before she could push past him.
"You should eat," he said in a low voice. "You are too skinny. How do you survive in the outside world being so skinny?"
The clashing sound of a slap cut across the mansion, and everything went still for seconds.
The man turned his head back at Rhea, then glanced at her palm and noticed that it had turned red.
He picked up a napkin, dipped it into an open jug of water on the table, and began wiping her palm.
"You must be hurting." He said, a painful look on his face.
But Rhea scoffed, glancing from the food to the man’s face, to the hand he was nursing. "I’m not your pet or your possession." She jerked her hand free from his. "What makes you think you can be doing all that you want with ?" Whatever sick ideas that are going on in your brain right now that make you think you can treat like this...like a doll... erase it." Rhea’s voice was low, her stomach churned, with revulsion and disbelief.
Then continued, "I woke up feeling disoriented, instead of you giving an explanation, you bathe against my will, that wasn’t enough now you are feeding ?! I’m not an object." She roared.
He bit down on his teeth as his jaw clenched tight against the searing heat from the slap on his face.
He could see how angry she was but said nothing.
He thought what he did was right, he only wanted to make her comfortable. Not knowing he was going about it the wrong way.
She felt she was no longer just a one-night stand, but a prop in so elaborate, golden nightmare.
"I don’t even know your na, why should I eat this? And besides, I’m not hungry," she lied, placing the plate of food beside her. Fervently hoping that her stomach wouldn’t rumble.
He furrowed his brows, "I’m sorry I made you feel that way, that wasn’t my plan." Then shifted close to her, took her hand in his and said gently, his voice barely above a whisper, "I wanted to make you more comfortable. But I didn’t know I was going about it wrongly."
Sothing in his face faltered. When Rhea told him she didn’t know his na. It was so quick she might’ve missed it if she hadn’t been watching him. It was as if a strange stillness passed over him, a sadness too quiet to na.
"I want to go ho..." Rhea brushed it off, muttering as she adjusted her posture, pretending not to notice.
But later, when he wasn’t looking, her brows knit together. Why did he look... sad? Why did he look like I ntioned an abominable subject?
I am the one trapped in a stranger’s house. So why does it feel like he’s mourning sothing? She pondered.
"And also, my na is Zeenare," he introduced.
Rhea said nothing as she’d love not to know anything about him, and to get the hell out of here, away from him, as soon as possible.
"I’ll take you ho after you change." He told her.
Hell no! You are not coming close to my house!
"Thank you for offering, but I’d prefer to go alone." She said, smiling at him.
"I see," he muttered, amused by her polite rejection. But he was going to take her regardless.
After Rhea has changed into her clothes.
Rhea’s legs felt stiff the mont she tried to walk by herself, and she almost fell over. But she walked, a dull ache between her thighs and a strange, heavy weariness pulling at her.
Zeenare led her from the suffocating luxury he called a ho, down into more silent, gilded hallways.
She just wanted to be back in her small, ssy apartnt, where things made sense. That was ho to her.
He pushed open another heavy, discreet door.
Nah! This guy must be into sothing illegal; a cri lord, probably.
The air shifted. This ti, it was cooler, a hint of leather and high-octane fuel. Her eyes widened, trying to adjust.
This wasn’t another ornate chamber. This was a garage. She knew this only because it had cars. It was not like any garage she’d ever seen.
The garage stretched out, vast and brightly lit by square, recessed lights that glowed from a textured, wooden-slatted ceiling. It was a beautiful view.
It felt less like a place for cars and more like a minimalist art gallery. It was the number of the cars themselves that truly stopped her breath.
They weren’t just cars; they were predatory machines, so sleek, gleaming under the precise lighting like dangerous jewels.
There were at least nine she in view, maybe more further back in the shadows.
One was a deep, almost black green, another a pure, reflective black, the third, a pristine white. They looked futuristic, almost alien, with sharp angles and lines that scread speed and inaccessible power. No dust, no oil stains, just perfect, silent power on display.
Her mind which was numb with exhaustion, could only offer a simple, sardonic thought.
Of course, he had a garage like this. It was just another extension of his bizarre, overwhelming world.
This wasn’t just wealthy; this was a whole different dinsion of existence.
"I think this guy should be investigated," she said under her breath.
The thought of getting into one of these, driven by him, felt utterly surreal. She just wanted her familiar Uber, her normal street. This was just... too much.
"Get in," he said gently, holding the car door open for her. His palm over her head protectively as she ducked inside. Not waiting for him to shut the door, she pulled the door shut herself.
As they drove onto the highway, Rhea pressed her face against the window, she was confused. She didn’t know this place. Succulent green field, glimpses of what looked like luxurious estates, all unfamiliar.
Where’s this? Is this the sa country and town I grew up in? How co I didn’t know there’s an island like this? It’s straight out of a romance ani.
"Where should I take you for your appointnt?" Zeenare asked.
If I don’t give him a location, he might decide for . I’d better talk, because I don’t know where I am right now
So she quickly gave him the location of a university across town, far from her apartnt and her school.
The car ca to a smooth stop at the front of the school gate.
"Thank you for the ride... Zeenare," Rhea said, her hand already on the door handle, twisting it hard. It didn’t budge—it was locked. Her eyes shot to his, a hint of panic.
"Hmm, Zeenare? The door!" she demanded, her voice tight. Her eyes darted even as she tried to sound calm.
What will she do if she knows I know everything about her?
In a low voice, he asked, "Are you scared of ?"
Yes, extrely scared of you. Let out!
"Nonsense," she forced a laugh, too loud, too high. "Why would I be scared of you? You took care of , more than most people would!" She tried the handle again, rattling it.
"And you think I believe that? I see how nervous you have been since you woke up," he muttered in a low voice. "Even now!" He laid his head on the steering wheel, staring at her, his gaze intense.
"That’s not true! You are mistaken," she countered, her voice slightly shaky. Even as she held his gaze.
Her heart hamred against her ribs as he leaned towards her, "Is that so?" He replied, unbuckling his seatbelt, closing the distance, his eyes lingering on her lips.
In a flat voice, he said, "Kiss then," his warm breath inches away from her face.
Oh God. What have I done to myself? How did I align myself with this man? When I said I needed a one-night stand, I wasn’t prepared for this kind. This is insane! Her mind scread in protest. If this is what I have to do to get you off my case? So be it. A wave of desperate resignation washed over her.
Rhea leaned in, stiffly, barely touching his lips with hers – a quick, forced peck. She pulled back instantly, her face flushed.
Zeenare looked at her face for a mont, then moved his gaze back to her lips and scoffed, a low, sound.
What will you do if I want to be in your life, Rhea?
In a swift second, Zeenare’s hand shot out, cupping the back of her head, pulling her forward roughly. His lips claid them hungrily, as he slamd onto hers, his tongue intertwining with hers. As he demanded entry, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth, sucking on it, savouring her taste.
Her mind scread No! But her body felt paralysed, overwheld by his intensity. As Rhea’s hands flew up, pushing back against his shoulders, his grip on her was unyielding.
After long minutes, Zeenare pulled back, his eyes still burning into hers. He reached for her face, wiped the corner of her lips with his thumb gently — then casually pushed a loose strand of hair back into place.
Zeenare’s voice was low and scratchy, like it scraped the back of his throat, as he asked, "How does this feel?"
Rhea said nothing. Couldn’t. Her breath was shallow. Her chest was rising too fast.
Eyes wide. Lips sore.
Her whole body trembled, as she froze in place.
She couldn’t even blink.
Then Zeenare leaned in a little closer and said, low and certain,
"That’s how you kiss. Don’t forget it, Princess."
The lock clicked as he opened the door, stepped out like nothing had just happened, walked around the car, and opened hers — waiting.
Rhea stumbled out, legs weak, barely holding her up, because seriously, what the hell had just happened?
She shot him a glare, her eyes flicking to his lips — still swollen from that rough, uninvited kiss. Rhea’s brows pinched as her stomach turned in a mix of disgust and fury, she turned sharply and stord past him, each unsteady step screaming: I’m getting the hell away from you.
As he watched her leave, he muttered under his breath, "We’ll see again, Rhea, and when we do, you will co to understand why I had to do this, My love."
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