Chapter 213
I try to stay in my room...I really do try.
I sit on the bed, then lie down, then sit back up again. I pick up my phone, scroll, drop it. Walk to the window. Come back, pace....nothing works because every time my mind slows down for even a second.....He’s in the cellar, like Aaron is just... stored away somewhere.
My chest tightens and I don’t even realize when I’ve left my room by the time I do, I’m already halfway down the hallway that leads to the back of the house. The quieter side, the one people don’t wander into unless they have a reason.
My steps slow when I reach the door of th cellar but something about it makes my stomach turn.
I rest my hand on the handle, hesitate then push it open.
The air changes immediately to something Cooler.
There’s a faint smell.....metallic, damp, something stale that clings to the back of my throat.
I swallow.
A guard stands just inside. He straightens the moment he sees me, clearly not expecting me here.
"Ma’am."
"I’m fine," I say quickly, before he can start questioning anything. "I just want to see him."
He hesitates...i can see it in the way his posture shifts slightly, unsure whether to allow it or stop me.
"Zane didn’t say I couldn’t," I add, holding his gaze.
That does it and he steps aside as I walk past him...each step deeper feels louder than it should. The kind of echo that makes you feel like you don’t belong there.
Then I see him...Aaron. And my brain refuses to match what I’m seeing with who I know.
He’s slumped against the wall, legs stretched awkwardly, wrists restrained. His head hangs forward like it’s too heavy to hold up with bruruises cover his face, not small ones. Dark, swollen patches around his cheekbone, his jaw, one eye slightly puffed. His lip is split, dried blood crusted at the edge.
There’s more blood on his shirt...not reall fresh though.
My chest tightens.
"Aaron..."
My voice comes out softer than I expect....his head moves sllowly, like it takes effort just to react.
Then he lifts it and when his eyes land on me.....Everythin changes, something desperate lights up in them. Raw. Immediate.
"Elaine....."
His voice is rough and scraped thin. He tries to move forward, but whatever is holding him stops him short.
"Elaine, thank God," he breathes out, relief and panic mixing together.
I take a step closer before I can stop myself
"You’re... alive," I say, even though it sounds stupid the moment it leaves my mouth.
"Barely," he lets out a broken laugh that doesn’t reach his eyes. "Please...."
His voice cracks.
"Please get me out of here."
I freeze.
"What?"
"I didn’t do anything on my own," he rushes out, words tumbling over each other. "I swear to you, Elaine. I was just following instructions. That’s it. That’s all it was."
My brows pull together.
"Whose instructions?"
He shakes his head quickly.
"Please, that doesn’t matter right now...."
"It does," I cut in, sharper this time and he flinches slightly.
"I didn’t have a choice," he insists, desperation rising. "You don’t understand the kind of situation I was in....."
"Then make me understand," I snap.
There’s a beat then he breaks eye contact.
"I can’t," he mutters.
Anger flares in my chest.
"You can’t?
"Not here," he says quickly, looking back at me. "Not like this. Please, just get me out first. I’ll tell you everything, I swear."
I stare at him...like really look at him and At the fear because it’s not fake.
"I don’t want to die here," he says, quieter now.
And that...that hits me.
I exhale slowly, running a hand through my hair.
"You expect me to just walk out and tell Zane to let you go?" I ask.
"Yes," he says immediately no hesitation.
"Because he’ll listen to you," he adds quickly. "Whether he wants to admit it or not, he will."
I almost laugh but it doesn’t come out because I’m not even sure he’s wrong and that’s the problem....dverything is complicated now.
"I’ll... think about it," I say finally.
I’m not stupid....im not letting someone who almost got me killed free just like that...that won’t be happening.
He nods quickly, clinging to it anyway.
"Please, just try " he whispers again
I turn before I can say anything else because if I stay any longer.... I don’t know what I’ll do
———
By the time I step out of my room later, he’s already there...Waiting like he’s been placed there.
He straightens slightly when he sees me.
"Ma’am."
I stop a few steps away from him, taking him in. He’s... different and not like the others.
There’s something about the way he stands.....still, controlled, like he’s trained not just to obey, but to observe.
"And you are?" I ask.
"Daniel."
Short and Simple....no extra words.
I nod slowly.
"Zane works fast," I mutter.
"Yes, ma’am."
I start walking and he follows.....Not too close but not far either, just enough to be there. A Constant, i can feel it with every step. I stop suddenly and he stops too, exactly when I do.
I turn to face him.
"Do you report everything I do?"
"Yes."
No hesitation just a clean, direct answer.
I raise a brow.
"Everything?"
"Yes, ma’am."
I let out a small breath, somewhere between disbelief and amusement.
"Wow.
I tilt my head slightly, studying him.
"And you’re okay with that?"
"Yes, ma’am. I do what the boss tells me to."
Of course he is.
I sigh.
"Alright then."
Let’s see how far this goes. I adjust my dress slightly. Enoug to shift the neckline a little lower, enough that it becomes... noticeable.
He doesn’t react, not even a flicker or a glance.
Nothing.
I narrow my eyes slightly. Okay.
I step closer and into his space,Close enough that most people would at least react instinctively still He doesn’t move or step back, doesn’t even look at me.
His gaze stays fixed somewhere just above my shoulder.
Professional.
"Do you have eyes?" I ask bluntly.
"Yes, ma’am."
"Then use them."
Nothing. No reaction or shift.
I let out a small, incredulous laugh.
"You’re not even going to look?"
"No, ma’am."
I shake my head slowly.
"Zane really picked well this time."
"Yes, ma’am."
I stare at him for another second then step back.
Because this....This isn’t going to work the way I thought but something clicks in my head if he reports everything...Then Zane knows everything mov, every word and every little thing I do.
A slow smile creeps onto my face.
"Good," I murmur under my breath.
I turn and start walking again.
But this time....It’s different....its more intentional and aware because now? Im not just being watched, I’m being reported ms if Zane wants control....Then I’ll give him something worth watching.
———
I wait am I don’t go to him immediately, tbah would be too easy and desperate.
Instead, I stay in my room, sitting at the edge of the bed, listening to the house around me. Time passes slowly. Every small sound feels louder than it should....the distant footsteps, doors opening and closing, the faint murmur of voices somewhere far off.
Then.....I hear it. His car in the driveway and
My back straightens instantly but I don’t move yet.
I wait longer, let him come in and let him settle, him go exactly where he always goes. His office....tsk so Predictabl
I stand up slowly....If he wants distance, fine.
I’ll close it. I walk to my wardrobe and pick something out..... Something soft, light and effortless. The kind of thing that doesn’t scream for attention... but doesn’t hide either.
I don’t overthink it cause if I start overthinking, I won’t go through with it. I leave my hair down, slightly messy, like I didn’t try too hard. Like this is normal even though it’s not.
My heartbeat is louder now as I step out of my room and make my way down the hallway.
By the time I reach his office door, I already know he’s inside. There’s a faint shuffle of movement, the quiet sound of something being set down.
I don’t knock as I push the door open to find He’s standing behind his desk, sleeves rolled, focused on something in front of him, for a second, he doesn’t notice me then the door clicks shut behind me and His head lifts.... everything stops as He goes completely still.
His eyes find mine first. Then slowly...very slowly....they move down taking me in.
"Elaine."
My name leaves his mouth low, slowly but there’s something under it. Something restrained.
I lean back slightly against the door, folding my arms loosely, like I didn’t just walk in here with a purpose.
"You’re back," I say.... Trying to go for normal, like I didn’t wait for this moment.
His gaze doesn’t leave me.
"Is there something you need?" he asks.
I tilt my head slightly.
"Can’t I come see my husband?"
There’s a pause that has his jaw tightens just slightly.
"I thought you were busy," I add, softer now.
I see the way his expression shifts, just for a second.
"I am," he says.
I nod slowly.
"Right."
I push myself off the door and walk toward him and I stop a few steps away, vlose enough to feel his presence but not close enough to touch.
"I don’t like this," I say quietly.
"This distance. This... ignoring me."