CHAPTER 11

Selena

I stood outside Stephen’s office door, my hand trembling as I raised it to knock. A cold shiver crawled down my spine. Something told me whatever was waiting for me inside wasn’t good but did I have a choice? No.

I knocked once. Silence.

I waited.

Not even a faint acknowledgment came from the other side. But I knew better. His number one rule never enter without permission.

I hesitated, the silence stretching like an invisible rope around my throat. I knocked again, lighter this time, my knuckles brushing the polished wood. Still nothing.

Then his voice came, low and smooth like poison slipping into a drink.

“Come in.”

I sucked in a shaky breath and pushed the door open slowly.

Stephen sat behind his massive desk, the soft glow of his laptop screen painting harsh lines across his face. He didn’t glance up, didn’t pause. His fingers clicked across the keyboard like I wasn’t even there.

I stepped inside cautiously, the door closing behind me with a soft click that sounded too loud in the suffocating silence. My heels tapped against the marble floor as I walked toward him, every step a countdown to something I didn’t want to face.

“You called for me... mas—master,” I said, my voice cracking near the end.

The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk. He still didn’t look at me. That smirk alone made my skin crawl.

The silence stretched again, thicker this time, until it felt like a third person in the room. Then, with deliberate calm, he shut his laptop and finally looked up.

His cold gaze met mine, sharp and unblinking.

“Tell me,” he said as he slowly rose from his chair, “why did you disobey my command?”

My throat tightened. Disobey? What command? My mind raced as I tried to recall what I’d done wrong. I would never disobey him not out of courage, not out of pride, but because I was terrified of what he'd do if I ever did.

“I—I would never go against you, master,” I stammered, eyes darting to the floor.

He moved so fast I didn’t see it coming. One second he was still by his desk, and the next, he was right in front of me, his hand yanking the blue scarf from my neck. I gasped as the fabric burned against my skin, exposing the delicate line of my throat... and the dress beneath.

I instinctively covered my chest with my arms, heart pounding.

“I told you,” he growled, “only the black gown. No scarf. How dare you hide what belongs to me?”

Before I could answer, his hand shot out and pinned me against the wall. My breath caught as my back hit the cold surface, pain lacing through my shoulder blades.

“Please… Stephen—”

His eyes darkened.

I froze.

He had warned me never to use his name.

“I mean... master. I’m sorry please, you’re hurting me.”

But he wasn’t listening. His eyes held the same darkness from the night before the same twisted satisfaction. And then he flung me across the room like I weighed nothing, and I crashed onto the leather sofa.

Pain shot through my side, but I didn’t dare cry out.

“I’m sorry, master,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

He stepped toward me slowly, like a wolf toying with its prey. There was a strange calm in his steps, one that made the moment even more terrifying.

“Seems like your father never taught you how to follow orders,” he said coldly. “Guess I’ll have to fix that.”

He reached down, his hand gripping the hem of my gown, yanking it upward.

“Did you like what happened yesterday?” he whispered, his breath hot and cruel near my face. “Or do you want more?”

“No!” I cried, scooting back. “Please don’t! I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll never go against your command again!”

His lips curled.

“You just said my name again, Selena.”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, master!” I cried, tears blurring my vision as he yanked my hair, forcing my head back.

Humiliation burned hotter than any pain.

“Please,” I whispered. “Just don’t embarrass me... not in school.”

He tilted his head, amused. “Oh, I think it would be good for you. A little public lesson. It might make you popular.”

I closed my eyes, hoping begging for it to end.

Finally, he released my hair. I slumped forward, breathless.

“Get out of my office,” he snapped.

I didn’t wait. I scrambled to my feet, adjusted my dress with trembling fingers, and rushed out the door before he could change his mind.

The hallway was mercifully empty, but I still felt eyes on me. The tears came faster now, sliding down my cheeks unchecked. I didn’t wipe them. What was the point?

I needed to disappear. To breathe.

The only place that came to mind was the academy library quiet, forgotten by most students, and tucked away in the far corner of campus.

I quickened my pace, head down.

Then thud. I bumped into someone.

“Oh! Sorry,” the girl said, steadying herself.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, not really looking at her. I was already trying to walk past when she gently grabbed my wrist.

“I was told to give you this,” she said, handing me a folded piece of paper.

“Who?” I asked, blinking at her.

“They told me not to say,” she replied with a shrug and walked away.

I hesitated for a moment before unfolding the note.

I don’t want to see you near my man again. If I do, I’ll make your life a living hell.

My stomach twisted. Julia.

Of course it was her.

If only she knew how desperately I wanted to run from him. From both of them. From this entire cursed academy.

I stared at the note, my fingers curling around it. The paper crumpled beneath my grip.

I thought I’d reached the lowest point. But something told me... Julia hadn’t even started.