First Night Passed

*************

Chapter 4

Scarface led me through the dim corridors of Arthdal Strike, till we made our way out for the club.

Every step I took felt heavier than the last with Damon’s words replaying in my mind—You’ll be mine. Exclusively.

The reality of what I had agreed to was beginning to sink in, nearly suffocating me.

I averted my gaze, desperate to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes till we got into the same black car that brought me.

The drive was silent. The car was spacious; now they believed I wouldn't run away. And truth be told, I crossed that thought out of my mind. 

Maybe in the past, but with Damon exclusively involved now, there was no hope. Not now, at least.

My mind raced back to the office in the club and Damon. I held back my breath, feeling his presence loom over me as though he were still there.

‘Breath, Ari, breath,’ I mentally chanted till we arrived at the grand estate sprawling across hectares of manicured landscape.

I stood in awe immediately I alighted the car at the grandeur of the mansion. 

Its winding driveways were lined with lush greenery and ornate lamp posts. Manicured gardens, bursting with vibrant lights in the dark, illuminating the entire compound and tranquil water features, a grand, multi-story mansion with classical architecture, ornate details, and expansive windows. 

Behind the mansion, a separate, modern penthouse structure rose, boasting sleek lines, floor-to-ceiling glass, and a rooftop pool overlooking the estate.

I barely had time to take in my surroundings when Scarface pushed me forward.

“Walk,” the second man ordered.

Scarface remained silent as we passed the mansion, heading for the penthouse. We reached a private elevator, and without a word, he pressed the button for the top floor.

As the elevator doors slid shut, I felt a sudden sense of claustrophobia. The walls seemed too close, the air too thick. 

I almost choked, forcing my mind to think of other things. ‘Breath, Arianna. You’ll be fine.’

I was about to be delivered to Damon Dark’s private world, away from the chaos of the club, but it offered no comfort. This wasn’t freedom—it was just another cage, a more gilded and rich one.

When the doors opened, I blinked in shock at the change in scenery. The penthouse was nothing like the gritty streets I’d come from. 

Polished marble floors gleamed under the soft light, and the walls were lined with sleek, modern art. 

Large glass windows showcased the sprawling city of Thania beneath us, glittering like a dangerous jewel. Everything about the place screamed wealth and power, but it felt cold. Uninviting. Like its owner.

Damon stood by one of the windows with a phone pressed against his left ear, his silhouette sharp against the city lights. He didn’t turn as I entered, but I could feel his awareness like he knew my every move. 

I swallowed hard, but my throat had gotten dry as Scarface nudged me forward before leaving the living room without a word. The door clicked shut behind me, leaving me alone with Damon.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence until he spoke into the phone. “I'll be there.”

My skin prickled with nerves. Finally, Damon spoke without turning to face me. "You’ll learn quickly that everything here operates under my rules."

I stiffened as expected but my naughty mouth asked, "What exactly does that mean?"

He turned, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “It means that from now on, you do as I say. You don’t question me. You don’t defy me. And most importantly, you don’t forget who you belong to."

His words were cold, calculated, like everything about him. But there was something else there too. A flicker of vulnerability, as though he was hiding something deeper. It unnerved me, but it also drew me in.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" I mumbled.

Damon’s lips twitched in a way that wasn’t quite a smile. "No. You don’t. Just needed to remind you, Ari, because there wouldn’t be a next time. Only punishments shall follow."

I snapped my head up at him. Did he just calm my nickname? And the way it rolled off his lips like sugar on an ice cake made my stomach flutter.

His lips twitched. "You’ll stay here," Damon continued, walking toward me slowly. "You won’t return to that apartment. You’ll have everything you need, but in return, I expect complete obedience."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "And what happens if I don’t obey?"

Damon stopped just inches from me. His eyes bore into mine. "You're just starting, and you want to disobey? Looks like you have a bigger death wish than I thought.”

“Believe me, I don't. However, I wish to know what I'm getting into.”

In the blink of an eye, Damon’s hand gripped my chin a little too tight for my liking, forcing me to stare into his eyes. 

Hypnotised, I held them. “And you’ll find out why I’m not a man you want to cross."

I couldn’t breathe. Those words were filled with unspoken threats. And yet, there was something in his gaze that made my heart race—not just with fear, but with something else I couldn’t name.

"I don’t know if I can do this," I admitted.

"A little too late for that don’t you think?” 

“Not like what you need comes with a job description,” I retorted. 

“Sharp-tongued, Ari but did anyone ever tell you it would put you in trouble?” 

“Maybe.”

He scoffed and released my chin. “You’ll learn," Damon said softly, his voice strangely gentle. His hand reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch was surprisingly light. "You’ll adapt. And you’ll survive."

I flinched at the touch, my instincts screaming at me to pull away, but the way he looked at me—like I was more than just another part of his world—kept me rooted to the spot.

As his hand dropped to his side, his expression hardened again, like a mask slipping back into place. "You’ll be safe here. No one will hurt you. As long as you follow the rules."

I swallowed hard. He was offering me protection, but at what cost? I was giving up my freedom, my will, to a man who seemed to thrive on control. 

"Get some rest," he said, turning away from me. "You’re in luck. First night passed. Your new life officially starts tomorrow."

I blink in confusion. "Tomorrow?"

Damon didn’t answer. He simply walked toward another door, but then he stopped, half-turned, his expression completely cold.

"On second thought, Victor, throw her in the cold room for forty minutes. Perhaps that will tame her lips."

What?!

With that, he left me alone but to my dismay, Scarface walked in with a wicked grin on his face.

'Just great!'