THE PAWN'S AWAKENING

Cleo's pov

I stood in the dim hallway, trying to steady my breathing as Russo’s command echoed in my mind. “You are not to see any man without my consent.” He hadn’t yelled, but his voice had carried the kind of weight that could crush a person, and I was already buried under enough pressure. He had turned and left me there without waiting for a response, as if my compliance was as natural as breathing. I gripped the smooth banister, my nails digging into the polished wood as I tried to keep my anger and fear at bay.

I heaved a deep sigh and took a right turn but it was a dead end. It was my first time in the mansion and every hallway looked the same, cold, lavish and utterly unfamiliar. I tried retracing my steps but each turn seemed to lead me deeper into a maze of rooms that felt like they were closing in on me.

I took a last turn, and there he was, leaning against the wall near the entrance. He looked up, his brows knitting together when he saw me, surprise flickering across his f