Lila barely had a chance to breathe when Alexander closed the door behind him, his gaze dark and unreadable as he strode across the room. The way he looked at her sent chills down her spine, a mix of anger and something else she couldn’t quite name. “Strip,” he commanded, his voice cold, almost clinical. She blinked, trying to find her voice. “I… I’m sorry, I don’t know what got into me—” “Did you hear me?” he interrupted, not an ounce of patience in his tone. “I said, strip.” She hesitated, hands trembling as I reached for the edge of my dress. She felt exposed and humiliated, but his eyes held no sympathy, no softness. Only frustration and desire. When she was standing there in nothing but bare skin, he moved closer, his eyes raking over her with an intensity that burned. He said nothing, just circled her slowly, as though appraising his possession. Then, suddenly, he swept his arm across the vanity table, sending everything crashing to the floor. Perfume bottles shattered, bru
Lila’s eyes opened slowly, the early morning light just barely filtering through the curtains. The pain was sharp and unyielding; every inch of her body felt sore, her skin stinging where the belt had struck her over and over the night before. She shifted, but each movement reminded her of the bruises on her behind, the lingering punishment from Alexander. Even as she winced, his presence consumed her thoughts. She forced herself up, sliding off the bed carefully, struggling against the ache in her body as she dressed. It took effort to pull herself together, to even brush her hair, but she tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the clock. Mrs. Harrington would be waiting soon, and she couldn’t risk showing up late—she didn’t need the added scorn. But as she stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down her dress, her mind went back to him. He was everywhere, filling every part of her senses, dominating her with a force she could hardly understand. And then, as if her thoughts had
With Alexander, pleasure always came before the pain. Lila tugged at the knot binding her wrists, feeling the rough fabric scrape her skin. She’d struggled against it for what felt like ages, her arms aching, but Alexander had tied it mercilessly tight before he left, leaving her splayed out, helpless. Her fingers finally caught hold of a loose loop, and after a few agonizing tugs, she was able to work herself free. Rubbing her wrists, she hissed as she glanced down at the raw, red marks and the bruises already forming along her skin. The tie had burned the flesh there, and the sting intensified with every movement. For a moment, she considered staying in bed, claiming sickness, avoiding what was sure to be another long, gruelling day. But she forced herself to stand, feeling her legs shaky beneath her, still caught in the haze of everything he’d put her through. Pulling herself together, she quickly dressed, willing her mind to shift back to the present. You can’t be late, she
Lila was just starting to process what she’d overheard when she felt a sharp tug on her arm. She spun around, eyes widening as she faced Isabel, who had a smug, triumphant look plastered on her face. “Eavesdropping on the Madame, are we?” Isabel sneered, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Lila scoffed, pulling her arm free. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. You’re imagining things.” “Oh, don’t play innocent. I saw you. You think I’m blind?” Isabel’s eyes narrowed, glancing over Lila with a look of disdain. “And, by the way, I know Alexander was in your room this morning. What’s going on between you two?” Lila’s expression stayed steady, though her heart thudded at the accusation. “I could ask you the same, Isabel. Seems like you’re a bit too obsessed with his every move.” Isabel took a step closer, her face now inches from Lila’s. “You better stay away from him. He’s mine.” She looked her up and down, her eyes landing on the bruises on Lila’s wrist. Lila folded her hands behind her
Lila’s stomach churned as she sat in the small, cramped room they’d been moved to. She looked around, feeling more like a prisoner than a maid. The bed was small and the walls felt like they were closing in on her. After the way things had blown up with Isabel earlier, she wasn’t sure if she’d get any peace tonight—or if Alexander would be showing up to deal with them himself. A maid had brought dinner with a quick, annoyed look, saying Mrs. Harrington was so upset with them for embarrassing her in front of her friend today. As if that lady wasn’t already humiliating herself, stuffing her face like she hadn’t eaten for days! Lila fumed, stabbing her fork into the food. All this was because of Isabel and her big mouth. She hadn’t spoken to her since, but had noticed her shadow pacing outside a little while ago. And now, suddenly, it was quiet. Lila’s thoughts shifted to Alexander. She wondered if he’d been told about the fight yet. Did he think she was a troublemaker? She felt a sh
Lila felt her mouth go dry as she heard Alexander’s command. She could hear Isabel’s heavy breathing before he spoke, but now she believed she had froze at his words. “ Don’t make me repeat myself.” He said calmly, but Lila knew he was anything but calm. Isabel hadn’t moved. What was she supposed to do? She didn’t like the girl, she found her irritating, and yet, something about the idea of them touching each other made her feel in a manner she never thought possible. She was thinking about it. Her fingers twitching as she gently lifted her fingers in the air to find her skin. A gasp escaped her lips when she felt a soft hand graze her nipple. The feeling was sensational. Lila’s hands found Isabel’s breast and she gently placed her hands on them, she felt Goosebumps rise on the skin as she squeezed gently. Isabel let out a breathy moan and this encouraged Lila. She lifted her other hand to the other breast and squeezed harder. She felt Isabel arch her back as she gasped. Des
The morning sun streamed through the thin curtains of Mrs. Harrington’s room as Lila brushed her hair, trying her best to keep her expression neutral. But her mind was a storm of anger. Last night was burned into her memory—the way Alexander’s cold blue eyes had fixated on her as he ravished Isabel, the smug look on Isabel’s face as she soaked in the pleasure he gave her. He wanted Lila to watch, wanted her to feel every ounce of jealousy and shame. And it worked. She tugged a bit too hard at a knot in Mrs. Harrington’s hair, her grip tightening unconsciously. “Careful!” Mrs. Harrington hissed, wincing as she jerked her head away. Lila blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Apologies, my lady,” she replied, her voice flat, not bothering to feign the usual fear or submission. She was far too upset for that. Mrs. Harrington narrowed her eyes at Lila in the mirror. “And where is that girl, Isabel?” she asked, a hint of irritation seeping into her voice. It was unlike Isabel to be
The house buzzed with activity as Mrs. Harrington returned earlier than expected, her usual poise shattered. Her face was flushed, lips pressed into a thin line. She stormed into the grand hall, her shrill voice cutting through the chatter of the servants. “My ring! My wedding ring is missing!” she screeched. The house froze. Every servant in earshot flinched, and a ripple of panic spread through the room. Lila, standing quietly near the staircase, felt a thrill of anticipation. It was time. Her plan was unfolding perfectly. She had planted the ring in Isabel’s room only moments before, making sure to hide it in a place where the security would easily find it during the search. The security team, led by Mrs. Harrington herself, wasted no time. “Search every servant’s room! No one leaves until we find it,” she commanded. Her words were law, and the guards scattered like mice, scurrying up the stairs and into the hallways. Lila followed them discreetly, keeping her expression neutral
Lila stood on the living room balcony, her fingers gripping the silk robe tightly around her body. The cool night air whipped against her skin, making the material swirl around her like a wave. She could feel the weight of her thoughts pressing against her chest, but it was the unease, the fear that gnawed at her the most. She had been feeling it for days now. The confidence she had built up when Isabel was here had vanished into thin air, leaving only the remnants of dread. She couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen when Alexander came for her tonight. The last punishment still haunted her—her wounds, still fresh and painful, reminded her every moment of how far he could go. The possessiveness that clung to him had become like a shadow, following her everywhere. It wasn’t just his eyes, the way they pierced through her like a blade; it was everything about him that made her feel small, controlled. But it wasn’t her fault. She never asked for Reagan to approach her like tha
The morning light seeped into the servant’s quarters, pulling Lila from a restless sleep. Her thoughts were tangled in Alexander’s voice from the day before, his confession of love haunting her. Yet her bruises ached as much as her heart, serving as reminders of the complex, dangerous man who claimed to love her. She tiptoed through the hallways, ensuring she wouldn't cross paths with him. She longed to be near him but was terrified of the intensity he brought with him. She couldn’t risk another interaction like yesterday—not yet. By late morning, she found herself accompanying Mrs. Harrington to a high-end dress shop in the city. Lila had never been in a place so grand. The walls shimmered with gold accents, and the chandeliers sparkled like diamonds. Every dress looked like it could buy her freedom ten times over. She kept her hands clasped tightly, determined not to touch anything unless explicitly told to. Mrs. Harrington, meanwhile, settled into a plush chair alongside her fr
The morning light crept into the room, dragging with it a dull ache that woke Lila before she was ready. She lay on the bed, her body heavy with pain. Her skin burned where Alexander’s belt had landed, and her throat ached from where his hand had been. "I love you." The words rang louder than the pain, filling every space in her head. She blinked away tears and sat up, wincing as the motion sent a sting down her back. But there was no time to feel sorry for herself. Mrs. Harrington would need her, and Lila couldn’t afford to give her a reason to yell. Lila’s movements were slow as she worked in the dining room. Every time she bent or reached, the bruises made her flinch. Her hands shook slightly as she poured tea into a cup. “What is wrong with you this morning?” Mrs. Harrington’s voice snapped across the room. “You’re slower than a sick dog.” “I’m sorry, ma’am,” Lila muttered, focusing on steadying the cup. “Sorry doesn’t get the job done, does it?” Mrs. Harrington’s sharp eyes
Lila’s heart pounded in her chest as the door to her room clicked shut. She kept her eyes away from the intruder, forcing herself to steady her breathing. She’d known this was coming. The moment she’d kissed Mr. Paul, her fate had been sealed. She’d flirted with him all night, testing Alexander’s patience, and now the price had come due. But she wouldn’t show fear. That was the one thing she had left—her defiance. The tension in the room was suffocating, the silence stretching far too long. Finally, she turned to him, her feet hesitant but firm as they carried her to the figure standing in the shadows. “Alex, I—” she began nervously, her voice trembling. “Sir,” his deep voice cut her off, sharp and cold as steel. She blinked, caught off guard by the correction. “S-Sir,” she stammered, her words faltering under the weight of his gaze. “I don’t know what came over me tonight,” she added weakly. “Why is it,” he began, his tone low but filled with fury, “that you continue to test me
Mr. Paul followed Lila into a room that looked untouched. The room was dark, save for the moonlight that filtered in through the open balcony doors.He paused for a moment, taking in the scene. The air was cool, carrying a faint trace of garden jasmine from outside. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, finding Lila standing on the balcony, her silhouette framed by the night. The moonlight lay softly on her skin, making her appear almost ethereal. She had captured his attention the moment he saw her at the party, and he had been waiting for a chance to be alone with her.Her dress billowed slightly around her thighs as the breeze danced through the balcony. It was a delicate tease, revealing glimpses of her legs that stirred something primal in him. She turned around, resting her back against the railing as she watched him approach. Her gaze was steady, almost challenging, as though she knew the effect she had on him."You are beautiful," he said softly, stepping closer. He moved wit
The evening began as expected, with the Harrington estate bathed in the golden glow of candlelight. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington stood at the entrance, warmly receiving their guests, laughter and light chatter filling the air. “Mr. Harrington, how was the business trip?” one guest asked with genuine interest. “It was quite alright,” he replied with a smile, “though I must admit, I was a bit homesick. I missed my wife very much.” “Oh, you two have always been so enchanted by each other,” another chimed in, prompting a round of laughter. Mrs. Harrington blushed but said nothing, her attention momentarily caught by the bustling of servants preparing for dinner. What she didn’t notice, however, was that her lady-in-waiting, Lila, was nowhere to be seen. The dinner bell rang, and the guests made their way to the grand dining hall. As everyone settled into their seats, Lila finally appeared, taking her usual position behind Mrs. Harrington’s chair—but this time, she was dressed in something
Lila’s fingers curled tightly around the tulips in her hand, their delicate petals now crushed by the force of her grip. Her face was contorted in a frown as she walked behind Mrs. Harrington, who was barking orders at a poor man standing on a ladder, adjusting the curtains. It wasn’t the curtains that irritated Lila—it was everything else.She had woken up with that same frustrating, empty feeling from the night before. The night that had started with so much potential but ended in disappointment. Lila had nearly gotten what she wanted with Alexander, almost… but once again, it had slipped through her fingers. It was becoming a familiar pattern, and the anger inside her had reached its boiling point.Mrs. Harrington’s voice broke through her thoughts as she snapped, "Move them further to the right. To the right, you idiot!"Lila nearly rolled her eyes. "It’s a dinner party, not a fashion show, why does it matter?" she muttered under her breath, her gaze falling on the curtains that w
"Under the table," Alexander hissed, his voice sharp with urgency. Lila blinked once, twice, before quickly scrambling to gather her uniform and bra, diving under the desk. Her breath was ragged as she crouched there, clutching the fabric to her chest. The sound of knocking filled the room again, louder this time. "Alex?" Mrs. Harrington called from the other side. "We can’t keep ignoring this rift between us. I know I said I didn’t want to talk to you, and I appreciate the space you’ve given me. But I’m ready now. I need us to talk about what happened." Alexander’s hands fumbled as he fixed his disheveled appearance, muttering a string of curses under his breath. Another knock. This one more insistent. "Alex? I’m coming in." The door creaked open, and Victoria stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, shadows cast by the single desk lamp making the space feel smaller. She paused, her gaze sweeping over Alexander. He was sitting stiffly in his chair, his shirt slightly untucked, hi
Alexander remained seated in his chair, taking his time to observe every curve and dip of her body. He’d missed raking his hands all over her, sliding his tongue on her soft, creamy breasts. Her soft thighs he’d been between not enough times. He didn’t understand what he ever saw in Isabel. But, despite all these thoughts swirling around in his head, his expression remained blank. He took a slow sip of his drink, taking his eyes off her, seemingly uninterested in the beautiful woman before him. This made Lila nervous. She could never understand him even though she said she did. He didn’t even seem interested as she in her. Did he even like her? She felt extremely foolish. She had come to his office hoping to get his attention , but it was slowly becoming clear that he didn’t see her as anything. Why else would he have sex with Isabel before he had sex with her, and even in front of her. She clenched her fists in anger, and emotion she had been feeling whenever Alexander was invo