She's going crazy

Julian stormed into his study, slamming the door shut behind him. His chest heaved with labored breaths as he ripped off his tie, tossing it carelessly onto the floor. His jaw clenched tightly, and his usually composed demeanor was nowhere to be found.  

“Damn it!” he growled, his voice echoing in the quiet room.  

He raked his hand through his disheveled hair, his fingers trembling slightly. The memory of her—of Selena, standing in front of him, vulnerable, nervous, and undeniably beautiful—was seared into his mind.  

He slammed his fist onto the desk, the sound reverberating through the room. “What the hell is wrong with me?”  

Julian leaned forward, gripping the back of his chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. His dark eyes closed, but instead of finding peace, they conjured her image with maddening clarity.  

Her scent lingered on him—soft, sweet, and utterly intoxicating. He sucked in a sharp breath, his nostrils flaring as if her presence was still surrounding him. His grip on the chair tightened as he tried to banish the thought, but it only made things worse.  

He groaned, low and guttural, like a beast starved for far too long. His body ached with an unbearable tension, and he glanced down, his frustration boiling over as he saw the physical evidence of his desire.  

“Damn it.”

How could an enemy—his enemy—be so damn irresistible? She was supposed to be nothing more than a pawn in his game, a means to an end. Yet, her wide, frightened eyes, the way her lips trembled when she spoke, the way her body reacted to his touch...  

He groaned again, slamming his hand against the wall this time, as if he could physically beat the thoughts out of his head. “She’s not supposed to affect me like this!” he snapped, his voice a mix of anger and desperation.  

But the truth was undeniable. She did affect him. More than he was willing to admit.  

His mind betrayed him once more, replaying the moment when he had pulled her close, the softness of her waist beneath his hands, the way she had gasped when he leaned in. He could still feel the heat of her skin, the way her breath hitched when their lips almost touched.  

Julian cursed under his breath, his frustration mounting.

“She’s supposed to be just a tool for revenge.”  

But even as he said the words, they felt hollow. The truth was far more complicated, and it gnawed at him like an insatiable hunger.  

For a moment, he allowed himself to drown in the memory of her. The way her dress hugged her curves, the nervous energy that made her all the more alluring, the way she looked at him with a mix of fear and defiance. 

He didn’t know how much longer he could keep this up. The line between revenge and desire was blurring, and it was driving him mad.  

But one thing was certain: Selena Frost was under his control now. And whether it was for revenge or something else entirely, he wasn’t about to let her go. 

—

The soft rustle of curtains being drawn back woke Selena from a restless sleep. She blinked groggily, her eyes adjusting to the sunlight streaming into the grand bedroom. A maid stood nearby, bowing politely.  

"Good morning, Mrs. Mathers," the maid said softly.  

Selena flinched at the title of Mrs. Mathers. It felt foreign and almost absurd to hear herself addressed like that. She sat up in bed, her hair slightly disheveled, and nodded awkwardly.  

"Uh, good morning," she muttered, her voice thick with sleep.  

Another maid entered, carrying a tray of tea and pastries. "Would you like to start your day with some tea, ma’am?"  

Selena hesitated, unused to this kind of treatment. Even during her peak as an actress, she’d never had someone wait on her hand and foot like this. She’d always valued her independence.  

“Uh, sure,” she replied, brushing her hair back. “Thank you.”  

The maids helped her prepare for the day, selecting an elegant yet simple dress for her and styling her hair neatly. Selena felt uneasy as she let them work.

Is this normal? she thought. Then again I’m also not supposed to be here.

When she descended the grand staircase to the dining room, the smell of freshly cooked breakfast greeted her. The long table was laden with a variety of dishes—pancakes, omelets, fresh fruits, and juices.  

The sight of so much food made her pause. She glanced around nervously, half expecting Julian to be sitting at the head of the table with his devilish smirk. But the room was empty save for the silent servants bustling around.  

Selena let out a small sigh of relief. “Good,” she muttered under her breath. “No madman in sight.”  

A butler stepped forward and gestured to a seat. “Please, ma’am, have a seat. Breakfast is ready.”  

Selena sat down hesitantly, feeling out of place in the extravagant dining room. As a servant poured her a glass of orange juice, she looked around awkwardly.  

She picked at her food, eating in silence. The pancakes were fluffy, the fruit perfectly ripe, but she barely tasted any of it. Her mind was elsewhere—her father, Julian, and this bizarre situation she found herself trapped in.  

Even as a big-name actress, Selena wasn’t accustomed to this kind of luxury. She’d worked hard to earn her place in the industry and had always preferred to do things herself.  

This is too much, she thought, glancing at the servants. I expected him to treat me like a prisoner or even a servant. But this?  

She frowned. Julian’s unpredictable behavior unsettled her. What’s his game? Why hasn’t he humiliated me yet?

After finishing her meal, Selena stood and smoothed down her dress. She was determined to see her father and make sure he was okay. The company should be stable now, thanks to Julian, but she needed to confirm it herself.  

When she reached the front door, her resolve faltered as she came face-to-face with two towering men in black suits.  

“Good morning, ma’am,” one of them said politely, but his tone was firm.  

“I’m heading out,” Selena said, attempting to walk past them.  

The men didn’t move.  

“Sorry, ma’am,” the second one said. “Sir has ordered us not to let you leave without his permission.”  

Selena blinked, the words sinking in slowly. “Excuse me?”  

“It’s an order from Mr. Mathers,” the first man repeated.  

Her shock turned into fury. “What the hell do you mean I can’t leave? This is ridiculous! Let me go!” 

The men exchanged uncomfortable glances but stood their ground.  

“Ma’am, please understand—”  

“No, YOU understand,” Selena snapped, her voice rising. “I am not a prisoner here, and I’m certainly not asking for his permission to visit my father!”  

The guards shifted uneasily, clearly caught between their fear of Julian and their discomfort with Selena’s rising anger.  

“Ma’am, we’re just following orders,” one of them said cautiously.  

Selena folded her arms, her eyes blazing. “Then call him. Right now.”  

She wanted to call him herself but didn't have his number. 

The two guards froze. The thought of disturbing Julian over something like this made their stomachs churn. They had seen his temper before, and it wasn’t something they wanted to provoke.  

When they didn’t make a move to call him, Selena’s patience snapped. “If you don’t call him, I’ll climb the gate and hop over it myself!”  

The guards looked alarmed. “Ma’am, please, don’t—”  

Selena glared at them. “Don’t test me. I’ll do it!”

___

In his private office, Julian leaned back in his chair, a glass of whiskey in hand. He heard the commotion at the gate from the call with the guards as they told him everything, and a small smirk played on his lips.  

“She’s spirited,” he murmured, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.  

His assistant stood nearby, shifting awkwardly. “Sir, should we intervene?”  

Julian’s smirk widened. “No. Let her go crazy. I want to see how far she can go.”  

“But, sir,” the assistant hesitated, “if she really tries to climb the gate—”  

“She won’t,” Julian said, his voice calm but firm. “She’s not stupid. She’ll stop before it comes to that. She cares too much about her image to do something like that. 

Julian leaned back further, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “Let her stew in her anger. It’ll only make her realize how powerless she is without my permission.”