Chapter 26
1 stepped forward with a frown, eye
sharp on Karl’s face.
“You don’t get to question him, I said, arms crossed, chin lifting. “Does it even matter who I fuck?”
His jaw clenched,
Then he reached into his jacket,
He looked at the man beside me, then slowly around the bar, like he was trying to decide how far he’d let this go. 7 pulled out a thick wad of cash, and tossed it directly at the guy’s chest.
The man caught it awkwardly, clearly confused, but Karl didn’t wait for a reaction.
He grabbed my wrist and turned, pulling me toward the door.
“Karl…“I tried to yank free but his grip didn’t loosen.
We got outside fast, past the lights and the people and the pounding bass. The second we were alone, he spun me around, his hand still around my wrist his body closing the distance.
My back hit the wall behind the building, cold and rough against my shoulder blades. His other hand landed beside my head, trapping me in place,
“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked, voice low, like he was trying hard not to yell
I blinked at him, breath quick
“What?! Are you the only one who can sleep around now?” I shoved at his chest once, but he didn’t budge. “I’m a human being with needs too, Karl I’m not made of stone and-”
That’s different!” he snapped.
I froze, staring up at him.
My voice came out smaller, bun sharp, “How!”
He didn’t answer night away.
“Why?” I pushed again, frustration rising. “Why is it different for me? Why can’t you stand the idea of me with another man?”
His breath hitched, and for a second, I thought he was going to yell again.
bstead, his face changed. He looked away, eyes closing
“Because=”
He didn’t finish. His jaw flexed, but the rest of the sentence stayed trapped behind his clenched teeth
His eyes stayed closed for a second longer, then he pulled back just enough to breathe.
“I don’t care who you fuck he said finally, lus voire clipped, jaw locked tight. “Just don’t do it in places like this, not where anyone can snap a photo and destroy everything I’ve built.”
My lips parted in disbelief, “so that’s what this is about? Your reputation!”
He didn’t flinch. “I don t dank you realize how serious breaching the contract is“
I stepped our of his hold, brushing past his arm so as long as I keep it private, it’s bue?”
He and nothing
“No problem,” I said, shrugging with a bitter smule. “I’ll handle it myself next time, on my own, quiet and convenient. Wouldn’t want to get caught in the background of someour’s tabloid proto, right?”
He stayed silent, expression unreadable
I turned toward the street, sull fuming. “How did you even find mer
He walked past me, opeurd the car door, and looked over his shoulder.
2:00 PM
Chapter 26
“Get in the car.
The car was too quiet,
I sat back with my arms folded, eyes focused on the streetlights flickering past the window.
My mind kept circling one thing no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, he found me.
He hadn‘ said a word since we left, but I could feel him watching me in his peripheral, quiet glances every few seconds, like he was waiting for me to say something first. I didn’t. I kept my eyes on the window, pretending the tension in my chest didn’t exist.
He shifted slightly, one hand draped over the wheel, the other resting loose near the console. Then finally, without looking at me, he spoke
“I didn’t sleep
with her.”
My eyes stayed on the window, but my jaw tightened. I didn’t ask him to explain, didn’t even hint that I wanted to hear it, and yet, there it was
“You don’t need to tell me that” I said, my voice flat. “That part of your life is private, It’s not my business”
He didn’t react immediately, just exhaled quietly, his tone still calm.
“I only mentioned it because you seemed affected,” he said, “but she was just an entertainer, nothing else.”
I turned my head slowly, meeting his profile in the dim light. My heart should’ve steadied after that, but instead, it beat louder. I didn’t like how much relief I felt, I didn’t want to care.
“I have zero reasons to be affected, Karl”
He finally glanced at me, just briefly then he looked back at the road, his grip on the wheel still steady.
“Just making sure
We stepped into the house, the door closing with a soft thud behind us, neither of us said a word as we walked through the hallway.
I headed straight for the stairs, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep.
I was halfway up when I heard his footsteps behind me but I didn’t stop, I kept climbing.
At the top, I turned toward my room, but before I could reach for the doorknob, his hand wrapped around my wrist.
I froze.
He didn’t yank me or pull hard, just held me there, his grip warm and firm. I looked back slowly.
He was standing close. His face unreadable, his shirt sleeves still rolled up from earlier, chest rising and falling with a slow, careful breath. He wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t calm either
“You don’t ever do that again,” he said, voier low
I stared at him. “Do what?”
He held my gaze: “Disappear like that.”
Ilusked. His tone was cold, the billionaire edge back in full force, but there was something in the way his eyes darkened that made the space between us feel unaller
“You scared me,” he said, quieter this time, the words slipping out like he hadn’t meant to ay them alous!
My chest tightened. Fora accord, 1 lorgot how to breathe.
He let go of my wrist then, like nothing happened.
“Opodnight.” he said.
He walked off, leaving me rooted there, com
completely thrown off
100 PM
Chapter 26
I woke up to movement downstairs.
Soft footsteps, drawers opening and closing, hushed voices. I got out of bed, threw on a robe, and headed toward the noise.
There were unfamiliar faces everywhere. A new set of staff, different uniforms, different routines.
A woman in a neat bun nodded politely as she adjusted the flowers near the staircase. Two more staff were folding fresh towels into perfect lines near the hallway.
I furrowed my brows and turned toward the kitchen.
Karl was already there, reading something on his tablet. He didn’t look up,
“What’s going on?” I asked, arms folded as I leaned against the counter.
He didn’t answer right away, just tapped his screen, then finally looked up.
“New rule,” he said simply. “You’re not allowed to leave the house without my supervision or consent
I stared at him. “Excuse me?”
“You must be by my side at all times,” he said, voire steady. “No exceptions.
