CHAPTER 4

Elara’s POV

I didn’t know where I was. My heart racing with worry about my sick mother and little brother. I’d barely made it home when they took me. One minute I was on my feet, the next, I was knocked out cold. The world went black, and when I woke up, everything had changed.

I could feel the roughness of cold concrete beneath me as I sat on the floor. The air was damp, musty even, and I couldn’t see much at first. My heart pounded. Panic clawed at my chest. My body was sore, and my wrists felt tight as though I’d been bound for a long time.

What had happened to me? Who had taken me?

I tried to get up, but my legs were weak, like I hadn’t moved in hours. I felt around in the darkness, hearing only the sound of my breath and the occasional scrape of something moving in the distance. I didn’t know how long I’d been there—minutes? Hours? The fear was making it hard to think clearly. My mind kept spinning in circles, a thousand questions flooding my thoughts. Where was I? Why was I here? And most terrifying of all: Who had taken me?

Then, a light flickered on. My heart stopped.

The sudden brightness stabbed at my eyes, and I squinted, trying to adjust. I could barely make out a figure in front of me, but the light wasn’t soft, it was harsh, like it was meant to burn through every corner of my soul.

I blinked, feeling dizzy. The figure became clearer, and I saw him.

A massive man. He was sitting on what looked like a throne, his legs stretched out in front of him, a cigar hanging lazily from his fingers. His presence was intimidating, dark. Something about him made my gut churn with unease. His eyes studied me with a cold detachment, and it was like he was waiting for me to say something.

I swallowed, my throat dry. I wasn’t sure if I could speak, but somehow, the words came out.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice shaky.

I wanted to sound strong, but it was hard. The fear kept crawling up my spine, sinking its claws deep into my bones.

He took a slow drag of the cigar, and the smoke curled up into the air, mixing with the stale scent of the room.

“You’re not in a position to ask questions,” he said, his voice deep, rough, like it had been used for too many years to command and threaten. “But since you’re so eager, I’ll tell you.”

His eyes never left me as he leaned back in the chair, exhaling a puff of smoke. His hand moved lazily, the cigar twisting between his fingers.

“I’m the one who holds the cards now, sweetheart. You’re under my control.”

The words hit me like a slap. I froze. Control?

My mind raced, trying to connect the dots. My throat tightened as I realized I was in a place I didn’t recognize, with someone I didn’t know, and I had no idea why I was here or what he wanted with me.

“What do you want with me?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that made my skin crawl. “What do I want with you?” he repeated as if the question amused him. “I want you to be useful. I want you to serve me.” He let the words hang in the air, each one dragging a weight behind it.

I shook my head. “Serve you? What are you talking about?” I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

His lips curled into a slow, almost amused smile. “Don’t worry. It’s simple. You just have to stay calm, do what you’re told, and everything will be just fine. Your family will be fine.”

My breath hitched at the mention of my family. “What do you mean? What do you want with them?”

His smile didn’t falter, but there was something darker behind his eyes now. “Your sick mother and your little brother? I can help them, you know. I can make sure they’re well taken care of—if you cooperate.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. He was threatening them, wasn’t he? My mother had been ill for months, and my brother… he was just a kid. If anything happened to them…

“You can’t,” I breathed, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “You can’t do that. Please.”

He raised an eyebrow, as if my words were amusing to him. “Oh, but I can. It’s all very simple. You do what I say. Be my maid. Look after me. Take care of the things I need. And in return, your family stays safe. Your mother’s health improves, your brother gets the care he deserves.” He paused, letting the silence settle between us. “If you don’t… well, let’s just say I can’t promise they’ll be so lucky.”

I recoiled at the thought. My family—my mother and brother—were my world. They depended on me, and I would do anything to keep them safe. But to serve him? To become his maid? The very idea made my skin crawl.

“You can’t be serious,” I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips. “You’re asking me to be your servant for them to stay alive?”

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he took another drag of his cigar. The smoke puffed out slowly, lingering in the air like a warning.

“I’m being as serious as I need to be. You have no other choice. This is the deal, sweetheart.” He stared at me intently. “You follow my orders, and I’ll make sure your family is taken care of. Don’t follow them, and well…” He shrugged, letting the words trail off, the implication clear.

I didn’t know what to say. My chest was tight, and the fear was a suffocating weight in my stomach. What could I do? What choice did I really have? If I refused, I risked everything. My mother—my brother—would suffer.

I swallowed hard, trying to think, trying to find a way out. But the truth was, I was trapped.

“Why me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Why pick me?”

He smirked, leaning back in his chair. “You’re a smart one, huh? It’s simple, really. You’re close to them. You’re desperate. And you have no idea who I am. I’m a businessman, sweetheart. I deal with people who need things, and I give them what they want. But sometimes…” He paused, his smile widening. “Sometimes, I need something from them in return.”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to shout, to demand that he let me go, but the words felt stuck in my throat. I couldn’t risk angering him. Not when my family was on the line.

“So… what now?” I asked quietly, almost resigned to the situation.

His gaze softened, though it wasn’t a comforting softness. “Now, you listen to me. You follow my rules. You work for me, and your family gets to live. Simple as that.”

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat louder than the last. The reality of the situation was crashing over me.

I had no choice.

I had to protect them.

“I’ll do it,” I said, the words heavy in my mouth. “I’ll do what you want.”

He nodded, like he’d been expecting that answer. “Good choice,” he said, leaning back in his chair once more. “You’ll start soon. And trust me, sweetheart, you’ll get used to it. The sooner you do, the better off you’ll be.”

I just nodded, not trusting myself to say anything else. My mind was spinning. I had no idea what this man would make me do. How far he would push me. But I had no other choice. He had my family, and I would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

But even as I agreed to his terms, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.