Raisem's POV
Was this woman drunk, or high, or completely out of her mind?
The question kept circling my head, repeating itself over and over as her words echoed in my ears, refusing to fade.
"I heard you need a woman, can I be the woman you need?"
For a moment, the world froze.
I stood there, unmoving, my body locked in place as I tried to process what I had just heard. Her voice was gentle—too gentle for a place like this. Calm and soft. Almost careful. I looked at her closely then, really looked at her, and what unsettled me most wasn't the words she said.
It was her eyes.
They were innocent. Clear. Serious. She wasn't joking. She wasn't teasing. And worse—she wasn't afraid.
That alone made my brows knit slightly in curiosity.
Most people trembled around me. Their shoulders stiffened, their eyes avoided mine, their voices shook. But she stood there, breathing steadily, her hands at her side, her gaze unwavering even as I stared straight back into her face.
Interesting.
I took a step closer. She immediately stepped back.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I advanced again, deliberately this time, closing the space between us.
Her back hit the wall with a soft thud, her breath hitching as reality caught up with her courage. Before she could slip away, I placed both hands on the wall, caging her in.
"I thought you said you wanted to be the woman I need." I whispered.
Her lashes fluttered, but she didn't panic. Instead, she lifted her hands and pressed them against my chest—not hard, not desperate, just enough to create distance. Her touch was warm, trembling just slightly.
"We can have a conversation without you being this close, it's affecting my breathing." She said calmly, her eyes dropping away from mine.
That calmness only amused me more.
I smirked, every inch the bad billionaire everyone feared. I leaned closer, bending just enough so my mouth hovered near her ear.
My breath brushed her skin as I spoke.
"Do you think you have all it takes?" I whispered into her eyes.
Her body betrayed her before her words could. I felt the slight shiver run through her, saw the way her shoulders stiffened, the fine hairs on her arms rising. She felt it too—the tension, the awareness, the dangerous pull between us.
Good.
She pressed her hand against my stomach and tried to push me back.
"Like I said, we can have a conversation without you been this close."
There it was. Resolve. I studied her for a long second before stepping back, giving her the space she asked for. Most women would have fled by now. She didn't.
"Are you interested?" She said with full determination like she had nothing to loose.
I searched her eyes, digging deep, looking for cracks—for fear, for doubt, for hesitation.
There was none.
That alone fascinated me. I had never seen someone look at me like that. Not with challenge. Not with quiet confidence. I was stunned, and somewhere deep inside, something sparked.
I already knew how this would end. She would fold. They always did.
"It's gonna take a lot from you to become the woman I need." I said.
"What's it gonna take?" She asked me.
I straightened, my voice cold, measured.
"For you to be come my woman, not just my woman but the mother to the heir of Mavo Groups, you have to be qualified in all ways."
She swallowed but didn't interrupt.
"What's the qualifications?" She asked.
I let my eyes rake over her slowly, critically.
"Firstly beauty, which you failed woefully. If being beautiful was a crime you'll be innocent." He said with a smirk.
She didn't flinch.
"So?" She said non chalantly.
That response alone made my jaw tighten.
"But luckily money can fix that" he said.
She stepped forward, closing the distance this time.
"Lets not waste ach others time Raisem. I'm serious about this." She said staring deep into my soul.
I studied her carefully. Too serious. Too calm. Too brave.
"You'll go through a test when you get discharged, if you pass, then I can consider it a deal." I said.
I smiled faintly, watching the way relief flickered through her eyes.
"Thank you." I said.
I smirked, and unease crawled down my spine. That smile meant danger.
"You'll be given a briefcase and your duty is to protect it even if you'll be killed. Most importantly I will be testing your loyalty." I smirked as usual.
******
Ara's POV
The night came quietly.
It was past midnight when I laid my head back, exhaustion weighing heavily on my body. When the lights went out, I barely reacted.
Hospitals always had power issues. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would take me before anxiety could.
Then I heard movement. Footsteps. Too many. Suddenly, the door burst open.
Men in black suits flooded the room, their movements sharp, practiced. Panic hit me like a wave.
"Take her."
That was all. The voice was cold, robotic, distorted like it came from behind a mask.
Before I could scream, rough arms lifted me, throwing me over a shoulder like dead weight. I was carried out of the hospital, my protests swallowed by the night, and tossed into a waiting car.
"Let me out, please let me out." I screamed as fear wrapped around my chest, tightening with every second.
The car sped off, and I was crushed between two huge men.
"Where are you taking me please?" I asked in fear.
"You'll find out soon." He said with a smile.
The car finally stopped in front of a massive mansion. I was yanked out violently, my arm twisting painfully as I hit the ground with a cry. One of the men dragged me up and forced me across the compound, down onto my knees.
Then I saw him. The boss.
A large man with a round stomach, gold chains heavy against his chest, reeking of alcohol, smoke, and money. Cash was scattered around him like decorations. His eyes were bloodshot, sharp, cruel. Power radiated from him—the kind soaked in blood and greed.
"Good girl."
A briefcase flew through the air and landed at my knees.
"Who gave you this briefcase?" He asked.
My heart sank.
It was the same one Raisem had given me.
Realization hit me hard. This was the test.
I stayed silent.
The man stood, his followers bowing instantly.
"The briefcase, the one you stole from my men." He started.
"Stole? I didn't steal anything." I defended myself.
"If you didn't then where did you get the briefcase? Do you even know what's inside it."
"I didn't steal from you kind sir."
He snapped.
"You think you can steal from me." Pain exploded across my face as he slapped me. My vision blurred, a metallic taste filling my mouth as blood touched my lips.
"Tie this fucker up." he slapped me again.
"Let me go, let me go."
Ropes bit into my skin as they tied me to a chair, dragging me closer to the pool. My heart pounded violently.
"I won't repeat myself, where did you get the briefcase?" He asked again.
"I don't know.". I screwmd dout frustrated.
The moment the words left my mouth, everything happened at once.
The man's expression hardened. There was no warning, no second thought. His boot struck the chair, hard and it tipped.
For a split second, gravity vanished—then the world flipped upside down as I fell into the pool.
Cold water swallowed me whole.
It slammed into my chest like a wall, stealing the air from my lungs instantly. The shock froze my body, my muscles seizing as the water closed over my head. I tried to scream, but my mouth only filled with water. Thick, heavy, endless.
My arms jerked uselessly, but the ropes bit deeper into my wrists, cutting into my skin.
The chair dragged me down, pulling me toward the bottom of the pool. My legs kicked wildly, instinctive and desperate, but there was nowhere to go. I was trapped—tied, sinking, helpless.
Water rushed into my nose, my throat, my lungs. It burned like fire and my vision blurred, lights flashing behind my eyes as darkness pressed in from all sides.
This wasn't fear anymore. This was death.
I was dying. This wasn't a test.
My thoughts scattered, breaking apart. Regret crashed over me—trusting him, standing my ground, believing I was safe. My body weakened, movements slowing, strength draining fast as the cold dragged me under.
Then a strong hands grabbed me.
They wrapped around my shoulders, around the ropes, yanking me upward with brutal force. The surface broke, air exploded into my lungs as I was hauled out.
I coughed violently, body convulsing as water poured from my mouth. My entire body shook uncontrollably, teeth chattering, limbs numb and useless.
I could barely keep my eyes open.
"You were to scare her not kill her." Raisem said.
I barely registered the words before another splash echoed.
A heavy body hit the water and finally everything went dark.
******
When I woke up, my body felt like it didn't belong to me.
My limbs were heavy, weak, my throat raw and burning with every breath. My head throbbed, and cold still clung to my skin like it refused to let go. I blinked slowly, struggling to focus.
"You're awake?" The voice was calm and non chalant.
I turned my head slightly and saw him.
I glared at him, every part of me tight with anger and disbelief.
"Are you gonna give me the silent treatment?" He said.
I said nothing. My hands curled weakly against the bed as the memory of water filling my lungs came rushing back.
He stood and grabbed my hand. "Let's go?"
"Where are we going. Let me go." My voice came out strained, rough.
He didn't stop. "Now you want me to carry you."
"I asked you a question and I demand an answer." Before I could react, he lifted me effortlessly. My body jerked in shock as he carried me toward the door. Panic flared again, mixed with fury. I twisted in his arms and managed to break free, landing unsteadily on my feet.
Outside, the air was cold and heavy. The men were on their knees, scattered across the ground. Their faces were swollen, streaked with blood. Some held their ribs, others bowed their heads, bruises and wounds covered them like evidence of punishment already delivered.
"What going on?" I muttered.
The sound of metal clicking filled the space.
My breath caught instantly when I saw Raisem hele a gun.
Wait, like a gun.
"Take the gun and shoot the fool who almost killed you." Raisem said without emotions.
The man closest to me dropped his head.
"I am sorry ma'am,I crossed my boundaries."
"Don't waste my time."Raisem's words were sharp, final.
"No, I won't kill anyone." I screamed and my heart pounded violently as I stood frozen in place.
He stepped closer and shoved the gun into my hands. My fingers trembled around the cold metal.
"He tired to kill you isn't it a good thing to make him feel the pain you felt. You can make it slow. A bullet to the tighs could be a good idea." Raisem raised his brows.
"I said no." My voice cracked as fear and anger collided inside me.
The trigger was pulled and the gun clicked.
Nothing happened.
My scream tore out anyway, my whole body jerking back in terror.
Then I heard it.
His evil maniac laugh.
"I didn't put a bullet in there." His voice came in sharp tone.
The men collapsed in relief, some of them sobbing.
"You passed the test." He smirked and glared at me.
Something inside me snapped. The fear, the pain, the humiliation—it all exploded at once.
How could he do something this stupid and he called it a test.
"What a psycho."
I punched him hard in the jaw.