Audrey's POV
The night air hit me as I stepped out of the mansion, the weight of Richard's house rules pressing at the edges of my thoughts. I shouldn't be here. I wasn't supposed to leave. But the quiet walls and the constant surveillance were suffocating. I needed… freedom. Even if just for a few hours.
The city pulsed with neon lights and music that vibrated in my chest as I walked into the club. The bass thumped like a heartbeat out of control, and for the first time in days, I felt untethered. Untamed. I was Audrey, not someone's property, not a contract to obey.
I found a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. One, two, three… I didn't count. Each sip loosened the tension in my shoulders, wiped away the fear that clung to my skin. A guy leaned against the bar nearby, his eyes lingering a second too long.
"You look like you could use some company," he said, voice smooth, confident.
I laughed softly, letting my hair fall over my shoulder. "Maybe I could."
The conversation started harmless—flirtatious banter, teasing, small smiles—but I noticed the way his hand brushed mine when he reached for his drink. And then a little longer when he adjusted my hair. The lights and music blurred around us. His touch was too close, too forward. My pulse raced.
I was about to pull back when the doors slammed open.
Richard.
Everything froze. The club's music faded in my mind as I saw him—his eyes scanning, lips tight, jaw rigid. He didn't run. He didn't yell. He didn't move like someone surprised. He moved like he owned every shadow, every corner, every person in this room. And at the center… me.
The guy's hand slipped closer to my waist, and I flinched. Richard's gaze snapped to him like lightning striking.
"Step back," he said, voice low, dangerous.
The man froze and pulled away immediately. My heart pounded, partly from fear, partly from… something else I didn't want to name.
Richard reached me in three strides, grabbed my arm firmly, and started dragging me toward the exit. I wrenched myself free just enough to glare up at him.
"You left the house without permission and put yourself where you don't belong," he said, voice controlled but icy.
I lifted my chin, refusing to shrink. "Oh… so I can't go out and meet other people, but you can?"
He stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing, and something dark flickered there—suspicion, curiosity, maybe anger.
I didn't give him time to answer. I turned, trying to pull away from his grip, but he was relentless. He didn't raise his voice, didn't yell, but every step he took toward the door screamed dominance.
"Richard, let go!" I spat. "I'm not some child to drag around!"
"You're reckless," he said calmly, like stating a fact, "and reckless people pay for their choices."
I smirked, though my chest was racing. "And apparently, some reckless people get rewarded?"
He didn't respond, just carried me out into the cold city air. My heels clicked against the pavement, and I realized just how many people were staring. Good. Let them watch. I wasn't afraid of anyone here.
Once in the car, I slumped against the seat, sipping the remainder of my drink. I tried to appear calm, but my fingers trembled slightly. He stayed silent, staring straight ahead, hands tight on the wheel.
—----
When we arrived back at the mansion, he opened the door for me—but didn't let me step out right away. He held my gaze. "You've crossed a line," he said. "Curiosity has consequences."
I shrugged, feigning indifference. "Consequences are boring. I'd rather live."
He exhaled slowly, eyes dark, dangerous. "You think this is about living? It's about survival. You are under my roof. You follow the rules, or you face the cost."
"And you?" I shot back, stepping closer despite the tension. "Do you live by rules, or just make them for everyone else?"
For a moment, I saw him falter—not much, just a twitch, a flicker—but it was enough for me to smirk. He grabbed my wrist, this time tighter, and I froze, knowing the warning in his touch.
"Inside. Now," he said, voice low and lethal.
I didn't resist this time, letting him pull me inside. But my chest still burned—not from fear, but from the thrill of pushing him, of seeing that even Richard Drake had limits, and even he noticed when I dared cross them.
As the door closed behind me, I realized I'd done more than drink and flirt tonight. I'd left a seed—one he couldn't ignore.
And I couldn't stop smiling.
No love. No questions. No interference.
But maybe… curiosity could be lethal.
And I was ready to test just how far I could go.