Andrea pressed herself against the opposite door, her chest heaving, mind spiraling, trying to calm herself but all in vain.

She was panicking now sitting, inside the car.

With him.

The city lights blurred as the car pulled away.

He was taking her away, away from everything she once knew.

She swallowed hard, her hands sweating and shaking, as she whispered

" Where are you taking me? "

Alfonso tilted his head, watching her with that same gaze, his eyes softened looking at her.

Then, he answered.

" Home."

Andrea stilled, then all of a sudden she burst out.

" What..?

Are you out of your mind? I'm not going anywhere with you!"

After saying this, she tried to open the car door but found it locked.

" I'm not going with you! You can't take me anywhere against my will."

She snapped, her hand hit hard against his arm.

For the first time, he stilled, his eyebrow raised in response. The sudden action sent her a signal, one that made her pulse race.

Alfonso exhaled, his patience visibly thinning, he massaged his temple.

His tone was low, quiet warning beneath the smoothness of his voice.

" You've tested me enough today, Andrea! "

But when he spoke again his voice was dangerously calm.

" You think you still have a choice? "

Andrea stared at him

"Yes, I have!"

A slow, knowing smirk touched Alfonso's lips, but there was no amusement in his eyes.

"Then, why do you keep running, only to end up right back in my hands?"

Andrea's stomach twisted.

"That's not..."

"Not what..?" He cut her off.

"...Not the truth?"

Silence stretched between them, thick with everything, she refused to say.

" I don't belong to you."

Alfonso tilted his head, his gaze locked onto hers.

"You don't belong to me?"

His voice was quiet, no anger, no taunt.

He let the words settle, watching her. Then, with a slow smirk, he leaned back.

"Say that again and make sure you believe it this time."

Andrea opened her mouth but nothing came out.

He didn't need to argue. He didn't need to convince her. Because they both knew the truth.

"But I do have a choice and..." she hissed.

" Not now " he shot back.

Andrea opened her mouth again but words refused to came out. The actual fact, he was right, she didn't had the choice even if she want.

Or maybe, deep down, she did, but admitting it would be a surrender.

Seeing her silent, Alfonso said

"Exactly."

Then, he continued, when she kept staring at him with disgusted expression.

"Enough now, Andrea. You're not leaving and that's final."

The black car moved smoothly through the quiet streets, its interior tense with an unspoken storm.

His men, sitting in front seat both silent, their attention on the road but their awareness sharp, they were so surprised, listening to their boss explanations to the lady.

It was first time, they had heard him actually speaking this much, he never spoke unless it's necessary.

Now here he was going against his own rules, explaining to the girl sitting in front of him.

Alfonso sat beside her, his posture relaxed, one arm resting casually along the back of the seat.

But his presence alone was suffocating for her.

She had to get out.

Andrea's fingers inched toward the door, slow, careful

Then, she lunged again.

Her heart leapt into her throat as she yanked at the handle

But nothing.

Still locked.

She turned, fisting her hands, ready to pound on the glass.

A hand closed over her wrist.

Andrea whipped her head around, her chest heaving as she screamed, her wrist was now in his grip.

His grip was light, just enough to stop her. Not enough to hurt but she was already hurt.

Andrea wrenched her arm back, but his fingers didn't move.

Alfonso was watching her. Like was expecting it, he shake his head, then he spoke

"Andrea," he said, voice maddeningly steady.

" Don't."

"Let me go, I..." She struggled, twisting against his hold but he didn't let go.

" You what? " Alfonso leaned in slightly, his voice still infuriatingly calm.

She glared at him, breathing hard, her body rigid.

" Please, let me go, I won't say anything to anyone."

His fingers slid from her wrist, only to catch her chin.

Andrea froze.

His touch was featherlight, his thumb brushing along the corner of her jaw.

"You're not going anywhere, Señorita."

He murmured.

"Stop wasting your energy, I'm telling this for the last time."

Her stomach tightened.

Andrea's breath was uneven, her heart was beating at a crazy rhythm.

Alfonso held her hand for a moment longer, then he said

" You are mine now.

You can't go anywhere, Even, if you try, I'll find you, wherever you go.

Don't forget this."

Just as effortlessly as he caught her, he let her go.

As if his point is proven.

Andrea sat stiffly beside Alfonso, her pulse wild. Her breaths came out uneven, her hands curling into fists on her lap, she was panicking now but she didn't want to surrender.

Then, suddenly, she shouted at the guard sitting in driving seat.

"Hey you! Stop the car!"

Her voice was sharp and loud.

"I said STOP!"

Neither men in the front flinched.

The driver flicked his gaze to the rearview mirror, searching for Alfonso's reaction.

A pause.

A silent exchange.

Then, a slow shake of Alfonso's head.

And the car kept moving.

Andrea's frustration flared. They weren't listening, not even paying attention.

Her eyes darted to the driver, and before she could think twice, her hand shot forward, her nails digging to the side of his neck.

"Shit!"

The driver hissed, his grip on the steering wheel slipped just for a second, the car jerked slightly.

He would have reached for his gun, if it was someone random but he didn't, neither did he grabbed her hand to stop.

Otherwise, she would have been dead already.

But she was his boss's woman. And disrespecting her would have cost him his life.

Even if she was at fault.

His neck now showed little red nail marks like little crescents which were now a little red with traces of blood.

He gripped the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles turned white.

But the way, his ears turned red, a reaction out of anger and discomfort, it was clear that he was trying hard to suppress any reaction.

Silence fell like a heavy weight inside the car.

Before Andrea could do more damage, a strong hand seized her arm roughly.

Alfonso had pulled her back sharply, yanking her closer.

His grip firm but rough, his fingers locking around her arm, his hold no more gentle.

Then, in a deep and heavy but so effortlessly commanding voice, he said that made her flinch.

"Enough, Andrea."

It was a little loud and there was a sharp edge to it that left no room for her to speak. His eyes felt distant like he is a whole different person.

It was first time, he had looked at her with that cold gaze. Talked to her in that distant and strange tone.

And something inside Andrea shattered. An ache spread in her chest, that had left her feeling alone and unguarded with no one there to turn to.

Her chest tightened. Her lips trembled. Her vision blurred.

Then, drop by drop, tears began rolling down her cheeks. She wasn't sobbing, wasn't making a sound.

Just crying silently looking straight in his eyes, her body shook as she lowered her head, tears falling and falling like an endless stream.

Alfonso, who was still holding her arm. He stared at her, caught completely off guard with the sudden water-fall show, he didn't understand.

For the first time in a long while, Alfonso stiffened, he blinked, multiple times, as if trying to process what just happened.

Did she just start crying because he said two words?

Women had screamed at him before, begged him, even cursed him, but never this

This made him feel like a villain in her story which he had never intended, to be.

Something about it unsettled him, though he'd never admit it. He was confused. This was new for him too.

No woman ever had cried in front of him, neither had created a scene like she was doing.

Immediately, his grip loosened, around her arm.

Andrea barely noticed. The moment his grip loosened and her arm got free, she had pulled it back, massaging her arm where he had gripped while her tears continued to fall.

Alfonso kept looking at her.

As if, she was a new creature in a zoo, something unfamiliar, something strange.

His first thought was, how can someone look so cute while crying?

Something that made him feel bad. He hadn't thought, this would turn out like this. But the way she had looked at him that made him feel worse.

This was even stranger.

Him feeling bad

Him feeling guilty.

He kept his face straight but his eyes didn't leave her for a second.

After a moment, he reached out for her hand in a way to comfort her but Andrea slapped his hand away and continued crying.

He immediately retreated his hand, he hadn't expected this. He chuckled at her outburst.

He leaned back in his seat, his gaze lingering on her, studying her.

Her eyes now red from crying, her puffy pink tinted cheeks, her quivering lips and her left hand that had just slapped him away, was a bruised at wrist because of his hold.

He had never thought he would bear someone to this extent, with patience. Even when she was crying, he wasn't irritated.

The guards in front, watching the two through the rearview mirror timely, eyes wide in silent amusement but neither dared to make a sound.

It was him.

He was the real cage.

Andrea didn't try again and she didn't know how to break free. But she knew, later she will.

The car slowed down, the smooth purr of the engine fading as they passed through towering iron gates.

Andrea's breath hitched as they swung open soundlessly, revealing a long, tree lined driveway illuminated by elegant, golden lights.

The home he had mentioned, came into view.

Her eyes widened at the view and for a moment she forgot she was planning her escape.

At first, she thought its a mansion but as they grew closer, it became more visible. She realized.

It wasn't just a house. Not even a palace or a mansion

It was a fortress.

Massive, dark-stoned, with towering columns and glass windows glowing against the night.

She barely registered when the car stopped.

She leaned back into the seat, her heart pounding. The reality crashed down on her. Andrea could hear her pulse roaring in her ears.

The moment Alfonso's door opened, she lunged for hers.

But before she could even touch the door.

It fling opened.

A man was standing there, dressed all in black, his expression blank.

He had opened the door for her.

When she got out of the car, her eyes were on the surroundings. Her fingers trembled as she clutched her dress, her heartbeat wild.

She remembered, Olivia words, when she had said ' is he a king or what.'

And then she saw them. Men, everywhere standing straight. They lined the steps, at the entrance, standing near the gates.

Silent and still like a wall.

She couldn't run. Not here. Not now. This wasn't just Alfonso's home.

It was his kingdom.

And she had been brought inside.

Luxury was a small word, what it was exuding just for an entrance. She was curious to see how the inside would be.

She turned to look at Alfonso, who had already stepped out of the car, adjusting the cuffs of his black suit.

Unbothered.

Then, he turned his head, looking at her, he spoke.

"Andrea."

Her head turned to him, at the mention of her name,

"Come."

Andrea's legs felt heavy but she stepped towards him because she had no other choice.

She walked up those steps with him and past the men who didn't even blink.

And the fact they actually bowed to him as he passed before them.

She was walking beside Alfonso, barely noticing the way he was now gently holding her hand, guiding her inside.

As she was still captivated by the beauty of that majestic place.

Looking at her anyone would have thought she had entered a fantasy world, if she blink it would vanish.

The sheer power of the place sent a chill down her spine.

High walls that enclosed the estate, lined with security cameras and guards in black suits, watching attentively.

The place that looked like it had been carved straight from a dream.

No... a fantasy world.

She knew one thing for certain. Escape seems like an impossible thing here.

She had just entered a world she didn't belong to.

And now she had no idea if she could ever leave.

It was a nightmare, a worst nightmare, for her at least.