Chapter 8 Chapter 8
The doors slid open with a soft sound that felt far too gentle for the place I was walking into.
Lucien’s world.
My face stayed still, although my hands trembled at my sides. I have cried all the way here, and now there are no tears left.
The maid took me to his room as if it were something she was doing every day.
I froze for a second when I entered his room. Though his room was vast and luxurious, my eyes caught sight of him sitting on the couch with a woman on his lap. Her fingers were tangled in his hair, and her lips were sucking his neck as if it was her favourite candy, while his eyes were closed as if he was enjoying the attention he was getting.
Slowly, his eyes opened, and they found me instantly.
A slow, cruel smile curved on his lips.
His hand slid around the woman’s waist and pulled her closer, making sure I saw exactly how easily she fit against him.
To hurt me.
To remind me I was replaceable.
I felt the sting exactly where he wanted. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of letting him see through me.
I kept my eyes fixed on him with a stoic face.
"So, you came!"
He studied me for a long moment, and his jaw ticked when, instead of giving him any reaction, I just kept staring at him.
“Go,” he pushed the woman on his lap.
The woman froze for a second as he stared at her in disbelief.
“Now.”
His voice left no room for argument. She slid off his lap before grabbing her coat and leaving while throwing me an annoyed glance.
The door shut with a soft click behind her.
A shiver ran down my body as suddenly, the room felt colder without her.
Lucien motioned me with his fingers to come closer before rubbing his palm along his thighs.
The first command of the night.
I swallowed hard, unable to move from my place.
His other hand moved back to bring out a stack of notes and simply placed it on his lap.
Suddenly, the face of my daughter flashed in front of my eyes. The hope in her eyes that her mother would save her made me take an urgent step ahead.
Lucien chuckled cruelly at my reaction. His lips curled into a cold, bitter satisfaction.
My throat contracted with emotion. It was hard for me to go back to my past, but he was the only way to save my future, my life.
With every step I took towards him, it felt like I was tearing a piece of myself away. As I sat down on his lap, my eyes were on the money. I didn't want to look at him, but he watched every action of mine.
Enjoying my predicament, he chuckled and stuffed the money in the pocket of my coat.
My fists tightened at my sides as my spine straightened up.
One night to save my daughter’s life. Just one night.
Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to himself. A gasp escaped my throat, my hand flew up to rest against his chest, and my eyes snapped up to his.
“You left me for this.” His gaze dropped to the money in my pocket. “Didn’t you?”
His gaze was so intense that it felt like he was cutting straight through me.
“After you walked out of my life, I had only one purpose left.” His voice turned cold and steady.
“Money. Power. Control.”
A faint, cruel smile made its way to his lips.
“And now I have enough of all three to buy you for the rest of your life.”
The room went painfully silent. I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat.
“I am not here for your life.” I took a long, shaky breath. “I’m here for one night.”
His eyes flicked to me sharply.
“And only as a stripper.”
His brows pulled together in confusion.
“You offered me a role,” I continued. “So that’s what I’ll be tonight.”
Silently, he just stared into my eyes. Our faces were so close that our breaths mingled, but none of us moved a single inch.
"For tonight, I promise to give my service, my submission by obeying all your commands willingly, and in return, you will give me the money for everything I do for you."
For the first time, he looked… stunned. But it lasted only for a few seconds before his lips curved up slowly.
“So now you’re playing a game with me,” he said. “You always did, Cynthia. Didn’t you?”
I remained silent. His hot breath fanned my lips, his fingers dug sharply into my waist painfully, but I didn't wince.
"But remember, Cynthia, You're stepping into fire. And when this ends, you’ll be the one who’s burnt,” He said with assurance while his hands moved up to push away the coat from my shoulder, "...and I will be the one winning it."
I am already burning to start with, so it doesn't change a thing, but about winning it? We will see that!
“So”, I asked, lifting my chin, “shall we start?”
We lose the game the moment we show our weakness to the opponent.
So I didn’t let him see it.
He was a bit surprised by my boldness, but he soon masked it with a one-sided smirk.
"Sure."
Abruptly, he pushed me off his lap, and I landed directly on the floor. Humiliation burnt my skin, but I clenched my jaw and refused to make a sound as I looked up at him.
He was already looking down at me with his elbows resting on his knees. A satisfied smirk was playing on his lips as if I were his possession, nothing more than an object. He reached for the table beside him and lifted another thick stack of cash.
“Dance,” he said calmly. “Strip… and dance for me.”