Chapter 24 Chapter 25
Luciano POV
I had sent Damien with a gift for Valerie, something chosen carefully, something meant to soften her edges. When I saw him walking back toward me with the box still in his hands, my heart scattered for just a second before I forced it back into place.
I remained seated, calm and composed, my expression unreadable as my eyes rested on the gift box. I didn’t need him to say anything. The answer was already there.
“She rejected it,” I said flatly, not waiting for Damien to begin his report.
“Yes, boss,” he replied, My gaze lifted to him slowly. I knew that look on his face. He had more to say. Damien was careful, he always waited for permission before speaking further, especially when the news wasn’t pleasant.
I stayed silent,“All plans are set in motion for departure,” he muttered at last.
My fingers curled slightly against the armrest of the chair.
“And…” I said, my voice calm, though something dark stirred beneath it.
“She’s leaving tomorrow,” he added quietly.
For the first time, I felt a sudden tightness in my chest, sharp and unexpected. Valerie was moving faster than I thought. Tomorrow. The word echoed in my mind like a warning bell.
I knew I should stop her.
I had the power. I always had, But then another thought followed just as quickly. If Valerie thought she was playing a game, then so be it. I was more than willing to play along. I knew her well enough to understand that she wouldn’t leave without a plan. She never did anything without thinking it through.
And she knew me,she knew I wouldn’t let her walk away so easily.
Which meant whatever she was planning, she believed it was foolproof. That alone made it interesting.
I leaned back slightly, my expression unreadable. If she wanted to make a move, I would let her. For now. I wanted to see what she was capable of. I wanted to know how far she thought she could go without me stepping in.
Still lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed Damien clearing his throat.
“Boss,” he said carefully, pulling my attention back to him. “Aren’t you going to do something about it?”
I looked at him then, really looked at him. Concern flickered in his eyes, mixed with confusion. He didn’t understand, not yet.
“Like what, Damien?” I replied calmly. “She wants to leave. Let her go.”
I shifted my gaze away from him and picked up the newspaper resting on the table, pretending to read it. The words blurred together, but I didn’t need them. My mind was already several steps ahead.
Valerie believed she was in control.
She believed this was her escape.
For now, I would allow her that illusion.
Because when the time came, she would learn the truth, no one walked away from me without consequences. And when she did leave, it would be because I allowed it.
Not because she won.
Anyone watching me would probably think I was about to lose my temper. They might have expected me to shout, to give orders, to lock Valerie away and make sure she never stepped outside this mansion again. But they were wrong.
I wasn’t ready for that. I wasn’t ready to show her how much I wanted her all to myself. There was still a game to be played, and I had no intention of ending it too soon. Valerie believed she was planning her escape, believing she was one step ahead of everyone else.
That belief amused me.If there was one thing I was certain of, it was this Valerie was never going to leave my side. She could try to run. She could try to be free. Sometimes, letting someone struggle made the outcome even sweeter. Playing along had its advantages.
But my mind was already made up.
Valerie was never going to leave this mansion.
She was mine, Mine alone.“Boss, boss,” Damien said quickly, breaking my thoughts. “Just give the order, and I’ll make sure she doesn’t step out of the house tomorrow.”I paused.
Slowly, I placed the newspaper back on the table, smoothing it as if nothing in the world disturbed me. Then I lifted my gaze to Damien’s face. A calm smile curved my lips, one that made people nervous when they saw it.
“Patience, Damien,” I said quietly. “Patience.”
He stiffened slightly, listening closely.
“We can let the hard work run its course,” I continued. “She wants to leave? Let her try.”
Damien frowned, clearly confused, but he didn’t interrupt.
“One thing I am certain of,” I added calmly, “is that she’s never going out of this mansion.”
Of course, Valerie would come up with something. She always did. I had watched her for years, every move, every choice, every calculated step. I knew how her mind worked. She was smart. Intelligent. Dangerous in her own quiet way.
That was exactly how she had conquered part of the business world.
Valerie didn’t rush. She planned. She waited. She observed.
“She’ll come up with a plan to escape,” I said, my voice steady. “And when she does, I’ll destroy it.”
Damien nodded slowly, understanding at last. He bowed his head slightly, accepting my decision, then turned and walked away without another word.
The room fell silent, I reached for my phone, my expression unreadable. There were moves that needed to be made quietly, without attention. I typed a short message and sent it to a number saved without a name.
I didn’t have to wait long, within minutes, my phone vibrated in my hand.
I stared at the screen, a slow smile spreading across my face. Everything was falling into place exactly as it should.
Valerie thought she was close to freedom. She thought tomorrow would change everything.
She was wrong, tomorrow would only prove one thing no matter how far she tried to run, she would always end up right where she belonged With me.