Chapter 13 SILENCE
Jasmine POV”
The box sat on the glass table untouched. I hadn’t moved it since he left.
Outside the suite, the ocean had settled into a soft, endless hush, but in my head, everything was loud. I couldn’t stop staring at the box. I kept circling it, watching it, but I couldn’t make myself look inside it again.
His show of power was ridiculous! Petty and pointed.
When I finally forced myself to open it again, I wasn’t afraid this time.
The white linen was already stained dark red.
“Enzo Ricci’s finger.” I murmured to myself.
I closed the lid gently and sat back in the chair.
The whole image from the night replayed in my mind. That was the first time since being here that I saw Nikolai that angry.
I pressed my fingers to my temples.
I didn’t want this. I didn’t want blood being spilled in my name. I didn’t want to be someone’s political boundary.
I really wanted my life back. My runway. My penthouse. Tasha, and all my friends laughing too loudly at something stupid.
I stood abruptly and began pacing.
The walls felt closer tonight. It felt like a cage with good lighting.
I needed to get out. I needed a way out.
My eyes drifted toward the hallway door. There were always guards posted in the corridor. I noticed that they rotated every hour on the half-hour.
The changeover took approximately three minutes. Three minutes where the hallway was briefly understaffed.
I checked the clock. It took two minutes to rotate.
My heart started pounding. I moved quickly but quietly, grabbing the thin shawl from the chair and slipping it over my shoulders. I tucked my hair behind my ears, calming my expression.
At exactly thirty minutes past the hour, I opened the door.
Two guards stood outside.
“Miss,” one nodded.
“I need water,” I said evenly. “Sparkling. The kitchen staff gave it to me even earlier.”
They exchanged a look.
“I can’t sleep.”
One of them shifted. “We’ll have it sent up.”
“No,” I said lightly. “I’ll walk. I need air.”
They hesitated.
Right on cue, footsteps echoed down the far end of the corridor.
The replacement guards were coming.
The two in front of me glanced back, without thinking.
I stepped forward.
“Three minutes,” I murmured, brushing past before they could process it.
By the time they turned, I was already halfway down the hall.
The kitchen wasn’t my destination. The storage room was.
After the dinner, while I was led to my villa, I noticed a landline phone mounted near the service entrance, used by staff to coordinate deliveries when mobile signals dipped.
There were no cameras inside. I had memorised the turn.
I slipped into the dim light and pulled the door shut without a sound. My hands trembled as I lifted the receiver. I dialled Tasha’s number from memory, immediately.
It rang twice.
“Hello?” Her voice cracked slightly.
My throat tightened. “Tash, it’s me.”
There was a short silence at first.
Then—“Jasmine? Oh my God. Oh my God, OH MY FREAKING GOD. Where are you? I’ve been losing my mind. The agency’s asking questions. David came by more times than I could count. What is happening? Just tell me where you are and I'll come pick you up immediately ASAP.”
A sad smile stretched across my lips at her worry.
“I’m okay,” I whispered lowly. “I’m… safe.”
“You don’t sound safe.”
“I am.” I swallowed. “Listen to me. I need you to file a missing person report.”
There was a paue from the other side of the line, then a crackle.
“Jasmine, what’s going on? Did someone—”
“I can’t explain,” I said quickly. “I just needed to hear your voice,” I breathed. “I’m okay. I promise, okay?”
“Jas,, tell me what’s…”
A sharp static sound emanated from the phone causing me to wince, moving the phone as far back from my ear as possible.
“Hell… hello?” I placed it back to my ears.
The line went dead. It was as if someone had cut the wire.
I turned slowly to see Matthew standing there.
Of course.
His face was as neutral as the first time I saw him.
“Who did you call?” he asked calmly.
Silence.
“What did you say?”
I still chose to remain silent, staring back at him. From shock, fear or something I can’t really decipher.
He stepped further inside the storage room and gently took the receiver from my hand, placing it back in its cradle.
“For your sake,” he said quietly, “you should return to your room.”
My pulse hammered in my ears, but I managed to stay composed. “Are you going to tell him?”
He didn’t respond. He just held the door open, and gestured for us to leave the storage room.
The walk back felt humiliating. The guards avoided eye contact.
When we reached my suite, Matthew paused.
“Miss,” he said, almost softly, “be careful. You don’t wanna get on his bad side.”
Then he left.
I didn’t sleep. My eyes were open till morning came.
The island bustled with departure preparations. Most of the guests were leaving; a few remained in their villas. But Nikolai had decided to return to the mainland today.
I saw him only once before boarding the helicopter. He didn’t look at me.
Did he know what I did?
The helicopter ride back to his estate was suffocating. Matthew sat across from us. Nikolai just stared out the window at the endless stretch of sea.
His face was unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. He seemed distant.
Soon, we landed at the mansion, and exhaustion weighed heavy on me like the chains on my dress.
All I wanted was my bed. And maybe one more chance.
I got to my room, and took off the metal dress, letting it fall to the floor in a heap of cold links. I changed into loose cotton shorts and an oversized shirt, something more comfortable.
I walked to the window, trying to figure out my next way out.
Three hefty men stood directly below. They were not patrolling, no. They were stationed there. Immobile.
I stepped back slowly, opening the door.
Two hefty guards stood on either side.
“Move,” I said flatly.
They didn’t.
“I need air.”
“No.”
My chest tightened.
At that very moment, I saw him down the corridor.
Nikolai.
Walking with Matthew.
“Nikolai!” I called.
He didn’t stop.
“Nikolai!”
He continued walking.
Of course Matthew told him.
I stood there as the reality settled heavy in my bones. My escape was almost impossible.