Chapter 14 CONTROLLED DAMAGE
Jasmine's POV:
I counted the steps between the bed and the door. They were eight steps.
Then I turned. Eight back.
Then I turned, again, and again, and again…
If I stopped moving, I would start thinking. And if I started thinking, I would start breaking.
It’s been three days already. Three days since the guards doubled. Three days since Nikolai walked past me like I was invisible. Three days of this room shrinking inch by inch.
I banged on the door again. Harder this time.
“Open it!” I shouted.
Silence met me again.
I pressed my forehead against the wood and screamed. It was raw, I was furious. The sound echoed back at me, swallowed by thick walls and indifference.
Nothing!
The first day, Ana had come like usual. She’d knock and set up my food tray. She’d look at me, without wanting to question me.
The second day, I wanted to rebel. At first, I thought it was all too much. That I couldn’t handle not eating for as long as it took.
But if he wanted control, fine. I would control the only thing left.
I wouldn’t eat. Let him watch me wither on his cameras. Let him see what happens when you cage something that refuses to be tamed.
Hours passed.
My stomach groaned painfully, but I ignored it. I sat curled near the window, with my knees pulled to my chest, staring at the guards below.
Then I heard a curt knock on the door.
“Don’t bother, Ana,” I snapped without turning. “I’m not eating!”
The door opened anyway.
I whipped around. It wasn’t Ana.
It was Nikolai, with a dark suit on and no tie, and sleeves rolled just enough to reveal his forearms.
I stood straighter.
He closed the door behind him quietly, then walked toward the small table near the window and pulled out a chair.
“Sit,” he said.
I crossed my arms. “I’m fine standing.”
His eyes lifted to mine slowly.
“Sit.”
He wasn’t aggressive.
I hesitated. Then I obeyed.
He took the seat opposite me.
Neither of us spoke for a while. The silence was heavy. Like it was deliberate.
“I’m only going to ask once,” he said.
My throat tightened.
“Who did you speak to on that telephone?”
I stared at the table.
“And what did you say?”
I kept mute, and his jaw tightened.
“The cops—” His voice rose suddenly, sharp enough to spike my pulse.
I flinched.
He stopped himself. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his tone was controlled, almost calm.
“The police cannot help you,” he said evenly. “After that dinner, you should understand the kind of world I live in. The kind of world you are now a part of.”
My hands curled into fists in my lap.
“So I will ask you one last time,” he continued, leaning back slightly. “Who did you call? And what was said?”
I swallowed.
He tilted his head slightly. “My tech team can trace it. Retrieve the recording. Save me the trouble of having to extract it from you.”
He was stating fact. The worst part? I believed him.
I pressed my lips together. Then the fight drained out of me in one slow breath.
“A friend,” I whispered.
His gaze sharpened but he said nothing.
“Tasha,” I added. “I told her to file a missing person report.”
There. It was out.
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
My heart stopped. He unfolded it.
In it was Tasha’s number, written neatly. He already knew.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled.
I stared at him in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
He placed the phone on the table between us as it rang.
“You will tell her you are fine,” he said calmly. “You will say you took a solo trip to Japan to focus on your mental health. That it was all a prank because you were bored.”
I blinked.
“You will apologise for not informing anyone. You will sound convincing.”
The line connected.
“Hello?” Tasha’s voice came through, strained and hopeful.
My chest ached. Nikolai slid the phone toward me.
I picked it up slowly.
“Tash,” I said, forcing steadiness into my tone.
“Oh my God. Jasmine? I tried calling back. It wouldn’t go through. What’s happening?”
I looked at Nikolai. His expression was unreadable.
“I’m okay,” I said carefully. “I’m… I’m in Japan.”
“What?”
“I needed space. To clear my head. I should’ve told you. I’m sorry.”
There was a pause on the other end.
“Japan?” she repeated. “Jasmine, that doesn’t make sense. You have a whole career, you can’t just go to Japan,”
I forced a soft laugh. “I really needed the trip, Tash. I felt lost.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I just needed to go,” I said quietly. “Alone.”
Tasha exhaled shakily. “You scared the hell out of me. I was about to go to the police again.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
My eyes burned.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I promise.”
There was so much I wanted to say. So much I couldn’t.
“I’ll call when I’m back,” I added.
“Jasmine—”
“I have to go.”
I handed the phone back.
Nikolai didn’t hesitate. He dropped it to the floor and crushed it beneath his heel.
The sound shattered the room.
I stared at the broken pieces. Then at him.
The anger that had fuelled me for days dissolved into something weaker.
I was desperate.
“Please,” I forced myself to say.
“Please let me go.”
A tear slipped free before I could stop it. I hated that he saw it. I hated that it fell anyway.
“I don’t belong here,” I whispered. “This isn’t my world. I don’t want blood in my name. I don’t want guards outside my door. I don’t want this.”
He stood, and walked around the table slowly. Then he stopped in front of me.
I didn’t move. He lifted his hand. For a second I thought he might grab my jaw, force my face up.
Instead, he brushed beneath my eye with his thumb, wiping the tear away.
The gesture was almost gentle. It confused me more than the threats ever had.
“You think leaving will make you safe?” he asked quietly.
“I’ll take my chances.” I breathed.
His jaw tightened slightly.
“You already did.”
He stepped back, and the warmth of his hand vanished. Without another word, he turned and walked out the door.
And I was alone again.