Chapter 16 The Illusion of Freedom
Jasmine:
The first morning of my “freedom” felt staged.
I woke up slowly, swinging my legs off the bed carefully.
Then, I did my usual morning routine before going down. But something was quite off.
I opened the wardrobe to put on the metal dress Nikolai demanded I wore, but they were no where to be found. He had… replaced them. All of them, with nicer and more comfortable dresses.
I put on of them on, and headed for the door. The door opened without resistance when I tried it. Though I was still getting used to it, that alone told me everything.
This wasn’t mercy. It was design. He loosened the leash. But he didn’t entirely remove it.
I walked down the hallway slowly, feeling the emptiness of it. There was no looming presence, or “escorts”. Only distant footsteps somewhere below.
When I reached the dining hall, I stopped.
His dining table was an absurdly long, polished mahogany stretching like a runway through the centre of the room.
And at the far end of the table, sat Nikolai.
He was already dressed, black shirt, sleeves always rolled halfway up his forearms. A cup of espresso resting near his hand.
He didn’t look up when I entered. But he knew I was there.
My place was set at the opposite end of the table.
The distance was deliberate. Perhaps a statement.
I walked toward the chair slowly, and sat down.
Servants appeared silently, placing breakfast before me. Fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and coffee.
No one spoke. Not the staff, and certainly not him.
The silence wasn’t awkward. It was heavy, measured.
I glanced up once. He was already watching me, not openly though.
Our eyes locked for half a second before he returned his attention to his plate.
Message received. This wasn’t reconciliation. This was containment with privileges.
I picked up my fork and ate. If he expected discomfort, he wouldn’t get it.
We finished at the same time.
He stood first. I remained seated. He adjusted his cuffs, then finally spoke without looking at me.
“I had someone give your wardrobe a little change.”
His voice was calm and neutral.
“I noticed,” I replied.
There was a small pause, then he walked out.
With nothing else to do, I went out to the gardens again. White roses lined the paths in perfect rows, marble statues stood between neatly trimmed hedges cut into sharp, geometric shapes. And at the centre, the fountain ran without stopping, its water flashing in the sun like spilled diamonds.
If I didn’t look carefully, I could pretend I wasn’t trapped. I could also pretend I wasn’t being watched. I know Nikolai wasn’t gullible enough to leave me out here unsupervised.
I walked slowly, counting steps between guards.
There was one stationed near the south gate, one rotating near the pool house, and another near the hedge that curved toward the tennis court.
Their patterns repeated. Every twelve minutes.
I didn’t rush.
I breathed in the air like someone savouring freedom. But I was mapping. Always mapping.
After my garden visit was over, the first scheduled call came that afternoon.
Matthew escorted me to a private study. A phone was placed neatly on the desk.
He stood by the door, watching and listening.
The call connected on the first ring.
“Tasha?” I kept my voice steady.
“Jas, how are you holding up?” Tasha answered, concerned.
“I’m alright. I was just checking in. How’s everyone?”
“They are all concerned. David says you should call him.” She replied, not happy.
“I will. I’m sorry again.”
When the call ended, Matthew studied me carefully.His lips twitched faintly before he gestured toward the door.
Later that evening, I wandered farther than I had before. Past the main hall, past one of the many corridors, until I found a room half-lit by amber lamps.
A grand piano sat in the centre. There were no dust spectacles, which meant it was in use.
I ran my fingers over the keys softly. One note echoed through the room. Melancholic.
“You shouldn’t touch things that aren’t yours.” A voice came from behind me.
I didn’t jump, I turned slowly.
He stood in the doorway, watching.
“Do you play?” I asked.
“Used to.”
He walked in, quietly. Then sat at the piano without looking at me and began to play.
He played raw, melodious notes.
I didn’t say anything. I just watched.
When he finished, silence between us stretched.
“That was… really beautiful.” I forced myself to say, breaking the silence.
His eyes flickered toward mine. Something unreadable passed between us.
Then he stood, leaving first.
That night, I tested something small.
I left my bedroom door slightly open. I lay in bed with my eyes closed, breathing slow.
A few hours passed.
Then, I heard soft footsteps in the hallway. They stopped at my door. A shadow crossed the gap of light, paused for a bit, and then moved on.
He checked, but he didn’t enter.
My chest tightened unexpectedly. I didn’t know why that felt less like surveillance and more like… something else. I hated that confusion.
After a couple of minutes, he closed the door properly and retreated.
I too, waited a couple minutes after before getting up, because tonight, I was going to try again.
The opportunity came just after midnight. One guard was missing from the rotation near the back stairwell.
I had counted, memorised their rotations from earlier today.
I dressed in dark clothes and moved quietly through the hallway. No one stopped me.
By then, I had gone down the back stairs, through the service corridor, and to the emergency exit door.
My pulse raced as I pushed it open. The cool night air brushed my skin, and freedom was just one step away.
But just then, two armed men stepped from the shadows instantly. Like they had been waiting for me.
“Miss,” one said politely. “You’re not cleared for this area.”
I stared at them. I was not surprised. He knew. Of course he knew.
I stepped back inside without argument, walking the hallway on my own without an escort, saving me the humiliation.
When I reached the main hall, Nikolai was there, standing near the staircase with his hands clasped behind his back, watching.
“You really aren’t going to give up, aren’t you?” he asked evenly, and amused.
I lifted my chin.
“It’s those cameras, isn’t it?”
“You violated my terms, Jasmine.”
I leaned closer, “you violated my terms as well. You think I didn’t see the guards watching me at the garden?”
There was a faint shift in his expression.
“Go to your room, Jasmine.” He demanded in a low tone. “Don’t make me make you.”
Then he turned and left.
Back in my room, I stood by the window. Three guards were now positioned directly below.
I had lost my “freedom.”
I exhaled slowly.