Escape

**Petros**

The phone buzzed again in my pocket, interrupting my attempt to derive some semblance of satisfaction from the waitress, who, despite her efforts, was becoming increasingly uninteresting. I grabbed the device with a mix of curiosity and impatience. It was the security guard assigned to watch Liandra.

The message was brief but enough to make me freeze for a moment: “She didn’t go home. She’s at the city park, near the lake. Alone in a secluded, poorly lit area.”

I frowned, feeling a pang of irritation and concern. The park at night was hardly the safest place, and the thought of Liandra alone in that isolated setting unsettled me. What was she thinking?

I pocketed the phone, made a quick gesture to the waitress, and stood up without offering an explanation. She looked incredulous at my abrupt departure. The soft lights of Club Marino flickered around me as I hurried toward the exit.

My driver was leaning against the car, absorbed in his phone. I tapped on the window, and he straightened immediately.

“City park. Now,” I ordered, not bothering to explain further.

On the way, I gazed out the window, trying to organize my thoughts. Liandra had shown unexpected strength in leaving the club, but what did she hope to find at the park? Solitude? A moment to process what had happened? Why hadn’t she gone home?

When we arrived, the unease that had accompanied me throughout the drive intensified. The night was darker than I’d anticipated, and the glow of the streetlights didn’t reach the more secluded areas.

I stepped out of the car, following the directions sent by the security guard. My eyes scanned the surroundings as my quick strides cut through the silence of the night.

I found Liandra sitting by the lake, her knees drawn up to her chest, eyes fixed on the water. The moonlight reflected off the lake, creating an almost poetic scene, yet her vulnerability in that setting was painfully evident.

I approached slowly, stopping a few steps away.

“You should know this place isn’t safe at night,” I said, my voice firm but low enough not to startle her.

She turned to face me slowly, surprised by my presence but composed nonetheless.

“I needed a moment alone, Petros,” she replied, her tone defiant yet tinged with exhaustion.

Crossing my arms, I observed her for a moment before stepping closer and sitting beside her, even though the ground was cold and uncomfortable.

“And you thought this was the ideal place?” I asked, my voice laced with more sarcasm than I intended.

Liandra sighed, turning her gaze back to the lake.

“I didn’t think you’d follow me.”

“I didn’t follow you, Liandra. I ensured you were safe. There’s a difference.”

She didn’t respond immediately, but the silence that followed was heavy, brimming with unspoken thoughts.

“Why did you do that to me tonight?” she asked at last, without looking at me.

“That?”

She turned to face me, her eyes filled with frustration.

“The club. That situation. You wanted to test me, didn’t you?”

I didn’t answer immediately, simply meeting her gaze, and assessing her.

“You passed, didn’t you?” I countered, the corner of my mouth curving into a teasing smile.

Liandra shook her head, looking back at the lake.

“I don’t know what you expect from me, Petros. But if you think you can manipulate me like this, maybe you should rethink what you want from a marriage.”

My eyebrows rose, surprised by the boldness in her voice.

— What I want, Liandra, is a wife strong enough to face whatever comes our way, — I said, my voice deepening. — Tonight, you showed me that maybe you’re ready.

She let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head.

— That’s not love.

I stayed silent for a moment, observing her profile illuminated by the moonlight.

— Love? — I repeated, a cynical smile forming on my lips. — Liandra, don’t insult our intelligence. I don’t expect love from you, and you don’t need to pretend that’s what you want from me.

She turned to face me, her eyes shining with anger and perhaps a hint of hurt. I knew I’d struck a nerve, but I didn’t care.

— All you want from this marriage, Liandra, is the assurance that your family won’t drown in debt. You’re desperate to keep anyone from finding out that the Albuquerques are bankrupt, aren’t you?

She looked at me as if I’d just slapped her. The pain in her expression almost made me hesitate. Almost.

— You’re a monster, — she muttered, her voice low but dripping with venom.

I laughed, a dry, sarcastic sound.

— And you’re a hypocrite. We’re playing the same game, Liandra, but I don’t pretend it’s something it’s not.

She tried to stand, clearly furious, but I stopped her, grabbing her arm.

— Let go of me, Petros, — she demanded, her voice trembling but not with fear.

— Not so fast, darling.

She struggled to pull away, but I held her firmly, forcing her back onto the grass. Liandra fought valiantly to free herself, but I was stronger and pressed her against the soft, damp ground.

Before I realized it, my body was partially over hers, my chest pinning her down. Our faces were mere inches apart, and I could feel her warm, uneven breaths against my skin.

— Angry? — I provoked my voice low, almost a whisper. — Show me what you’re going to do about it, Liandra.

To my surprise, she did exactly that. Without warning, her hands grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me into a kiss. It wasn’t a kiss born of anger or desperation as I had expected, but something else. Something intense, filled with conflicting emotions.

For a moment, I froze, caught off guard by her initiative. But soon, I responded, letting myself be swept up in the force of that kiss. Hurt, anger, desire—it was all there, swirling together in a storm that seemed to consume us both.

My hands slid to her waist, gripping her tightly as we deepened the kiss. Her vulnerability, paired with her boldness, stirred something in me I didn’t want to admit.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless, our faces still close.

— You like to play, don’t you? — I whispered, my voice hoarse.

Liandra looked at me, her eyes blazing, but she didn’t reply. She simply turned her face away, trying to hide the storm of emotions she was feeling.

I released her slowly, letting her sit up. But even as she tried to regain her composure, I knew something had shifted.

For the first time that night, I was at a loss for words.

Liandra stood again, and this time, I didn’t stop her. Instead, I followed her lead, and we walked together toward the park’s parking lot. She glanced around, likely looking for a taxi, but I took control of the situation.

“I’ll take you home,” I said firmly. “And that’s not a request.”

Liandra met my gaze, her eyes still wounded, but she simply nodded in agreement. We walked to my car in silence, the tension between us palpable.