Chapter 25 Targeted!
|| Author POV ||
It’s almost eleven. The cold wind coming through the window brushing against her soft skin.
Rosa’s eyes flicked between the clock and the books on the table. Her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She reached for a book, clutching it close to her chest and tiptoed to her door and peeked out.
“Where is he?” she whispered to herself, her gaze shifting toward the end of the corridor, toward his room.
“Hey.” Rosa flinched, and quickly turned around. It was Lilia.
“Did I scare you?” she asked, trying not to laugh and Rosa blinked at her with wide, startled eyes.
Lilia took a step closer. “Master wants you in his study.”
Rosa’s breath hitched. Her lips curved into a small smile and she nodded quickly with a little spark in her eyes.
“Thank you.” Rosa murmured sweetly and turned toward the direction of his study.
Her steps were light but her heart was fluttering with nerves. She was excited and nervous too.
Lilia smiled looking at her small form. “Such a sweetheart she is.”
Rosa stood in front of the heavy wooden door, her fingers trembled slightly as she raised a hand to knock. She took a deep breath to steady herself, but the door creaked open with the slightest push, it was open.
She hesitated, peeking her head in slowly wnd cautiously.
Her gaze immediately landed on him.
Killian was standing near the tall window, his back turned to her, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding a phone to his ear.
The moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains cast a soft glow on his broad shoulders, outlining his figure like a silhouette pulled from a dream.
Rosa’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes lingered on the strength in his back, the calm yet commanding posture he held without even trying.
She swallowed hard, her hands tightened around the book in her grip.
“May I come in?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the quiet hum in the room.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited, unsure if he even heard her.
Killian glanced over his shoulder, his cold gaze landed on her small figure standing nervously at the door.
Without a word, he tilted his chin slightly, just a subtle gesture with his eyes, motioning her toward the table and then turned back to his call.
Rosa stepped inside slowly. Her steps were small and hesitant, as if she were walking into a lion’s den.
Reaching the table, she quietly pulled out a chair and sat down, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
She looked at him. His broad back still turned motionlessly.
He looked so big.
The black t-shirt clung tightly to his sculpted frame, outlining every ridge of muscle beneath. There was something dangerously calm about him.
He looked so intimidating. Like someone she should fear.
Rosa immediately looked down at her lap when he made a small movement. Killian hung up the call and glanced back. She was sitting.
Like an obedient bunny.
Too submissive.
He walked toward the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down in it, his presence dominated the space.
Rosa looked up and her eyes locked with him. He was gazing at her. His eyes were cold like ice. Her lavender eyes got lost in the intensity of his blue stare.
How is she supposed to focus on studying with him sitting there? She swallowed quietly, her eyes nervously staring back.
“Your mind is wandering. Bring it back. Now!”
Rosa flinched then forced herself to focus and Killian begin his lessons.
Rosa’s eyes stayed on the book, but her focus was elsewhere. Her attention was stolen completely by his voice.
Every word he spoke sank into her like a lullaby she didn’t want to end.
She wasn’t paying attention to the lesson, not even a little.
His voice was low, steady, cold with a hint of velvet.
Rosa was too busy memorizing the way his voice dipped at certain words, how cold it sounded.
This felt like a dream.
Her lips curved into a faint smile as her gaze rested on the pages, pretending to focus while her heart quietly listened.
\----
|| ɴᴇxᴛ ᴅᴀʏ ||
Rosa sat quietly at her desk, fingers tracing the edge of her notebook. Aria still hadn’t shown up.
Her head drooped a little, sleep tugging at her eyes.
She hadn’t rested well last night, because his voice kept replaying in her head like a lullaby only she could hear.
Even now, her ears buzzed with it. Her cheeks warmed without reason.
“Hey! You!”
A sharp voice shattered her thoughts, followed by a loud smack on her desk. Rosa flinched and looked up with her soft eyes.
Nora, the girl from her class, stood towered over her, palm still pressed against the desk.
Rosa’s startled eyes met hers.
What does she want?
The girl had a smug expression, arms crossed. “Don’t act so clueless. I’m talking to you.” Rosa said with mockery.
Rosa stayed quiet, confused. Her fingers curled slightly around the edges of her book.
Two girls came into view, standing beside Nora and she raised an eyebrow at Rosa.
“Girls, guess what? I saw her yesterday.” Nora said, smirking. “Getting into that sleek black car. Looked expensive. Really expensive!”
The girls beside her gaped. “Really?” they asked and Nora nodded with a mocking expression.
Nora leaned in a little, her voice sharp. “What, you got yourself a sugar daddy or something?”
Rosa’s throat went dry.
She was fearing this!
She just stared at them, unable to think of what to say. Nora scoffed.
She clicked her tongue, a fake smile curling her lips. “Didn’t know quiet little girls like you had connections.” Her voice mocked every word.
Rosa looked down, her lashes casted delicate shadows on her cheeks. She didn’t like this at all, the mocking tone, the stares, the way the words clung to her like thorns.
She knew Nora. Everyone did.
The self-proclaimed queen of the classroom, always at the center of gossip, always picking her prey. A bully in designer clothes. But Rosa had never been touched before, never called out, never been mocked. She had always stayed in her quiet little world, unnoticed.
Until now.
“So,” Nora tilted her head mockingly, “Who was that? Your secret boyfriend or some rich guy sponsoring your little life? A sugar daddy, huh?” The girls laughed at her, making her feel so uncomfortable.
“You’ve been really quiet, but turns out you’re hiding something interesting, huh?” Nora added with a fake laugh.
“Why don’t you speak!” Nora shouted louder, annoyed by Rosa’s silence.
“Just because you’re beautiful doesn’t mean I’ll leave you! Spit it out!”
Rosa jolted in her place.
Her voice was still echoing when two other girls behind her giggled, whispering just loud enough for Rosa to hear.
“Must be nice having sugar daddies pick you up.” one said with a mocking pout.
The other leaned closer with a cruel grin. “Wonder what she’s giving him in return for those rides.”
Their laughter followed. It felt humiliating but then-
“What’s going on here?”