Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 4 - Between Desire and Possession

The newsroom had returned to its usual hum of activity, but for Seraphina, the world felt smaller, suffocating even. The events of the past week—the lingering looks, the calculated words from Lucian Castell—had stirred something deep within her. It wasn’t fear, exactly. It was something far more insidious: a battle of wills that she wasn’t sure she could win.

As she stared blankly at her computer screen, her phone buzzed. The name on the screen sent a jolt through her.

Lucian Castell.

The message was simple: "Dinner. Tonight. 8 PM. You know where."

There was no question, no pretense of politeness. It was a demand wrapped in the guise of an invitation. Seraphina’s jaw tightened as she considered ignoring it. Yet, she knew deep down that ignoring Lucian wasn’t an option. His presence in her life was no longer something she could evade—it was a storm she had to face.

The restaurant was exactly what she expected: opulent, intimate, and undeniably exclusive. Every detail seemed meticulously chosen, from the flickering candlelight to the faint hum of classical music in the background. It was the kind of place where power brokers dined in whispered conversations, the world outside forgotten.

Lucian was already there, seated at a table tucked into a private corner. His posture was relaxed, but his presence filled the room. He wore a black suit that clung perfectly to his form, exuding effortless confidence. As she approached, his dark eyes lifted to meet hers, and a slow smile curved his lips.

“Seraphina,” he said, standing to greet her. “You came.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice, did I?” she replied, her tone sharper than she intended.

His smile didn’t falter. Instead, he gestured for her to sit, his eyes never leaving hers. “You always have a choice. But you made the right one.”

She sank into the chair, her heart pounding. This wasn’t a dinner; it was a confrontation, and she knew it.

The conversation started politely enough. They spoke of the magazine, of Lucian’s plans for expansion and innovation. Yet, every word was laden with subtext, every glance a challenge.

“You’re quite the strategist, Seraphina,” Lucian said, leaning back in his chair. “I can see why Edward values you so highly.”

Her brow furrowed at the mention of Edward. “Edward values me because I’m good at what I do,” she said firmly.

Lucian’s smile turned predatory. “Oh, I don’t doubt that. But I think his admiration goes beyond your professional capabilities.”

Her stomach twisted, but she refused to let it show. “And what exactly are you implying?”

Lucian leaned forward, his gaze piercing. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Like a man teetering on the edge of desire but too afraid to take the leap.”

Her breath hitched, but she quickly regained her composure. “Whatever Edward feels—or doesn’t feel—is none of your concern.”

“But it is,” Lucian said softly, his voice like silk. “Everything about you concerns me.”

The intensity of his words sent a shiver down her spine. She tried to deflect, to regain control of the conversation. “You think you can just walk into people’s lives and make them yours? That’s not how it works, Lucian.”

He tilted his head, studying her with an unsettling calm. “No, Seraphina. I don’t take what isn’t already mine. And you, whether you admit it or not, are mine.”

Her pulse quickened. She wanted to lash out, to deny his words, but something about the way he said them—so confident, so sure—left her momentarily speechless.

After dinner, they stepped outside into the cool evening air. The streets were quiet, the city lights casting a golden glow on the pavement. Seraphina wrapped her coat tighter around herself, desperate for a barrier, any barrier, between her and Lucian.

But he wasn’t done.

As they walked, Lucian stopped abruptly in front of a towering building. He turned to her, his eyes darker than she’d ever seen them.

“You fascinate me, Seraphina,” he said, his voice low. “Do you know how rare that is?”

She crossed her arms, a feeble attempt to shield herself. “I’m not some puzzle for you to solve, Lucian. I’m a person.”

“And that’s what makes you so intoxicating,” he replied, stepping closer. “You’re not just a conquest. You’re a force. And I can’t stop myself from wanting to possess it.”

Her anger flared. “You don’t possess me. You never will.”

He smiled, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It was dangerous, filled with the kind of certainty that made her stomach flip. “We’ll see about that.”

Before she could respond, he reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek. The touch was light, almost tender, but it burned like fire.

“You’re lying to yourself,” he said softly. “I see it in your eyes. You want this as much as I do.”

Her breath hitched, and she took a step back, her heart racing. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” he admitted, his smile widening. “But insanity has never felt so right.”

The tension between them reached a boiling point. Lucian stepped even closer, invading her space. His hand caught her wrist, not harshly, but firmly enough to stop her retreat.

“You can fight me all you want, Seraphina,” he said, his voice a dangerous whisper. “But you can’t fight what’s between us.”

Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, her mind a whirlwind of anger, fear, and something she refused to name. “Let go of me,” she demanded, her voice trembling.

Instead, he pulled her closer, their faces inches apart. His eyes searched hers, his expression raw and unguarded.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured. “Tell me you don’t feel this, and I’ll walk away. But look me in the eye when you say it.”

She opened her mouth, ready to shout the words, but they wouldn’t come. Her body betrayed her, leaning into his warmth despite every screaming protest in her mind.

Lucian’s grip loosened, his fingers trailing down her arm in a gesture that was both possessive and reverent. “That’s what I thought.”

Her anger surged, giving her the strength to pull away. “You don’t control me, Lucian,” she spat, her voice shaking. “You never will.”

He watched her, his expression unreadable. “We’ll see,” he said quietly, his tone more a promise than a threat.

When Seraphina returned to her apartment that night, she was a storm of emotions. She paced the living room, replaying every word, every look, every touch.

Her phone buzzed, and her heart sank as she saw his name on the screen again.

Lucian: "You can run, Seraphina. But you can’t hide from what we are."

She threw the phone onto the couch, her frustration boiling over. How had he gotten under her skin so quickly, so completely?

But as she stood there, staring out at the city lights, she couldn’t deny the truth any longer. Lucian Castell terrified her. But he also awakened something in her—something dark, something primal, something she wasn’t ready to face.

And she hated that she didn’t hate it.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter