Ch-18
"I apologize; I was just lost in thought," Luciana tried her best to smile at him, hoping time would speed up so she could escape this devil's grip. She silently prayed for Joe to reach her soon.
"Our conversation was interrupted earlier," Oscar said, his eyes glinting with something new. "We should pick it up again."
"Maybe another time," Luciana replied, keeping her tone light. "My friend is waiting for me, and if I'm out of his sight for even a moment, he'll worry."
"Is it Joe again?" Oscar asked, a hint of anger slipping into his voice.
"Lucy," Joe's voice echoed before Luciana could respond to Oscar's question.
"You called him?" Oscar demanded.
"I let him know where I am," Luciana replied, keeping her tone calm. She wasn't sure why she felt compelled to explain, but something told her that staying silent might lead to trouble.
Oscar's eyes narrowed. "Fine. Now, let's continue our conversation."
"My friend is here, so I'll take my leave. I wouldn't want to waste any more of your time, sir," Luciana said politely and turned to go, hoping to escape the tense situation.
But Oscar watched her attempt to leave in a hurry, and something in him snapped. He wasn't ready to let her walk away—especially not now, not when he still had questions for her. He would not let her control the situation, not here, not in his space.
Before she could take another step, he seized her wrist, stopping her. Luciana opened her mouth to protest, but before she could make a sound, Oscar clamped a hand over her lips, silencing her as he dragged her into a nearby room. With a forceful shove, he pushed her inside, and a cold dread settled over her as the door closed behind them.
Luciana felt a wave of fear, raw and palpable. She had no idea how she'd escape from this man. She wished she could run and never have to see him again, but her job as a piano instructor at his son's school meant their paths were bound to cross. She'd never imagined that her first encounter with him would be under such circumstances.
Her eyes darted around the room as he locked the door, her heart racing like a trapped animal's. She didn't want to share the same air or stand under the same roof as this man.
Oscar turned and fixed her with a hard, piercing stare. This was the woman who had captured his son's attention, who had managed to make his son talk more at home, even make friends. He'd been pleased with his son's progress, but he hadn't known that the new music teacher was Luciana. And seeing her at the banquet tonight had only deepened his anger. His mother had mentioned that a new piano instructor would perform at the ceremony, but he'd never expected it to be her.
This woman seemed to appear everywhere he went, and he was beginning to think it wasn't a coincidence. The thought that she might be scheming to get close to him festered in his mind, filling him with both anger and a twisted sense of opportunity. If she was trying to seduce him, he would teach her a lesson—he'd make her regret it.
A wicked smile curled across his face as he slowly stepped forward, watching her retreat with each step he took. Luciana's fear grew as she saw the dark intent in his eyes. This man was dangerous, and being anywhere near him was a threat to her peace of mind and safety. She had come to this country seeking a fresh start, and here he was, threatening everything she had worked for.
As Oscar's gaze shifted from a glare to a twisted grin, a chill crept down her spine. Luciana knew she was in serious trouble.
'God, help me,' she prayed silently, swallowing hard. She tried to muster the strength to speak, to stand her ground, but her voice failed her. Warning bells rang in her mind, her instinct to flee growing stronger with each passing second.
He advanced toward her with a dangerous glint in his eyes, causing Luciana to instinctively step back. His gaze swept over her body in a way that made her skin crawl. She knew her white gown wasn't revealing, but the way he looked at her made her feel exposed, as though she were cornered by a predator.
Her palms grew clammy, and her legs trembled with fear. When she tried to step back again, her legs hit the edge of the bed, and she stumbled, losing her balance. She fell backward onto the mattress, and before she could scramble to her feet, Oscar was on her, pinning her down.
"S-Sir, please… I'll go," Luciana stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She hoped he would let her go, but he didn't budge.
Oscar's weight pressed her into the bed as he loomed over her, his gaze dark and unreadable. An emotion flickered in his eyes that made her instinctively press herself deeper into the mattress, fear clutching at her heart.