Naela sat on the edge of the luxurious bed in the room she had been left in, her mind racing. Fabricio's words replayed in her head, each one heavy with warning. She felt like a thread caught in a spider's web, and every move she made seemed to entangle her further.
The room was quiet now, but the silence was suffocating. The walls, with their gilded frames and rich fabrics, seemed to mock her. This place was a palace of power, and she was an intruder a pawn in a game she didn't understand.
Her thoughts turned to Isabella, and anger flared in her chest. What had her stepsister gotten her into? Was she a part of this? Or was she just another piece on this chessboard? The door creaked open, breaking the oppressive silence. Naela tensed, her eyes darting to the figure stepping inside. It was one of Fabricio's men a tall, imposing figure with sharp features and a cold gaze.
"The boss wants to see you," he said curtly, gesturing for her to follow.
Naela hesitated. "Why? What does he want now?"
The man's expression didn't change. "You'll find out soon enough. Let's go."
Reluctantly, she stood and followed him. The hallway felt longer this time, the air heavier with anticipation. Every step echoed ominously, amplifying her growing dread. They arrived at a set of double doors, which the man pushed open to reveal a sprawling study. Fabricio stood by a large desk, his back to her as he stared out the window. The moonlight cast a silver glow over the room, highlighting the tension in his posture.
"You wanted to see me?" Naela asked, her voice betraying her nerves.
Fabricio turned slowly, his sharp gaze pinning her in place. He gestured to a chair in front of the desk. "Sit."
Naela hesitated but eventually obeyed. She perched on the edge of the chair, her hands gripping the armrests.
"You're not telling me everything," Fabricio said, his tone calm but laced with steel.
"I've told you everything I know," she insisted, meeting his gaze with a mix of fear and defiance.
Fabricio leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. "The man we questioned downstairs wasn't random. He knew you'd be here. He knew your name, Naela. Care to explain that?"
Her heart sank. "I don't know how he knows me. I swear I don't."
Fabricio studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he produced a folder and slid it across the desk toward her.
"Then maybe this will jog your memory," he said.
Naela hesitated before opening the folder. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the contents photographs of herself. Some were recent, taken on the streets of the city. Others were older, from years ago. There were even pictures of her with her adoptive father.
"This… this doesn't make sense," she stammered, her hands trembling as she flipped through the photos.
"Someone's been watching you," Fabricio said, his voice low. "And they've been watching you for a long time."
Naela's mind reeled. She thought of her father, of the accident that had taken his life. Was it really an accident? Or was it connected to whatever this was?
Fabricio's gaze softened slightly as he observed her reaction. "Look," he said, his tone less harsh. "If you're being used as a pawn, you need to start thinking like a survivor. Stop playing the victim and start figuring out who's pulling the strings."
His words stung, but they also ignited a spark of determination in her. She had spent years enduring the cruelty of her stepmother and stepsister, years learning how to survive. Now, she had to do more than survive. She had to fight.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.
Fabricio's lips curved into a small, almost approving smile. "The same thing you want: answers. Find out who's behind this, and you might just earn your freedom."
Naela nodded, her resolve hardening. She didn't trust him, but she didn't have a choice. If she was going to escape this nightmare, she would have to play along.
As she stood to leave, Fabricio's voice stopped her.
"One more thing," he said, his tone lighter but no less serious. "If you betray me, there won't be a second chance. Understood?"
Naela turned to meet his gaze, her chin lifting defiantly. "Understood."
She left the study with a mixture of fear and determination swirling in her chest. For the first time since stepping into the Velvet Room, she felt a flicker of control. She didn't know who was behind the web of lies and secrets, but she was determined to unravel it no matter what it took.