I hadn't imagined this would be my life. Growing up, I was always told to dream big, to chase the horizon. But no one ever warned me that sometimes the horizon swallows you whole, and instead of soaring, you fall into a darkness you can't escape. That's exactly how I felt the moment I stepped into the Alfonzo mansion.
The air was suffocating, thick with unspoken rules and expectations I didn't understand. My heart raced in my chest as I stood in the grand entryway, the weight of my new reality pressing down on me like an iron hand.
I had imagined wealth, luxury, and privilege might be alluring, but here, it was anything but. The walls, dripping in opulence, closed in around me, and I felt like a prisoner, shackled by invisible chains.
Bruno stood at the top of the marble staircase, his dark eyes locked on mine. His gaze burned through me, a silent promise of control, power, and submission.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. This was the man who held my future in his hands, and the thought made my skin crawl. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't.
His presence was magnetic, suffocating in its intensity. The corners of his mouth tugged upward ever so slightly, a smirk that sent a chill down my spine.
"Maria," his voice was a low rumble, filling the space between us. "Welcome."
Welcome? To what? A life of servitude? Of being controlled and manipulated? There was the way he looked at me, like I was a puzzle he was determined to solve.
I forced myself to take a breath, my hands trembling at my sides.
"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's... beautiful."
Beautiful. That was a lie. This place was like a gilded cage, all the more menacing because it was cloaked in beauty. I could feel the eyes of the staff on me, silent spectators to whatever was about to happen next. I felt exposed, vulnerable. I hated it.
Bruno descended the stairs slowly, each step deliberate, calculated. He moved like a predator, every inch of him exuding confidence and control.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he stopped in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine. He was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating off his body, smell the faint scent of expensive cologne and something darker, danger.
"You don't have to lie," he said, his voice softer now, almost gentle. "I know you don't want to be here. But you're here now. And this is your new reality."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. This was my new reality. The truth of it settled over me like a heavy cloak, smothering any hope I had left of escape. There was no way out. I had made a deal with the devil, and now I was his.
I had never felt so powerless in my life. And the worst part was, I could see the satisfaction in his eyes. He knew exactly what he was doing to me, and he enjoyed it.
"You're trembling," Bruno said, his voice low and amused.
He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingers grazing my skin. The touch was electric, sending a jolt of something I didn't want to name through my body. Fear. Desire. I couldn't tell the difference anymore.
"Don't touch me," I whispered, stepping back, my voice shaking as much as my body.
My breath came in ragged gasps, and I cursed myself for showing weakness.
Bruno chuckled softly, the sound dark and menacing.
"You'll get used to it, Maria. You'll get used to me."
The finality in his words made my stomach turn. How could I ever get used to him? To this life? It was unthinkable, and yet, deep down, I feared he might be right.
I glanced around, searching for anything to distract myself from the tension between us. The marble floors gleamed under the soft chandelier light, and portraits of stern-looking men and women lined the walls, Bruno's family, no doubt. I could almost feel their judgment, their eyes boring into me, questioning my right to even stand here.
"I don't belong here," I whispered, more to myself than to him.
Bruno's expression didn't change.
"You belong here because I say you do."
That sentence alone summed up everything about him. In Bruno's world, there was no discussion, no negotiation. His word was law. And now, I was bound to that law, whether I liked it or not.
I opened my mouth to argue, to say anything that would make him understand I wasn't some pawn to be moved around his chessboard, but before I could speak, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"So, this is the girl?"
I turned to see a woman descending the stairs, her eyes cold and appraising. She was tall, elegant, and clearly used to getting what she wanted.
Her dark hair was slicked back, and she wore a designer dress that screamed wealth and privilege. She was beautiful, but in a way that felt dangerous, like a polished weapon.
Bruno's sister. I didn't have to be told to know who she was.
"Maria," Bruno said, stepping aside as the woman approached. "This is Sofia."
"Of course," Sofia said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I've heard so much about you."
I forced myself to smile, though my nerves were buzzing.
"Nice to meet you."
Sofia's eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down, assessing every inch of me.
"You're not what I expected."
I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment. I didn't know what to say, so I stayed quiet, hoping the moment would pass.
"You'll have to excuse my sister," Bruno said smoothly. "She's always been... particular about the company I keep."
Sofia let out a small, disdainful laugh.
"Particular? I'd say I have standards, Bruno. And I'm not sure she meets them."
The words stung, but I kept my face neutral. I was determined not to show how much they affected me. I had dealt with judgment before, but this... this was something else entirely.
Bruno stepped forward, placing a hand on my lower back in a gesture that felt both protective and possessive.
"Maria is here now. You'll have to get used to her."
His touch was burning into me, the heat of his body seeping through the thin fabric of my dress.
I wanted to pull away, but there was something about the way he stood beside me, claiming me as his, that left me rooted to the spot.
Sofia's smile widened, though there was no warmth in it. "I see."
She turned her back on me then, walking away with the grace of someone who had never doubted her place in the world.
"I'll leave you to... settle in."
Her words lingered in the air long after she was gone, and I felt the weight of her judgment pressing down on me. I wasn't welcome here. Not by Bruno's family. And maybe not even by Bruno himself.
I glanced at him, trying to gauge his thoughts, but his expression was as unreadable as ever. He was a fortress, his emotions hidden behind those cold, dark eyes. And yet, there was something... something that tugged at the edges of his composure, something I couldn't quite place.
"I can't stay here," I blurted out, the desperation in my voice unmistakable.
Bruno's eyes darkened.
"You don't have a choice, Maria. This is your home now."
Home. The word felt foreign in my mouth. This place, this cold, imposing mansion, could never be home. And Bruno... he could never be anything more than the man who controlled my every move.
But as he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, I realized with a sinking feeling that I was trapped. And there was no escaping him.