Nicholas sat calmly on his luxurious couch, his legs crossed and his gaze fixed on his phone's screen. Mike stood next to him, awaiting his next order.
Then, as if in a dream, Daisy and Lana appeared at the top of the staircase, Daisy guiding Lana by the hand.
As they descended, Mike whispered to Nicholas, "They're here, sir."Nicholas's cold eyes met Lana's defiant gaze, and for a moment, he was speechless.
Nicholas rose from the couch, a smirk playing on his lips as he approached the exquisite vision before him.
He circled Lana, his gaze lingering on her curves, the slit of her dress revealing the flawless skin of her thigh.
"You look stunning, Lana," he said, his voice laced with admiration and a hint of surprise.
"Daisy has outdone herself."Lana kept her composure, her face a mask of icy indifference.
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson," she replied, her voice cold and controlled.
Nicholas cocked his head, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Oh, Lana, so beautiful and yet so stubborn," he said, leaning in to whisper in her ear.
"But remember, you are mine now. You belong to me."he whispered, his breath hot against her neck
Lana stiffened, her jaw clenching as she fought to maintain her composure.
"I will never belong to you," she whispered back, her voice quivering with suppressed rage.
Nicholas stepped back, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"We shall see, Lana," he said, turning away.
"We shall see."
After Daisy and her assistants departed, Nicholas snapped his fingers at Mike.
"Get the car ready, now! We don't want to be late."Mike nodded and scurried off.
Nicholas smirked at Lana, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Come here, Lana."Lana stood firm, her gaze icy and defiant.
"Don't you want to see Liam?" Nicholas said with a wicked grin.
"If you had been obedient from the start, we wouldn't have had to resort to violence."
As Lana listened to Nicholas's words, her heart sank.
She knew she had no choice but to comply.
Slowly, she stepped towards him, her hands clammy with sweat.
Nicholas pulled her onto his lap, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he gazed into her face.
"Such an obedient little cat," he purred, pressing his lips against hers in a surprisingly gentle kiss.
As his hand traced the curve of her thigh, Lana couldn't help but moan.
Suddenly, Mike burst into the room, interrupting the intimate scene.
"Boss, the car is rea..." Mike stammered, his eyes wide with shock at the sight of Lana on Nicholas's lap.
"It's okay, Mike," Nicholas said coolly, not the least bit perturbed.
"Lana and I were just having a moment."Lana's face burned with embarrassment, but she couldn't meet Nicholas's gaze.
She hastily adjusted her dress, wishing she could disappear into the floor.
"Lana," Nicholas said, taking her hand, "let's go. The car is waiting."
Lana nodded, allowing herself to be led to the car by Nicholas's firm grip.
As they walked, the sound of her heels clacking on the marble floor seemed to echo the pounding of her heart.
The drive to the premiere was silent. Lana kept her gaze fixed on the window, her thoughts in turmoil.
She knew she had to stay strong for Liam, but with each passing mile, the knot of anxiety in her stomach tightened.
At last, they arrived at the red carpet, cameras flashing and reporters calling out Nicholas's name.
As they stepped out of the car, the crowd of reporters surged towards them, their flashes and shouts a dizzying assault on Lana's senses.
Nicholas gave Lana a brief, curt nod before leading her towards the throng of reporters.
He ignored their calls and flashes, striding purposefully towards the red carpet with Lana trailing in his wake.
Lana's head spun from the cacophony of voices and the barrage of camera clicks.
She felt like a ghost in this glittering world of red carpet celebrities , ignored by all but Nicholas's iron grip on her arm.
They made their way up the red carpet, Nicholas's expression steely and impenetrable.
They entered the movie premiere, Lana's eyes widening as she took in the sight of the movie's posters everywhere, her own heart skipping a beat as she realized the significance of the event.
It was the same movie she was casted in as an extra!!
Nicholas led her through the crowd, his grip tight on her arm. Lana's head spun, a mix of excitement and fear swirling in her chest.
A glamorous woman approached, hugging Nicholas without hesitation. Lana recognized her as the A-list actress Kiara Howlton, a well-known celebrity and rich heiress of the Howlton family.
"Mr. Anderson, how wonderful to see you," Kiara purred, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness.
Nicholas pushed Kiara away, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Miss Howlton, I do not appreciate being touched without my consent," he said coldly, his words sending a shiver down Lana's spine.
Kiara quickly regained her composure, her smile never faltering.
"My apologies, Mr. Anderson. I simply couldn't contain my excitement at seeing you." Her gaze flitted over to Lana, her eyes narrowing in disdain.
Lana, trying to break the tension, extended her hand with a friendly smile.
"Hello, I'm Lana."
Kiara's hand remained at her side, her mouth twisted into a sneer.
"I don't believe we've been introduced," she said dismissively, turning her back on Lana.
"She's part of the crew for this film," Nicholas interjected, a smirk playing on his lips.
Kiara turned back, her eyes glittering with malice. "Crew, you say?" she scoffed.
"What could a crew member possibly have to do with you, Mr. Anderson?"Nicholas pulled Lana closer, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"She's my girlfriend," Nicholas said, his voice low and dangerous, sending a chill through Lana's spine.Kiara's mouth dropped open in shock.
"Your what?" she gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief.Lana couldn't help but smile.
She knew this was just a game to Nicholas, but it felt good to see Kiara's haughty facade crack.
The press, sensing a juicy scoop, swarmed around the trio, flashing bulbs and microphones in their faces.