As Diego descended the stairs, he walked straight to the front door, intending to step outside and clear his mind. But when he turned the handle, the door wouldn't budge. Frowning, he tried again, jiggling the knob and even pressing his weight against it, but it remained immovable.
"Emily!" he called out, his voice echoing through the house. No answer.
He tried again, louder this time, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "Emily!" Still no response. Growing increasingly frustrated, he began pounding on the door. "Emily! Emily! Emily!" He banged harder, the hollow thuds of his fists reverberating in the silence, shaking the door in his mounting fury.
Outside, Andre, the security guard, caught the noise of Diego's muffled shouts and quickly moved toward the window. Peering in, he saw Diego's agitation as he continued calling out.
"Andre! Andre!" Diego's voice was insistent, laced with irritation.
"Yes, sir?" Andre responded, stepping closer to the door to make himself heard.
"Where's Emily?" Diego's tone was sharp, bordering on angry.
Andre hesitated. "She went out, sir."
"What?" Diego's jaw tightened as he processed Andre's words. "She locked me inside and left? And you just let her go?"
"Sir, she said you ordered her to do so," Andre replied, trying to keep his voice calm. "And… that you'd sent her on an errand."
Diego's face darkened, his frustration simmering. "Alright, fine," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Call her. Tell her to get back here immediately and open this door."
Andre shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. "Sir, she… she took the car."
Diego's eyes narrowed, a look of disbelief crossing his face. "She took my car? And you just let her do it without telling me?" His tone was biting. "What kind of security are you running here, Andre?"
"I'm… I'm sorry, sir. She said you instructed her—" Andre stammered, clearly rattled.
"Oh, I instructed her, did I?" Diego sneered, mockingly mimicking Andre's explanation. "Do you work for her or for me? You absolute fool!"
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir." Andre's voice dropped, shoulders slumping as he backed away. He didn't need to be told twice and made his way back to his post, casting a quick, worried glance over his shoulder.
Once alone, Diego paced back and forth, his frustration building as he tried to make sense of Emily's—or rather, Lucia's—audacity. His strides quickened, his breathing growing heavier. This woman was turning his life upside down, testing his patience in ways he hadn't thought possible. He pulled out his phone, scrolling to her contact and practically stabbing at the screen as he hit "Call." The line rang, and he listened, his irritation growing with each unanswered ring. Somewhere in the city, Lucia was in his car, driving aimlessly, letting the phone buzz in her pocket.
Finally, she answered with a casual, "Hello?"
"Where the hell are you, Emily? And where is my car?" Diego growled, his voice tight with irritation.
Lucia smiled to herself, glancing at her surroundings as she continued her casual drive around town. "Sir, you're under house arrest," she replied calmly.
"What?" Diego's voice pitched with disbelief. "Are you insane, Emily?"
"No, sir, I'm quite alright," she replied smoothly, the smallest hint of amusement coloring her tone.
Diego clenched his fist, barely restraining his frustration. "In two minutes, I want my car parked in the compound, and this door opened. Now."
"That's not gonna happen, sir," Lucia replied, her tone unwavering.
"Are you daring me?" Diego demanded, his voice barely contained.
"No, sir, I'm encouraging you to rest. Just relax, okay?"
Diego's brows furrowed, his mind struggling to keep up with her boldness. "What the hell do you mean by that, Emily?"
"Sir," she began with almost playful patience, "I'm teaching you discipline. You need it in your life, and instead of thanking me, you're getting upset? You should be paying me for this, but I'm doing it willingly and freely." She let the silence linger for a moment before adding, "Just rest, sir. Your urges will calm down soon enough."
And before he could respond, she ended the call, leaving Diego staring at his phone, stunned into silence. For a moment, he couldn't even think, let alone react. The nerve—the gall—of this woman! "What sort of human is this?" he muttered to himself, bewildered by her audacity.
Back in his apartment, Diego tossed his phone onto the couch, rubbing his temples in frustration. He wasn't used to people, especially his employees, challenging him so openly. Emily, or whoever she really was, seemed to take great pleasure in pushing his buttons, in dancing on the very line between defiance and insubordination. And yet, there was something about her that captivated him—something he couldn't quite put his finger on, that kept him from firing her outright.
As he fumed, his thoughts drifted to her calm, almost playful tone over the phone, as if she had everything under control, as if she were the one in charge. How was she managing to twist the power dynamic, he wondered? He prided himself on his composure, his command over any situation, but with her, he felt strangely off balance.
While Diego sat in his frustration, Lucia continued driving, a small smile playing on her lips. She knew he'd be furious, but deep down, she was teaching him a lesson he sorely needed to learn.
A few minutes later, Lucia pulled up to the gate and gave a quick honk. Andre, who had been anxiously waiting for her return, hurried to open it, eyeing her with a mix of relief and worry as she drove in and parked.
As soon as she stepped out of the car, Andre approached her cautiously. "Emily...uh, sir Diego's been waiting. He's...not exactly happy."
Lucia smirked, glancing up at the apartment windows as if she could feel Diego's intense gaze from above. "I'm sure he's just fine," she replied nonchalantly, tossing the car keys up and catching them effortlessly as she headed towards the door.
When she reached the entrance, she took a calming breath, knowing Diego's fury awaited her inside, and prepared herself for the confrontation. She unlocked the door and stepped inside to find him already standing, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on her with a mix of anger and exasperation.
"Care to explain why you thought locking me inside and then taking my car without permission was a good idea?" Diego demanded, his tone as sharp as a knife.
Lucia gave him a calm, unaffected look, her expression unreadable. "Sir, as I said, I thought you could use a bit of rest."
"Leaving me locked in my own home, Emily?" he countered, voice rising slightly. "How does that make any sense to you?" Diego took a deep breath, struggling to keep his temper in check. "This isn't a game, Emily. You don't get to make those decisions."
"Maybe not," she admitted, still unruffled, "but sometimes, you just need someone to show you what discipline looks like."
Diego shook his head, torn between irritation and reluctant admiration. "You're unbelievable," he muttered, his gaze never leaving her face. "Who do you think you are, deciding what I need?"
Lucia raised an eyebrow, not backing down. "You don't get told 'no' very often, do you?" she replied, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "I thought maybe it was time someone did."
A tense silence settled between them, both locked in a silent standoff, neither willing to yield. Finally, Diego looked away, letting out a frustrated breath. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to get fired," he said, his voice softer but laced with underlying anger.
Lucia shrugged, as if the notion didn't faze her. "That's your choice, sir. But until then, I'll keep doing what I think is best."
Diego's gaze hardened, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—a grudging respect, perhaps, or maybe curiosity. She wasn't like the others. She was something… different. And maybe that was why he couldn't bring himself to send her away, even now.