Luna's POV
I woke the next morning to the sound of rain tapping against the tall windows of my room. The golden sunlight from yesterday was replaced with a dull gray haze, mirroring the heaviness in my chest. Despite the luxuries surrounding me, the mansion felt like a gilded cage—a place where beauty masked the harsh reality of my circumstances.
Helen brought breakfast to my room today, perhaps sensing my need for solitude. I thanked her quietly, but my mind was elsewhere, replaying Alexander's words from the previous day. You intrigue me.
Why did his voice linger in my mind? Why did I care about the glimpses of vulnerability in his cold, commanding demeanor? This arrangement was supposed to be transactional—clear and simple. Yet, the lines were already blurring.
I spent the morning pacing the room, restless. The rain continued, drumming against the glass as though urging me to move. Against my better judgment, I decided to explore the mansion further, despite his warning.
The corridors seemed endless, each one leading to more lavishly decorated rooms. I wasn't sure what I was looking for—maybe answers, or perhaps just a way to pass the time. Then I came upon that door.
It was unremarkable compared to the others—plain, dark wood with a polished brasshandle. Yet, its simplicity made it all the more foreboding. This was the door Mr. Cole had explicitly warned me about.
Never go near that room again.
But now, standing before it, curiosity clawed at me. What could be inside? Why was this room off-limits when everything else in the house seemed open to me?
I reached out, my fingers hesitating on the cool brass handle. I could feel my pulse quicken, each beat louder than the rain outside. Finally, I turned the knob.
The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room. At first glance, it seemed like nothing special—a study of sorts, with bookshelves lining the walls and a large oak desk in the center. Papers were scattered across the surface, and the faint scent of aged parchment filled the air.
But as I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. There was something unsettling about the space. My eyes landed on a locked cabinet in the corner, its glass doors offering a glimpse of what was inside. I moved closer and realized it was filled with photographs and documents, meticulously arranged.
One photo caught my eye—a woman. She was beautiful, with dark hair that framed her delicate features. She wore a soft smile on her beautiful face. Something about her felt familiar, though I couldn't place her.
"Luna."
The sound of Alexander's voice behind me made my heart leap into my throat. I spun around to find him standing in the doorway, his face a mask of cold fury.
"I told you to stay away from this room," he said, his tone low and dangerous he stated moving close to me.
"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, stepping back instinctively. "I didn't mean to—"
"Didn't mean to what?" he snapped, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "To invade my privacy? To disobey me?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. The intensity of his gaze pinned me in place, making me feel smaller than ever.
He moved closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "You don't know what you've just done, Luna."
"I just… I was curious," I managed, my voice trembling. "Who is she?" I gestured toward the photo of the woman.
For a moment, his expression faltered. The icy mask cracked, revealing something raw—pain, perhaps, or regret. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"That's none of your concern," he said sharply. He reached past me, yanking the cabinet door shut and locking it with a small key he pulled from his pocket.
"Alexander, please," I said, surprising even myself with the use of his first name. "I didn't mean any harm. I just… I feel like there's so much I don't know about you."
His jaw tightened, and he turned away, pacing the room like a predator deciding whether to pounce. Finally, he stopped and faced me again.
"You're right," he said, his voice softer but no less intense. "There is much you don't know about me. And it's better that way."
"Why?" I asked, desperate to understand.
"Because some truths, Luna, are more dangerous than lies," he replied, his gaze locking onto mine. "Leave this room. Now."
I hesitated, searching his face for any hint of the man who had smiled at me yesterday, the man who had softened, if only for a moment. But he was gone, replaced by the cold, impenetrable Mr. Cole I had met on the first day.
Without another word, I turned and left the room, my heart heavy with unanswered questions.
Back in my room, I paced again, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Who was the woman in the photo? What secrets was Alexander hiding? And why did I care so much?
The rain had stopped by evening, but the storm inside me remained. As I sat by the window, staring out at the darkened garden, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was standing on the edge of something bigger than I could comprehend.
Alexander Cole wasn't just a cold businessman or a controlling employer. He was a man haunted by something—something that felt dangerously close to unraveling. And for better or worse, I was now a part of it.