The mansion quiet, too quiet.

Gemma lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Lucien had turned off the lights hours ago, but he wasn't sleeping either, she could tell, His breathing was too controlled, his body too tense. 

Just when she started drifting off, she felt the bed shift.

Lucien was getting up.

She opened her slightly, watching as he moved silently toward the door. He didn't turn on the lights. Didn't even make a single sound. He Just disappeared into the hallway like a shadow.

For a second, she thought about staying put. It wasn't her business where he was going in the middle of the night. But there was something about the way he moved, so careful, so secretive, itched at her curiosity.

 She slid out of bed slowly and tiptoed toward the door.

The light in the hallway was dimly lit, the air thick with silence. She followed the faint sound of footsteps, pressing herself against the wall when she saw Lucien turn a corner.

He was heading down a hallway she had never been down before.

Her heart pounded.

As soon as he disappeared through a large wooden door at the end of the hall, Gemma moved closer, staying in the shadows.

What the hell is in there?

She pressed her ear against the door, holding her breath.

At first, nothing. Then

A voice. A deep one.

Not Lucien's. Someone else.

"—getting out of control. The deal was never supposed to go this far."

"You think I don't know that?" Lucien's voice, cold and sharp. "It's handled."

"Handled? Like Maximus? That was reckless, Lucien. If they find out it was you"

Gemma clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.

She knew it. She knew Lucien had killed Maximus, the whole city suspects Lucien to be maximus killer. But it wasn't confirmed, maximus is known to have other powerful enemies. But hearing it confirmed like this sent a rush of fear through her veins.

"No one will find out." Lucien's voice dropped lower. Dangerous. "And if you have doubts, you know what happens to men who doubt me."

Silence.

Gemma swallowed hard.

She took a step back, her heart hammering. She needed to get out of here before.....

The door creaked.

She barely had time to react before the door swung open, and Lucien stood in the doorway, his icy blue eyes locking onto her instantly.

Her breath caught in her throat.

For a moment, he just stared at her. Then, in a slow, almost lazy movement, he leaned against the doorframe.

"Couldn't sleep, babygirl?" His voice was smooth, but there was something else beneath it. Something dark.

Gemma's mouth went dry.

"I—uh, yeah," she lied, trying to act casual. "I was just—"

Lucien stepped closer, and she instinctively took a step back.

Bad idea.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

"Are you scared of me, Gemma?" he asked softly, tilting his head.

Yes.

But she couldn't admit that.

"No," she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

Lucien watched her for a moment, then reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was intimate—too intimate.

"Good," he murmured. "Because if you were… I'd wonder what you've been up to."

A warning.

Her stomach twisted.

She had

a feeling she had just stepped into something way bigger than she was ready for.

Lucien put his arm around her and led her to the room.

They both laid down on the bed, but Gemma couldn't sleep. Not after what she just heard. Lucien killed Maximus.

She'd always suspected him, but hearing it confirmed was different. It was real now. The man lying beside her just ended someone's life.

The stupid part? It didn't make her want to run. If anything, it made her even more drawn to him. That realization alone scared her more than Lucien ever could. What the fuck is wrong with me?

THE NEXT MORNING

Gemma woke up to an empty bed. Lucien was gone. The sound of voices downstairs pulled her out of her daze.

She grabbed her bag and made her way down, what she saw made her stomach twist.

A blonde woman, her age, stood confidently in the living room. She wore a red silk gown that clung to her curves, black stilettos, and way too much makeup.

"She's gorgeous," Gemma thought to herself.

Lucien turned to her. "Gemma, this is Katherine. Katherine, Gemma."

Gemma extended her hand, keeping her expression neutral. But Katherine just stared at it, then at her, she didn't take her hand and just scoffed.

Gemma dropped her hand and let out a dry chuckle. "Okay, bitch. If that's how you wanna play it".

Katherine's nose scrunched. "Ugh, what did you just call me?" Her voice was high-pitched.

Gemma tilted her head. "I said, okay, bitch."

Katherine's mouth fell open in shock before she turned to Lucien. "Are you just going to let her disrespect me like that?"

Lucien sighed. "Gemma, don't talk to her like that." Then, without another word, he grabbed her arm and led her outside.

Gemma looked back just in

 time to see Katherine smirking.

--

Lucien put his arm around her and led her to the room.

They both laid down on the bed, but Gemma couldn't sleep. Not after what she just heard. Lucien killed Maximus.

She’d always suspected him, but hearing it confirmed was different. It was real now. The man lying beside her just ended someone’s life.

The stupid part? It didn’t make her want to run. If anything, it made her even more drawn to him. That realization alone scared her more than Lucien ever could. What the fuck is wrong with me?

THE NEXT MORNING

Gemma woke up to an empty bed. Lucien was gone. She heard voices downstairs.

She grabbed her bag and made her way down, what she saw made her stomach twist.

A blonde woman, her age, stood confidently in the living room. She wore a red silk gown that clung to her curves, black stilettos, and way too much makeup.

Lucien turned to her. “Gemma, this is Katherine. Katherine, Gemma.”

Gemma extended her hand, But Katherine just stared at it, then at her, she didn't take her hand and just scoffed.

Gemma dropped her hand and let out a dry chuckle. Okay, bitch. If that’s how you wanna play it.

Katherine’s nose scrunched. “Ugh, what did you just call me?” Her voice was high-pitched.

Gemma tilted her head. “I said, okay, bitch.”

Katherine’s mouth fell open in shock before she turned to Lucien. “Are you just going to let her disrespect me like that?”

Lucien sighed. “Gemma, don’t talk to her like that.” Then, without another word, he grabbed her arm and led her outside.

Gemma looked back just in time to see Katherine smirking.

---

THE CAR RIDE

The drive was silent.

Lucien didn’t say a word, and neither did Gemma. Her mind was spinning. She didn’t understand what she was feeling—anger, jealousy, humiliation?

When they reached her building, she reached for the door handle, but Lucien’s hand covered hers.

She froze.

For a brief second, she just stared at their hands, feeling his warmth imon her skin. Then she pulled away.

“I don’t want to see you anymore,” she said, her voice flat.

Lucien blinked, caught off guard. “Wh...why?”

Then, as if flipping a switch, his face hardened. “Oh. Sorry—I forgot to pay you for last night.” He reached into his pocket.

Something inside Gemma cracked.

For the first time in her life, the mention of money hurt.

She forced a smile. “Keep your money. I don’t want it. I didn’t strip for you last night, so it’s cool.”

Before he could respond, she stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind her.