The city lights quickly disappeared in the rearview mirror, giving way to the darkness of the road and the gloom of the trees that sped past like ghosts. The silence in the car was heavier than the bar's noise, broken only by the engine's purr and the frantic pounding of my heart. I turned towards Orion, a question forming on my lips, but his rigid posture and gaze fixed on the road dissuaded me from speaking. He was a man who didn't tolerate being disturbed, much less questioned.
After what felt like an eternity, the car turned onto a secondary road, then passed through a large wrought-iron gate. Leaving the world of the night behind us, we arrived in front of a modern house, a block of glass and steel that stood on an isolated hill, its large bay windows reflecting the pale glow of the moon. It wasn't a house; it was a fortress.
Inside, the luxury was both evident and oppressive. Designer furniture, marble floors, and minimalist artworks adorned a vast, cold space. I suddenly realized the extent of the chasm between us. He was an emperor in his empire, and I, a mere waitress.
I couldn't help but exclaim, "What do you want? Why me?"
Orion removed his hood. His face, even more striking without the shadow, was dangerously beautiful. His piercing blue eyes, square jaw, and the scar on his temple formed a face I could never forget. "You're asking the wrong questions," he said, his voice low and devoid of warmth. "You're mine because I saved you. That's the nature of our contract."
He approached me, each step measured. "The contract is the exchange of your life for your freedom. You were in danger long before that client approached you. A debt is a debt, and now, it's mine."
My legs wobbled. It was too much to process. A whirlwind of fear and anger flooded my thoughts. "I... I don't understand. You can't do this to me!"
He stopped right in front of me, his height towering over me. His gaze hardened, and he uttered words that sealed my fate more surely than any threat. "Your apartment is empty. Your record has been erased. To the outside world, Lyra no longer exists. You have nowhere to go, no one to turn to."
He took another step, and the scent of his cologne, a mix of leather and spices, enveloped me. "Starting tonight," he whispered, "you will be my protégé. And you will do exactly as I tell you."