Leia froze halfway down the staircase.
The creak of a door had caught her attention, and then she saw her. A woman emerged from Jake's room, swaying on impossibly long legs, her satin robe clinging to curves meant to be admired. Her hair was glossy, her lips red and smudged, her perfume thick in the morning air. She looked every inch the kind of woman Jake would entertain, scantily dressed, shamelessly confident, dripping in allure.
The woman spotted her instantly. Her lips curled into a smirk, and her eyes sparkled with cruelty. She didn't avoid Leia. No, she walked straight toward her, hips swaying deliberately, every step designed to taunt.
"So," the woman purred, her voice husky and mocking. "This must be the new wife."
Leia's blood boiled at the mockery, but before she could form a reply, the door behind the woman slammed open.
Jake.
His presence filled the hallway like a storm. His sharp suit clung perfectly to his frame, his dark hair still damp from the shower, his expression cut from ice. He barely glanced at Leia, his gaze was pinned on the woman.
"You're still here?" His tone was razor-sharp, the kind of coldness that could cut a person in half.
The woman faltered. A moment ago, she was smug, untouchable. Now, she shrank under the weight of his stare. "I…I was just leaving."
"You should've been gone an hour ago," Jake said, voice low but lethal. "Do I need to repeat myself when I give an order?"
"N-no," she stammered, her bravado slipping.
"Then leave."
Her shoulders sagged. She turned to go, head bowed. But Jake's voice stopped her mid-step.
"Sit. Have breakfast."
Leia almost laughed. Almost. The woman's entire body stiffened, caught between humiliation and obedience. Slowly, she obeyed, walking toward the dining room.
Leia followed silently, her chest tightening with anger. She hadn't even sat yet and already this place was choking her.
The dining room was bathed in morning light, the long table set like a royal banquet. Servants moved quietly along the walls, placing silverware, pouring drinks. Jake strode to the head of the table like he owned the world. The woman sank into a chair nearby, her head lowered. Leia sat opposite, her back straight, her fists tight in her lap.
Jake didn't look at either of them at first. He poured himself coffee, his movements deliberate, dismissive. Only after sipping did he finally let his gaze wander.
"You," he said, his eyes sliding to the woman. "Monica."
"It's Mona," she said softly, almost timidly.
Jake's stare snapped to hers, flat and dangerous.
Silence.
Mona's lips snapped shut. Her hands curled into fists under the table.
Leia smirked. Jake didn't tolerate correction, even from his little toys. Interesting.
Jake shifted his gaze to Leia. His eyes trailed down her figure, pausing at the silk wedding that she was wearing since yesterday. His jaw tightened.
"Still basking in the wedding glory? I thought you were sad about the wedding."
Leia rolls her eyes at him.
"That was not what I told you to wear."
Leia met his stare head-on, fire in her eyes. "And I told you, you don't get to decide what I do or wear."
A flicker of amusement crossed his features. "You think defiance makes you powerful? It only makes you predictable."
"And you think control makes you untouchable?" Leia shot back. "It only makes you pathetic."
The staffs froze. Even Mona's head snapped up, shock etched across her face. No one spoke to Jake like that.
Jake leaned back in his chair, unbothered. His lips curved into a smirk. "Careful, Leia. You're amusing now. But I can get bored very quickly."
"Then let me save you the trouble," Leia hissed. "Stop looking at me."
Mona's lips curled. She saw her chance. "She's bold, I'll give her that," she said sweetly, turning her attention to Jake.
Leia's head snapped toward her. "And you look like what you are, a leftover. Didn't he already throw you out once this morning?"
Mona's face went crimson, her mouth parting in shock. Jake chuckled, sipping his coffee slowly, savoring the fire.
But then he leaned close to Mona, his voice low enough for only her to hear. Leia watched his lips move. Mona stiffened, her eyes darting nervously toward Leia.
"I don't care about your conversations. Feel free to scream it out to the world, I don't care " Leia said nonchalantly.
But Mona stood. She walked carefully around the table, a porcelain cup in her hand. Steam rose from it, sharp and bitter. She stopped in front of Leia, her smile wide and fake.
"Oops," Mona whispered, and in one swift motion, she tipped the coffee over Leia's dress.
The scalding liquid soaked into the cloth, searing her skin. Leia gasped, jerking up as the cup shattered on the floor. The dress clung to her, wet and heavy, dripping down her legs.
Mona covered her mouth in mock horror. "Oh! I didn't mean to…"
"Save it," Jake interrupted lazily, his eyes locked on Leia. "I told her to do it."
Leia's heart thundered in her chest. The heat of the coffee was nothing compared to the blaze inside her. Her eyes shot to Jake, blazing with fury.
"You disgusting coward," she spat.
She lunged across the table, intent on clawing that smirk off his face. But two bodyguards materialized instantly, grabbing her arms, dragging her back. She fought, her nails scraping the polished wood, her voice shaking the room.
"Let me go!"
Jake's smirk widened. He leaned back, watching her struggle like it was entertainment. "Escort her back to her room."
The guards began to drag her toward the door. Mona stood smugly to the side, adjusting her robe, her lips twisted into a cruel smile.
Leia's fury snapped. She grabbed the nearest thing her hand touched, a tall glass of orange juice from the table. She hurled it with all her strength.
The glass shattered against Mona's chest, juice splashing across her face, staining her robe, dripping into her hair.
Mona shrieked, stumbling backward, soaked and sticky. "You…filthy—!"
Leia laughed, breathless with rage. "Now we're even, Monica."
The guards yanked her back, but her eyes never left Jake's. She was drenched, humiliated, her body burning, but her spirit was untouched.
Jake rose slowly from his chair, his expression unreadable. His smirk had faded, replaced with something darker, something hungrier.
Leia met his gaze, defiant, unflinching.
"I hate you," she snarled.
The room was silent. Every staff, every guard, even Mona froze under the weight of the moment.
And Jake… smiled.
Not his usual mocking smirk, but something colder. Something promising.
"Take her," he ordered. "Lock the door."
The guards dragged Leia out, her heart hammering, her eyes still locked on his until the last possible second.
The battle lines were drawn.
And neither of them intended to lose.
__________________________________
The door slammed shut behind her, the lock sliding into place. Leia stood frozen in the middle of the room, dripping coffee, humiliated but unbroken. Her fists clenched, her jaw set.
Her hatred for Jake Carter grew at every second. She wished she could lay her hand on him and make him choke on his coffee.
Moments later, the lock clicked again. Claire slipped inside with a tray of food. She placed it down carefully, her eyes darting nervously to Leia.
"Eat," Claire whispered. "And… change." She laid the gray dress on the bed. "He's coming."
Leia's laugh was sharp, bitter. "Then let him. I won't dress like his servant."
Claire flinched. "Please, Mrs Carter. Don't..."
"It's Leia"
"I am not allowed to call you that." Claire said, looking down, "Don't make it worse. You can't fight him."
Leia's eyes burned. "Watch me."
Claire hesitated, then left quickly, the lock sealing her in once more.
Silence pressed down, heavy, suffocating. Leia's gaze fell to the gray cloth on the bed. A symbol of chains. A symbol of defeat.
"No," she muttered. She spun away and, that's when she saw it.
A rope. Coiled at the side of the wardrobe, half-hidden.
Her pulse spiked. She bent, fingers curling around it, lifting the weight of it into her hands. Solid. Strong. A weapon. An escape. A chance.
The corners of her lips lifted. For the first time since she'd stepped into this prison, hope surged through her veins like fire.
Outside, footsteps approached. Heavy. Steady.
Jake.
Leia hid the rope behind under her bed, her eyes flashing with fury and dangerous resolve.
They thought they had her trapped.
But the game was about to change.