^Knock… Knock^
The loud knock on the door jolted Nicholas out of his thoughts.
He dragged his fingers through his hair, pulling a few strands back, before forcing a smile and walking toward the door.
As he opened it, a young man stepped in. He was dressed in black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a red tie that gleamed against the fabric.
A name tag pinned neatly to his chest marked him as a hotel waiter.
"Here's your meal," he said smoothly, a pleasant smile curving his lips as he wheeled a food cart inside.
Nicholas stood frozen, watching as he set a plate of steak and two glasses of water on the bedside table.
Then, without warning, he turned back toward Nicholas. His footsteps slowed, and when he stopped directly in front of him, he leaned in close, his lips hovering just above Nicholas's ear.
"Here's the poison," he whispered, his breath warm against his skin, sending prickles racing down his neck.
Before Nicholas could move, he leaned away, producing a dagger wrapped in a napkin.
With an unnervingly casual smile, he pressed it into Nicholas hands.
"Good luck," he murmured before striding to the door as he shut it behind him.
Sigh!
Nicholas pressed a trembling hand against his chest, his breath sharp and uneven.
"I… I can't do this," he whispered hoarsely, his voice breaking the stillness.
In a panic, he rushed to the landline, snatching it up.
Desperately, Nicholas searched through the call log for the number Caesar had used moments ago but the record was completely blank, as if the call had never happened.
Nicholas's pulse raced. Sweat beaded in his palms as his eyes darted toward the plate of steak and the two glasses of water.
'God… what should I do?' he thought, his stomach twisting violently. His gaze dropped to the dagger in his hand, the metal glinting beneath the lamplight.
'Didn't he say there would be a gun? Why… why is there a dagger?'
Nicholas's grip tightened around the handle as he set it above the bedside table.
He wiped his damp palms against his clothes, then snatched up the tiny bottle of poison.
Nicholas's throat tightened as he swallowed hard, eyes darting toward the bathroom door and every second he prayed Gabriel Steele would stay inside.
Keeping his gaze fixed on the door, Nicholas poured the entire poison into one glass of water and without hesitation, he shoved the poison bottle beneath the bed frame because it was the only place he could think to hide it.
Exhale!
A shaky breath escaped Nicholas's lips as he stripped off his clothes, allowing them to fall in a heap on the floor.
From the bed, Nicholas snatched the red lingerie and pulled it over his trembling body. The lace clung to his skin, ending just above his thighs and its plunging neckline exposing part of his chest.
Nicholas combed his hair with his fingers, letting it tumble loosely as some strand fell just over his shoulders.
'Tonight I'll avenge my mother. She was sick, yet she fought to live. And Gab… Gabriel Steele stole her life away. He will pay.' Nicholas seethed within himself. 'All I need is for him to drink the poison.'
Suddenly, the landline rang and with hammering heart, Nicholas lunged for the phone handle, pressing it to his ear as he kept his eyes on the bathroom door, still terrified that Gabriel Steele might emerge and catch him in the act.
If that happened, Nicholas knew he'd be in grave danger.
"Nicholas, make sure you fulfill this mission otherwise your father dies." Caesar's voice echoed through the phone and it was cold and merciless.
Nicholas's fingers trembled as he pressed the phone tightly against his ear before lowering his voice to a whisper. "P-please… if you don't mind me asking… do you have a grudge against Gabriel? Why do you want me to kill him?"
A sharp, cruel scoff echoed from Caesar. "You dare question me? You're in no position to ask anything. I give the orders here. You obey." He uttered fiercely.
Nicholas's chest heaved as he gathered courage to speak again. "What if… what if I ask to hear my father's voice? I need to know that he's safe." Nicholas mumbled and his words cracked under the weight of desperation.
"Focus on your job," Caesar snapped in rage. "Do what I've commanded, and only then will you be granted the privilege of hearing your father. Fail me, and he dies."
Before Nicholas could respond, the line went dead.
Pftt!
Nicholas gasped for air, his breath shallow and ragged as he slowly lowered the phone handle toward the bedside table.
Just as his fingers released the phone, the bathroom door creaked open.
Swiftly, Nicholas jerked around, hiding his trembling hands behind his back.
Gabriel Steele emerged from the bathroom, his tall frame draped in a black bathrobe, a white towel resting casually across his shoulders and damp strands of hair clung to his forehead while droplets of water traced down his chest.
His presence filled the room like a storm.
Nicholas's heart pounded so violently he feared Gabriel could hear it. He forced himself to stand still, praying he hadn't noticed the call.
'How did he manage to bathe without a single sound of rushing water? Or… are the walls here so thick that nothing escapes?' Nicholas questioned inwardly, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
The thought gave him confidence. 'When Gabriel Steele finally drinks the poison, no one would suspect. No one would hear his cries for mercy.' he thought.
Then Nicholas's eyes trailed over Gabriel, and for a fleeting moment he caught himself noticing how impossibly handsome he was.
He was the kind of man Nicholas would have shamelessly flirted with under different circumstances.
But tonight, there was no desire, no attraction because Nicholas's only purpose was to make sure he died.
Gabriel Steele's gaze fell on the landline, lingering for a moment before shifting back his gaze to Nicholas.
His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Did you think you could call the cops?" he questioned, his voice smooth and sharp.
He slid his hands into the pockets of his bathrobe, eyes gleaming with authority. "Your father is indebted to me. And because of that debt, I own you."
Following the words of Gabriel Steele, he took a step closer to Nicholas and every inch closing the distance between them made Nicholas tremble in fright.
His breath quickened as he stepped backwards until his back was now pressing against the cold wall.
Then, Gabriel leaned close, his smirk hardening into something cruel. "You belong to me now. You'll serve me until I decide your father's debt is meaningless. And when that day comes…"
His words trailed off as his hot breath ghosted over Nicholas's cheek, "…you'll be discarded."
Instantly, Nicholas's pulse hammered, but he forced himself to stand still.
Then, just as suddenly, Gabriel leaned away and walked to the bed.
Lowering himself onto the mattress, he fixed his gaze on Nicholas with chilling indifference. "Now," he commanded, his voice cold and absolute. "Touch yourself."
"H-huh?" Nicholas stammered as his lashes fluttered but due to Gabriel's stern gaze, he felt compelled to obey his words.
Although deep down, Nicholas trembled at the thought of pleasuring himself right in front of Gabriel.
To steady himself, he picked up a glass of water and raised it toward his lips but just when he was about to have a drink, Gabriel suddenly spoke up.
"Give me that glass," Gabriel commanded.
Nicholas froze. 'Why… why is he asking for the very glass I picked up?' he thought, panic surging in his chest.
Quickly, Nicholas grabbed the second glass from the bedside table and extended it toward Gabriel.
"H-here," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel glanced at the water, then back at Nicholas with suspicion. "I want the one you were about to drink."
Nicholas's throat tightened. He had only pretended to drink from the poisoned glass, never imagining Gabriel would insist on drinking from it himself.
'Besides, why would he insist on drinking the water that I wanted to have?' Nicholas asked himself as he reluctantly handed it over, praying he wouldn't notice his fear.
Gabriel took the glass, studying Nicholas's face for a beat, then drained the entire contents in a single gulp.
He placed the empty glass back on the table with deliberate calm, his expression unreadable.
Sigh!
Nicholas sighed as his heart thundered in his chest. 'Did he just seal his own fate? Or… will something go wrong?'
"Stop standing by the side of the bed and move to the front," he seethed, his voice low and commanding. "Take off your clothes and start touching yourself. I won't repeat my words."
Nicholas swallowed hard. "O-okay," he whispered as he did as Gabriel had instructed him.
He stood in front of the bed, and with trembling fingers, Nicholas set the untouched glass of water aside, then reached for the strap of his lingerie.
Slowly, he slid it down his shoulder, forcing himself to maintain eye contact with Gabriel as fear and confusion warred within him.
'Please Lord, let this poison work… I can't… I can't pleasure myself before this disgusting man,' Nicholas prayed inwardly, his heart hammering as he let the straps of his lingerie slide down his trembling shoulders.
The thin fabric slipped lower, inch by inch, grazing his stomach.
Then he froze.
Gabriel's hand shot up to his throat.
At first, it was just a faint rub, as if scratching an itch but then his composure faltered.
His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed with discomfort, and he shifted restlessly on the bed.
A low, strained sound escaped his throat as his fingers pressed harder against his neck, fighting to steady himself.
'Yes… this is it,' Nicholas thought, his lips parting as a dark smile slowly curved across his face.
The fear of Nicholas dissolved, replaced by a burning satisfaction. 'He's finally going to die… and by my hands.'