Chapter 4

Damian's POV

I’m Adams Damian. No one defies me—not my staff, not my enemies, and certainly not the woman I bought.

I strode into the restaurant, my presence commanding silence. The clatter of utensils and the murmur of conversations came to an abrupt halt as heads turned to take in the sight of me. My eyes darted the room with the cold precision of a predator until they landed on her—Brenda.

I didn’t need to lift a finger; just one word was enough. “Bring her to me.”

The restaurant manager didn’t hesitate. His face paled, but he moved swiftly, weaving through the hushed crowd to fetch her. Who would dare go against me? No one. Not him. Not her. Not anyone.

I leaned back, the cold confidence of control surging through me as I watched. The clatter of the restaurant had stilled completely. All eyes were on her now, just as mine were.

She walked toward me, hesitant but graceful, her movements deliberate yet unsure. Even in the ill-fitting restaurant uniform, her beauty couldn’t be hidden. There was a softness about her, a gentleness that I couldn't quite place and it did triggered the fire I knew simmered beneath.

Her face flickered with confusion, her brows knitting together as her gaze met mine. For a moment, it was as though she didn’t recognize me, and my jaw tightened.

But then, realization dawned in her eyes.

There she was, frozen, her wide, startled eyes betraying a mix of fear and disbelief. I felt a flicker of satisfaction. She hadn’t expected me. Good. She shouldn’t have defied me.

I let the silence stretch, the weight of my presence pressing down on everyone in the room.

“Drop whatever you’re doing and follow me,” I commanded, my voice cold and biting, cutting through the stunned silence of the restaurant. Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and strode toward the exit.

Behind me, I could hear the faint scrape of the trolley being pushed aside and her hesitant footsteps trailing me. I didn’t glance back. I didn’t need to. She wouldn’t dare defy me here, not with every eye in the room fixed on us.

As I passed the restaurant manager, standing awkwardly near the kitchen doors, I caught the flicker of fear in the man’s eyes. Good. Let them all see what happens when someone crosses me.

I reached the exit and pushed the door open, stepping out into the crisp air. The sleek black car waited for them, the door already open. I slid inside, my jaw tightening as I waited.

Moments later, Brenda appeared, her head bowed, her steps timid. She hesitated for the briefest second before slipping into the car beside me, her hands clutching her skirt like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

My gaze remained fixed out the window as the car pulled away. The silence between us was oppressive, but I let it linger. She didn’t deserve my words. Not yet.

But as the car sped toward the mansion, I felt the storm brewing inside me. This wasn’t just defiance. This was betrayal, despite that I was being kind.

She thought she could run.

She thought she could hide.

She thought wrong.

The car came to a halt, and I stepped out first, the gravel crunching beneath my polished shoes. Without a word, I motioned for her to follow. She did, her reluctance evident in every step.

As the mansion loomed before us, I glanced at the staff gathered outside, their faces pale and tense. My lips curled into a dangerous smirk.

I turned sharply to face the crowd, my voice a low growl. “Miss Oh. Step forward.”

The elderly woman shuffled forward, her face pale but composed. I spared her a brief glance before directing my attention to Brenda.

“This woman warned you not to leave the mansion, yet you disobeyed,” I said, my voice sharp and unwavering. “Her words were my command, and now, someone will pay the price for your defiance.”

I turned my glare toward the security guards lingering near the gate. “You’re all fired. Leave immediately.”

The murmurs of disbelief from the staff were like background noise. I focused on Brenda, who had fallen to her knees, her face a mixture of shock and anger.

“Do you want to turn yourself in,” I asked, my voice icy, “or let Miss Oh suffer for your selfishness?”

To my surprise, she raised her head, her defiance cutting through the air. “Crime? What crime did I commit?” she demanded, her voice cracking but strong. “I worked to survive! You call that a crime?”

The sharpness of her tone grated against me, but I hid my annoyance behind a smirk. She had courage; I’d give her that. Not that it mattered.

“Take her to the cage room,” I barked to my men, my voice booming. “No food. Only water. Let her understand the weight of her actions.”

My men grabbed her, dragging her away despite her struggles. She turned her head toward me, eyes blazing. “Why do you hate me so much?” she shouted, her voice echoing against the mansion’s walls.

I didn’t answer. I watched as she disappeared into the darkened doorway of the cage room, the heavy door slamming shut behind her.

For a moment, the compound was silent, save for the sound of my steady breathing. Then my lips curled into a grim smile as I turned back to the trembling staff.

“Let this be a warning,” I said, my voice quiet but deadly.

But even as I m spoke, my thoughts churned. She didn’t know. Not yet. But she would.

Soon, she would understand the real reason why her defiance cut deeper than mere disobedience.

And learns never to disobey.