Chapter Three

The car hurtled to a stop and I held my breath. Where were we?

I heard the door open and a hand yanked off the bag over my head.

Nicholas stopped out of the car first and extended his hand to me. “Get out.”

I turned aloof, refusing to take it.

“Adrianna!” He thundered.

Turning towards him with hot tears in my eyes, I got out of the car on my own.

We were greeted by a pale skinned man dressed in a pristine white shirt and dark trousers.

His chiseled features and piercing eyes exuded a commanding presence and wondered who the man was.

His full pink lips curled into a smile. "Welcome home, Padré.”

Slowly, he reached for my hand and planted a soft kiss on it. "Ah, you must be Lady Adrianna. Welcome to Mount Gallagher. It is an honour to have you here."

Mount Gallagher. It was indeed a mountain. The building was a magnificent skyscraper but one thing about it was the eerie vibe it gave off. It was also awfully quiet. What is this place?

Nicholas put his arm around me, pulling me close to him. "That's enough, Roman."

Roman held up his hands in midair. "Easy there. You get too jealous."

"I believe you all are famished and tired from the trip. How about a nice warm bath and a meal? This way." He said with a smile.

“Follow him.” Nicholas let go of me and gave me a nudge.

I hesitated. Follow him? Follow him to where?

“Follow him, Adrianna!” Nicholas thundered.

I followed Roman without a word. We entered the building.

“Ciao, señora.” He greeted the woman at the reception.

What is this place? A hotel?

“Eyes front, Miss. Sylvain,” Roman said, startling me. “We don't want you to trip and fall on your beautiful face now, would we?”

My beautiful face?

What the hell was I blushing?

We stopped before an elevator and he pushed the button. “Shall we?”

I entered the elevator and stood behind.

The elevator was so silent the only sound I heard was the low hum of the elevator.

I watched him tap his foot on the elevator floor. Was that a habit?

Gosh. I was staring. I turned my eyes away. I would find it rude if someone was staring at me like that.

“So… where are we going?” I asked.

“The fiftieth floor,” he replied.

“What now?”

“We're going to the top floor. Why'd you ask, ma'am?”

The elevator doors dinged open.

“We’re here.” He stepped out of the elevator and I followed behind him.

The hall was awfully quiet. “Um… who else lives here?”

“No one.”

“Excuse me?”

“We're here.” Roman swiped the keycard and the door opened.

The room was a master suite — polished hardwood floors, lavish furnishing, you name it. From the plush sofas, rich leather armchairs to the warm fireplace, the room screamed luxury.

“You'll be living here from now on.” Roman told me.

“Wait. Why is this place so quiet?”

“You’ll be fine.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“Enjoy your stay here, ma'am.”

“Wait… where are you going?” I ran after him. “Roman! Come on!”

He ignored me and shut the door in my face.

“Hey!” I pounded my fist on the door. “Roman!”

After pounding my fist on the door for hours, I got tired and kept my fist to myself.

I found a master bed and laid on the bed, looking heavenward. Some beautiful hell this was.

I laid on the bed for the longest minutes of my dear life and minutes stretched into hours. Nobody gave a single shit about me! I might just die here!

“Hey! Roman!” I pounded my fist on the door. “Let me out! Please!”

The only response I got was the echo of my own fist. Not a single soul out there heard me. Was I really the one living in this building? Nicholas is a psychopath.

After I had fallen asleep, I heard Roman’s familiar voice.

“Ma'am, dinner is ready.” He said.

About damn time!

“Roman!” I ran to the door.

“Shit.” He quickly placed the tray on the floor and disappeared behind the door. The door was already bolted before I could open it.

“Come on! You can't keep me here! Please!” I screamed but he ignored me.

“Where the hell is Nicholas?” Now, this was pissing me off.

I stared at the tray of food on the floor and my stomach grumbled.

“That's the only thing you're useful for. Making loud noises when you're upset.” I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

If Nicholas was going to kill me, I had to be healthy for it. I helped myself to the food and slept afterwards.

This “torture” went on for three more days and I was slowly losing my sanity.

There was no sign of Claire, no word from Nicholas or anyone else. Nor even grandpa reached out or made any attempt to find me. The daily routine in this “hell” was brushing my teeth, having a bath, and changing into fancy clothes; eating breakfast, lunch and dinner alone in my suite; and sleeping for long hours. Back in grandfather's house, I was caged like a prisoner but at least I had a certain degree of freedom but this was on a whole other level. I have become a literal prisoner.

That night, I spent time counting the flowery designs on the draperies on the walls. I did that to kill time.

The tower was too quiet like a cemetery and it was too disturbing.

I got off the bed like I had done a thousand times over and walked to the window. I looked out and there the nothingness was, staring right back at me.

I was frightened at the height it was from the ground but I was too stunned. It made me wonder if the drop would kill me. Maybe, I should check it out.

I should.

I picked up a hairband and pulled my hair back in a neat ponytail. If I was going to die, I would die pretty.

“Adrianna,” I whispered to myself. “You're losing it but who wouldn't, locked up in this oversized hell called a suite.”

The wind tugged at my hair and I let it, imagining myself floating in midair. What would a fall from the fiftieth floor do to the human body? Well, let's find out.

I was tired of being locked up with no one to talk to or even look at. No books, no phone, internet or Tv. It was a straight-up prison. Even prisoners in Sweden have better entertainment choices for their prisoners. I was done pacing around this room like a goddamn mad woman. I was done.

I climbed over the ledge, wobbling as the wind pushed harder.

My bare feet slipped on the cold stone and I caught myself.

“Oh God!” I screamed for my dear life as I held onto the frame.

“Do you mind?”

I screamed again and nearly tumbled forward. Whipping around, I glared at the intruder. “Who the hell — wait, how did you get here?”

“Nice view you've got there.” He said.

I turned around. “You have no idea.”

“You know what's a better idea? Getting yourself off the ledge so you don't fall off.”

I snapped. “Don't tell me what to do. You're not my dad!”

“One, I just did and two, I would never be your dad even if I was paid a million bucks to.”

I nearly screamed out of frustration. “Ugh! What's your deal!”

“My deal is you're the tower's damsel in distress and I'm the one to help.”