"Captured, but Not Broken"

When I got up and went to the hall, Damien was nowhere to be seen. So, with nothing else to do, I headed to the basement to practice shooting, self-defense, and a bit of working out. I had too much free time on my hands, and I needed to make use of it.

Bang. Shot after shot, I was improving—each bullet hitting closer to the mark. The sharp echoes of gunfire filled the empty room, bouncing off the walls.

"I'm going to go deaf at this rate," I muttered under my breath.

After a few hours of training, I went back upstairs and stopped in front of the massive doors—the ones I assumed led to his room. Taking a deep breath, I knocked.

A calm yet deep voice came from the other side.

I hesitated, unsure of what I was even going to say, but the second I stepped inside, Damien stood up, took my hand, and led me to the couch near his bed.

"You've been wondering what to do with all this free time," he said, sitting beside me. "So I found something to keep you busy. And from what I see, you're not even trying to escape anymore… Looks like someone has finally accepted her fate."

He picked up a laptop from his desk and placed it on my lap.

I raised a brow. "And what exactly do you want me to do with this? Am I just going to be your personal assistant now?" There was a hint of sarcasm in my voice as I studied his expression, trying to figure out what he was thinking.

But unlike usual, there was no teasing smirk, no amused glint in his eyes. His face was unreadable.

"Is this because of what I said earlier?" I wondered.

"Hey, if you're mad about what I said before…" I started, searching for the right words. "I was just joking. I didn't mean it."

That finally earned me a smirk.

"Whatever you say, darling," he said, his dark eyes locking onto mine, as if trying to make me feel guilty. And the worst part? It worked—just a little.

He leaned back slightly. "Anyway, let's not waste time arguing. I'll explain your new job."

He gestured to the laptop. "It's simple. You'll handle scheduling, keeping track of important events, and making sure everything is in order. Think you can do that for me?"

Hearing him say for me sent an unfamiliar sensation through my chest. A strange fluttering feeling that I tried to ignore.

"Why am I reacting like this? It's just a task, nothing more."

"Uh… do something for you?" I repeated, trying to steady my voice. "Y-yeah… I can do that."

His smirk deepened.

"So, you're asking for work now?" he mused. "I can give you more if you really want—"

I didn't let him finish. My hand shot up, covering his mouth before he could say another word. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Not another word!" I cut in. "I do not want more work! I think I have enough as it is. Thanks for listening—I'll be in my room."

I grabbed the laptop, ready to make my escape, but before I could move, Damien caught my wrist and pulled me down onto his lap.

"You're not going anywhere," he murmured, tightening his grip around my waist. "You're staying right here. Just like this."

I blinked, struggling slightly. "How am I supposed to concentrate like this?!"

His smirk grew wider. "So you can't concentrate because of me, darling?"

I could hear the amusement in his voice—he was enjoying this way too much.

Despite my protests, I ended up working just like that, trapped in his arms. His hands stayed firmly around my waist, holding me close, refusing to let go.