Penthouse

SUMMER 

My eyes traced the beauty of this penthouse, a world of glass, steel, and luxury. The kind of place you could only dream of. How had I ended up here again? Right... the masked man. But wait--what was his name? I never asked. 

A knight in shining armor? or designer suits? 

I sat up in the bed, my mind racing. "Who is this guy?" I whispered to myself. A soldier, maybe? No, he carried a gun, but that didn't feel right. He had that air about him, like a man who commands more than armies, maybe a businessman? Or something darker?

The door opened interrupting my thoughts. Three maids stepped in, all dressed in black and white uniforms. 

"Master says you should bathe and wear this," one of them said softly, placing a breathtaking dress on the bed.

Another set down a tray of food, fruits and a bottle of wine. The third disappeared into the bathroom, preparing a bath that soon filled the air with the scent of lavender. I was still trying to process everything when she returned, offering me a massage like I was royalty.

"This place... it's like heaven," I murmured as they work on my body. It felt wrong to enjoy it, but it was a far cry from the life I almost had. Marrying a cheating, abusive scumbag? Not anymore. Not after he hit me and acted like my parents had handed him my life on a silver platter. And to think, my own mother told me to endure for the sake of her business. Can you believe that?

The thought made my blood boil. 

***

Author pov

On the rooftop, Lorenzo, yes, that was his name. Stood alone staring at the horizon with wine glass in hand. His assistant, Conti, approached cautiously, eyeing his boss with uneasiness.

"Why did you do that?" Conti asked, his voice in a low murmur.

"Don't question me," Lorenzo replied, his gaze never wavering from the city skyline.

"Are you sure you made the right decision?, she look like someone that will bring lot of trouble." Conti pressed on.

 Lorenzo finally turned, a smirk playing on his lips. "Trouble? I love trouble." He took a long sip of his wine. "Besides, I like the game, she looks like an exact prey."

Conti frowned. "But she's someone else's bride."

"Not anymore," Lorenzo said with finality. His eyes glittered behind the mask. "She's mine now."

"I don't know but something pulls me to her."

"What could that be boss?" Conti asked.

Lorenzo sipped from his wine. "We will found out soon." 

***

SUMMER POV 🌺 

The next morning was a blur of voices and tension. I could hear the murmur of heated conversations even from the bedroom. Lorenzo, dressed head to toe in crisp white, sat at the head of the table like a king. Across from him were my parents, alongside Andrew, my so-called groom, fuming with silent rage.

"You want to buy her out of the marriage contract?" Andrew's mother asked, her tone cold and calculating.

Lorenzo didn't answer right away, just signed the papers with a flick of his pen. 

Andrew mum cleared her throat, she brought her Lawyer who brought out some papers.

"That'll be 3.5 billion," she added, pushing forward the legal documents with a smirk.

"That's ridiculous, it supposed to be 3 billion, where did the five come from?" Lorenzo asked.

"That's for the embarrassment she caused us..."

"what embarrassment?"

"Defamation, she ran away leaving my son on the altar, imagine what press will say." 

Lorenzo's mask tilted as if in amusement. "Fine." He gestured to Conti, who brought in two briefcases and dropped them on the floor with a thud. Andrew's mother flinched but quickly composed herself as she opened one. Her eyes gleamed as she counted the cash inside.

Andrew, still glaring, finally spoke up. "Who are you? What kind of man throws billions away on a woman?"

Lorenzo didn't even look his way. "Trust me, you don't want to know."

Andrew left with his mum, remaining my parents. 

"Please we want to see our daughter." Dad said with a shaken voice.

Lorenzo snapped his fingers, and within three minutes two maids escorted me from the room I was to the sitting room.

The room I was, was close to the sitting room, infact only a curtain separated us.

"Mum, Dad!" I excitedly ran to hug my parents.

"My baby, how are you?" Dad asked, checking me out.

"Are you okay, I'm so sorry." Mum said, almost with tears.

"I'm good, as you can see." I said, and turned around, flexing the gown given to me.

"Thank you sir for your kindness." My dad said, grabbed my hands and lead me to the door but the masked man bodyguard stopped us.

"Wait, isn't that considered stealing?" Lorenzo's voice cut through the air like a blade. 

"Wh-what stealing?" My parents were confused same as I.

"Leaving with my property." 

"We didn't take anything, here you can check my purse." My mum said, bringing stuffs from her purse. 

 "Not that." Lorenzo rolled his eyes.

"Her." Lorenzo's gloved hand pointed to me.

My heart skip a beat.

"Huh."

"What?"

"Excuse me?"

"What do you mean!" I shot back, stepping forward "I am no one property." 

" you are," 

"Do you mean my life is yours?" I demanded, voice trembling, though I tried to keep it steady. I took a step toward him, fists clenched.

"Hey, thanks for helping, I need to go with my parents. As for the 3.5 billion, I and my parents will work our ass out and pay you back." I pleaded.

"Ha ha." He laughed to my surprise.

"There is no such thing." 

"What?, why?" I asked. 

Lorenzo chuckled, dark and cold. "You think I care about the money? This isn't a loan Summer. This is a contract. And you signed it willingly."

"Also you are not allowed to see your parents unless I grant you permission." He added.

"Says by who?"

"Me."

Is this man high or drunk? what the heck is he saying! 

"It was stated in the contract." He said. 

"What contract, I thought my marriage contract had been demolished..." It was then I remembered yesterday. I signed a contract with this man.

"Oh." My face dropped.

"You tricked me," I screamed at him.

My parents looked at me "Is it true?" 

"Bring it." Lorenzo ordered, then a man on black suit, blonde hair opened the drawer and brought out the black envelope.

He gave it to me, which I opened and read.

My eyes widened as I read what I had gotten myself into. 

"I can't see my parents, or friends unless you permit it, and it's twice in a year! That's ridiculous!" 

"Yeah." He shrugged with no emotion.

"Wait, is this what being your slave means?, how many months is this contract?" I charged at him visibly angry.

"Check it yourself, it's in there." He sat down on the sofa and picked up a newspaper which he started reading.

I scrolled through the contract, then my eyes fell on the duration of the contract.

"731 days!"