Cute

As they approach the grand staircase, Vierva notices a sleek, black sports car parked in the circular driveway, a uniformed driver standing attentively by the open passenger door. The car is a work of art, its curves and lines screaming power and luxury. It's the kind of vehicle that turns heads and draws admiring glances wherever it goes.

Of course he has a car like this, Vierva thinks to herself as Dante leads her towards it. He's the kind of man who demands attention, who commands respect and awe with every move he makes.

As they draw closer, the driver steps forward and bows slightly, his gloved hand reaching out to assist Vierva into the car. She pauses for a moment, her hand still clasped tightly in Dante's grip, before allowing herself to be helped into the plush, leather interior.

The seat is soft and supple beneath her, molding to the curves of her body like it was made just for her. The emerald green of her gown is a stunning contrast to the black leather, the rich colors blending together in a way that makes her feel like a queen taking her throne.

This is a far cry from the rusty, old cars I used to ride in, Vierva muses as Dante settles into the seat beside her. The kind that always smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap perfume.

"So..." He smirks at her. "Are you just gonna stay silent the whole time?"

Vierva blushes lightly under Dante's amused gaze, a hint of defiance sparking in her sage green eyes. She lifts her chin, meeting his smirk with a tentative smile of her own.

"I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just a bit nervous, that's all. This is all so new to me."

So new and overwhelming, she adds mentally, her eyes widening slightly as the car begins to move, the purr of the engine a low, hypnotic hum beneath them. The car, the gown, the man sitting beside me...it's like a dream, a fantasy I never dared to imagine for myself.

Vierva takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm the butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach. She knows she needs to say something more, to fill the sudden silence that has fallen between them.

"I...I want to thank you," she says finally, turning to look at Dante. "For the gown, for...for everything. I know I'm not used to this kind of life, but I want to try. I want to make you proud."

Make you proud, she repeats silently, a flicker of determination in her eyes. I don't want to be just another pretty face, another trophy for you to show off. I want to be someone you can respect, someone you can love.

The thought of love sends a shiver down her spine, a sudden realization of the depth of emotion that has begun to bloom in her chest. She's not sure if it's love, not yet, but it's something. Something real and true and terrifying in its intensity.

Dante lets out a low, rumbling chuckle at Vierva's tentative words, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles. It's not a warm smile, but a smirk, a twist of his lips that speaks of amusement and a hint of condescension.

"Cute," he murmurs, his voice a low, velvety purr that sends a shiver down Vierva's spine. "You think you need to make me proud?"

He reaches out, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek, tracing the delicate curve of her jaw. His touch is feather-light, almost teasing, but it leaves a trail of heat in its wake.

He thinks I'm cute, Vierva realizes, a blush staining her cheeks a rosy pink. Like a puppy, or a kitten. Something small and helpless and easily controlled.

The thought leaves a bitter taste in her mouth, a resurgence of the old anger and resentment that she thought she had buried long ago. I am not a pet, she wants to snap at him. I am not something to be owned or controlled.

But even as the thought crosses her mind, she knows that protesting now would be futile. Dante has made it clear that he holds the power here, that he can do with her as he sees fit. And right now, he wants to tease her, to play with her like a cat toying with a mouse.

So be it, Vierva thinks, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin. I will play along, for now. But I will not forget that I have a mind and a will of my own.

With that resolve in mind, Vierva meets Dante's smirk with a tentative smile of her own, her eyes sparkling with a mix of nerves and determination.

"I want to try," she says softly, her voice steady and clear. "I want to learn, to grow, to be someone you can be proud of. Not just...cute."