At London, rain poured over the streets, washing the city in cold silver light.

The glow of streetlights blurred through the downpour, reflecting off wet asphalt as taxis rushed past in a hurry to escape the storm.

Emily Carter stood under the thin cover of a bus stop, clutching her sketchbook tightly against her chest.

Her fingers were stiff from the cold. She checked her phone again. No signal.

“Of course…” she whispered under her breath.

Tonight was supposed to be simple. Meet a contact.

Get information about a fashion internship opportunity with a private European brand. Then go home.

That was it. Nothing dangerous. Nothing complicated.

Just a step forward in her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

But London had a way of making simple things turn strange. Her bus never came.

And the address she had been given was getting harder to ignore.

A quiet industrial street near the docks.

She hesitated.

Every instinct told her to leave. But her ambition… always whispered louder than fear.

So she walked.

The streets grew emptier the further she went. Buildings became older. Lights dimmer. Noise disappeared.

Until even the sound of traffic felt far away.

Emily slowed her steps.

“This doesn’t feel right…” she muttered.

Before her stood a large warehouse. It’s very old and abandoned-looking. Except for one detail, there is, a faint light glowing through a side entrance.

She was very curious, wanting to know what is going on there. She wasn’t supposed to be curious.

But she was. She moved closer by closer. Step by step.

Her heels clicked softly against the ground until she reached a cracked metal door.

It was slightly open.

There are voices came from inside. It was very low but she can hear them.

Controlled. Serious.

Emily leaned in carefully and peeped. And then she saw it.

Men in dark suits standing in a wide industrial space.

They are not workers. Or businessmen. She don’t know what they are.

But something else entirely.

In the center of the room, man kneel on his knees.

He is shaking. He is begging. Begging for something she is curious about.

“I didn’t leak anything, I swear…….please…”

One of the men stepped forward. He said calmly, “No mistakes are forgiven.” And he raised his gun, ready to shot him dead.

Emily’s breath stopped.

“No” she whispered without meaning to.

BANG.

The sound ripped through the warehouse.

The man collapsed instantly.

Emily stumbled backward in shock. Her hand hit a metal bin.

CLANG.

It was loud. Too loud

Inside everything stopped. All heads turned slowly towards the door. Silence all over.

Then a voice from inside, said, “Check outside.”

Footsteps were approaching her. Emily’s heart dropped.

“Oh no…” She turned and ran.

The rain hit her harder now as she sprinted through the empty streets.

Her breath came in sharp gasps. She didn’t look back.

She couldn’t. The Footsteps followed her closely. Very closely.

“Stop her!” suddenly she heard a voice at her back by.

Her lungs burned as she turned sharply into a narrow alleyway.

Water splashed under her feet.

Her sketchbook nearly slipped, but she held onto it tightly.

That book mattered more than anything.

It was her future.

She turned another corner, unknowingly slammed into someone. Both of them staggered.

Emily fell back onto the wet ground, gasping.

She looked up and she froze.

The man standing above her didn’t look like someone who should be in an alley in the rain.

In a dark coat. Perfect posture. Completely calm. Like chaos didn’t touch him.

His presence alone felt dangerous.

Emily’s heartbeat spiked.

Behind her, footsteps were getting closer again.

The man in front of her looked down slowly.

Then spoke, calmly, “You’re running from my men.”

Emily’s breath shook.

“I didn’t see anything…….I swear……..please……” she said, agitated

He tilted his head slightly.

“Interesting,”. He said teasingly

That was worse.

“You saw everything,” he said quietly.

Emily shook her head quickly.

“No…..no, I didn’t…..”

Footsteps closed in behind her.

She was trapped.

The man raised one hand slightly.

And instantly, the approaching footsteps stopped.

In silence, Emily turned her head slowly.

The men were standing still. Waiting for him.

She turned back.

Her voice barely came out.

“Who… are you?”

The man stepped slightly closer. Not enough to touch her.

Just enough to trap her attention completely.

“My name is Luca Moretti.”

The name meant nothing to her, but everything to them.

Because behind her, the men lowered their heads instantly.

In respect. In fear. And in obedience.

Emily’s throat went dry.

Luca’s eyes shifted briefly to her sketchbook.

Then back to her face.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.

“I know…” she whispered.

A pause.

Then his voice dropped lower.

“But now that you are…”

Her stomach tightened.

“You don’t leave,” he added

Emily stepped back slightly.

“What does that mean?” she asked shockingly,

Luca didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into his coat.

Emily flinched instantly.

But he didn’t pull out a weapon.

He pulled out a phone. And spoke into it.

“Bring her with us.”

Emily’s eyes widened.

“No, wait….please….I didn’t do anything!” she started shouting, hoping an help will come from someone but nothing happened.

But the decision was already made.

The men moved forward.

It’s certain. Like them her fate had already been written in this part.

Emily backed away, panic rising in her chest.

“I don’t understand!” She shouted.

Luca finally met her eyes again.

And for the first time, something darker flickered behind his calm expression.

“You will,” he said quietly.

And that was the moment Emily realized, she had just witnessed something she shouldn’t have seen.

She had been seen by someone she was never meant to escape.

Emily had always believed there was a solution to every problem. But as she sat in the back of a black luxury car speeding through the rain-soaked streets of London, she couldn’t think of a single solution.

Not one. Her sketchbook rested tightly against her chest.

The only familiar thing left in a situation that felt completely unreal. Across from her sat two silent men in dark suits. Neither had spoken since she entered the vehicle. Neither looked at her.

It was as though she wasn’t a person. Like a package. Emily swallowed hard.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked him. But no answer. She tried again.

“Look, I won’t tell anyone what I saw.”

Still nothing.

The silence was beginning to drive her crazy. She looked toward the window. Rain streaked across the glass as the city lights blurred into long trails of gold and white.

The further they drove, the more isolated the surroundings became. Fewer people. More trees. More darkness.

Her heartbeat quickened.

This couldn’t be happening. She was supposed to be preparing sketches for her final fashion project. Not being driven to an unknown location by men connected to a murder.

Her phone had already been taken. No way to call for help. No way to tell anyone where she was. Not that anyone would know where to look.

The car finally turned through massive iron gates. Ahead stood a huge estate. Not just a house.

A mansion.

Emily’s stomach dropped.

The kind that belonged in magazines. Lights glowed from tall windows.

Security guards stood at various points around the property. Cameras watched every angle.

The place looked beautiful. The car came to a stop, inside the mansion.

One of the men opened her door.

“Out,” he commanded

Emily hesitated.

“What happens if I refuse?” she said

The man looked at her calmly. “That would be a mistake,” the man said, not exactly reassuring.

Slowly, she stepped out.

The cold air hit her immediately. She looked around.

No neighbors, no witnesses. No easy escape.

Wonderful.

The front doors opened before she reached them.

A woman in her sixties stood inside. Composed. Silver hair neatly styled. Unlike everyone else she’d encountered tonight, she looked almost welcoming.

“Miss Morgan,” the woman said politely.

Emily blinked.

“You know my name?”

The woman smiled faintly.

“Of course,” she spoke, calmly.

That answer didn’t make her feel any better.

“I’m Victoria,” the woman continued. “I manage the household.”

As though this place was normal. As though people were brought here against their will every day.

“Where is Luca?” Emily asked.

Victoria’s expression didn’t change.

“He’ll see you shortly.”

That sounded suspiciously like something from a prison movie. Emily followed her inside.

The mansion was stunning. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Artwork hanging on every wall. Luxury everywhere.

Yet none of it mattered. Because Emily couldn’t stop thinking about one thing. The man she had seen die.

Victoria led her upstairs.

They passed through several corridors. The rooms are larger than Emily’s entire apartment. Finally, they stopped in front of a bedroom. Victoria opened the door. “You’ll stay here.”

Emily stared.

The room was enormous. A king-sized bed. With floor-to-ceiling windows. A private sitting area. Designer furniture.

It looked more like a luxury hotel suite than a bedroom.

Emily turned back toward Victoria.

“You can’t seriously expect me to stay here.” She said to Victoria.

Victoria’s smile softened slightly. “I don’t expect anything, Miss Morgan,” Victoria replied.

Then she added quietly, “But Luca does.”

The door closed, leaving Emily alone.

An hour later, she was pacing.

Back and forth. Back and forth. Trying to think. Trying to plan. Trying not to panic.

There had to be a way out. There always was.

A knock interrupted her thoughts. Emily spun

around.

The door opened, and Luca walked in.

Her heart immediately betrayed her by beating faster.

He was dangerous. Possibly criminal too. He is definitely terrifying, she thought,

Yet somehow he still managed to look annoyingly attractive. Emily hated that.

Luca closed the door behind him.

Neither spoke immediately.

His gaze moved around the room before settling on her.

“Comfortable?” he asked her.

Emily stared at him.

“Is that a joke?”

A faint smile appeared. Very faint. “No.”

“It should be.” Emily replied, immediately.

The smile disappeared. Followed by silence. Then Emily crossed her arms.

“I want answers.” She demanded

Luca nodded once. “Ask.”

She almost laughed. Just like that? Fine, she thought

“Why am I here?”

“Because you witnessed something,” He replied.

“You killed someone,” she stated,

His expression remained calm.

“Yes.”

The blunt honesty caught her off guard.

No denial from him. Not even an excuse or a reason. Nothing.

Just yes.

Emily felt a chill run through her.

“Why tell me that?”

Luca held her gaze.

“Because lying would be pointless.”

For some reason, that answer felt more unsettling than a lie.

She swallowed and asked him.

“What happens to me now?” she asked

Luca walked slowly toward the window, looking out into the darkness. He replied, “You stay here.”

Emily’s jaw dropped.

“What?”

“You stay here,” he repeated

“No,” she fumed

His eyes shifted toward her.

“No?” he questioned

“I’m not staying here,” She said

“Yes, you are,” he said commanding.

Emily’s frustration exploded.

“You don’t get to decide that!” She told him.

For the first time, something sharp entered his gaze. The kind that expected obedience. The kind that usually got it.

“I do,” he said, dangerously.

The room went silent.

Emily hated how confident he sounded that there was no possibility of disagreement.The conversation had already ended.

She took a deep breath.

“Why?”

Luca looked away again.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then, he told her the truth

“Because someone else knows you were there.” He told her the truth

Emily froze.

“What?” she screamed

His expression darkened slightly.

“The man who died wasn’t acting alone.” He told her

Her stomach dropped, “There are others?”

“Yes.” He replied simply

After a pause, he added, “They believe you may know something.”

Emily shook her head immediately, “But I don’t.”

He nodded his head and said, “I know.”

“Then tell them that.” She said

A humorless smile touched Luca’s lips.

“It doesn’t work that way.”

Fear settled heavily in her chest.

For the first time tonight, she truly understood the situation.That this wasn’t temporary nor wasn’t just a misunderstanding.

She was caught herself in something much bigger than herself. Something very dangerous.

Luca studied her carefully. Then his gaze fell to the sketchbook sitting on the table. And he said, “Fashion design.”

Emily frowned, “What?”

“Your sketches.” He replied.

She stared at him and asked “How do you know about those?”

His eyes returned to hers.

“I know a lot about you, Emily.” He replied

His words sent a chill through her. Because he said them so casually. As though it were normal.

As though researching every detail of her life wasn’t strange at all.

Emily’s heartbeat quickened, “What exactly does that mean?” She asked.

Luca didn’t answer immediately. That scared her more than any answer could have.

Finally he spoke, “Get some rest.”

Emily stared at him,“That’s not an answer.”

“No.”

“Then answer me.”

Luca walked toward the door.

His hand reached for the handle.

Then he paused.

Without turning around, he said quietly,

“You should stop worrying about why you’re here.”

Emily frowned.

“Why?”

Luca finally looked back at her.

And something in his expression made her heart skip. Not because it was warm. Because it wasn’t. Not because it was kind. Because it wasn’t.

It was something else. It was something intense. Something impossible to read. Something that felt dangerously close to obsession.

“You should be worrying,” he said softly,

“About why I chose to keep you alive.” He added, slowly

And with that, he left.

Leaving Emily standing alone in the middle of the room.

Staring at the closed door.

Realizing she might be far more trapped than she originally thought.

The room in Luca Moretti’s estate didn’t feel like a bedroom anymore. It felt like a holding space.

Emily stood near the window, arms folded tightly across her chest, watching the rain slide down the glass like the city itself was trying to escape.

Behind her, the door clicked open.

But she didn’t turn immediately like she already knew who it was.

Footsteps entered the room slowly

Like the person didn’t need permission to exist anywhere.

“Still awake,” he said calmly,

Emily finally turned.

“So are you.” She replied, hurried and angrily,

There was a pause in the room .

Then Luca walked further in, stopping near the center of the room.

“I don’t sleep much,” he replied, with the same tone as before

“That sounds like your problem,” Emily said quickly.

A faint silence followed.

Luca was studying her reaction instead of responding emotionally.

That made her even more annoyed.

Emily crossed her arms tighter and broke the weird silence

“I want my phone back.”, she demanded

“No,” he refused.

Luca is someone of few words.

Emily blinked, “…No?” Why?

Luca tilted his head slightly.

“You don’t need it. That’s not your decision to make.”, he said.

A small pause

Then Luca stepped closer, but not too close. Just enough to shift the air between them.

“In my world,” he said calmly, “it is.”

Emily scoffed. “Your world? I didn’t agree to live in your world.”

Luca’s gaze didn’t change. “You walked into it,” he said

“That was an accident,” she spoke, trying to explain herself,

“No,” he corrected quietly. “That was curiosity.”

That word hit differently.

Emily hated that he was partly right. But she refused to show it.

“So what now?” she asked sharply. “I stay here forever? Locked in some billionaire mafia mansion?”

Luca didn’t react to her tone.

Instead, he said something completely unexpected.

“You’re not locked in,” he said.

Emily frowned. And she was surprised. Really? She asked herself

“…Excuse me?” she asked, to gain his attention to whether it’s the truth.

He gestured slightly toward the door. “You can leave,” he said, quietly

She narrowed her eyes. Surprised. Not wanting to believe. “That’s a lie,” she said.

Luca shook his head once, “It’s not.

“But you won’t escape.” He said to her, confidently

That sentence stayed in the air longer than it should have. Emily’s expression tightened, “Why are you so sure?”

Now Luca looked at her properly. Like he was reading something beneath her anger. And he said, “Because if you walk out,” he said slowly, “you won’t survive what follows you.”

Silence followed his words.

That changed the temperature of the room instantly.

Emily’s voice dropped slightly,“…Is that a threat?” she asked him, feeling threatened.

Luca’s answer came immediately, “No.”

Another pause.

Then, he added, “ It’s a fact.”

Emily exhaled sharply.

“This is insane.”

Luca turned slightly toward the window beside her. Outside, London lights blurred through rain and darkness.

“My world is not safe,” he said.

Emily laughed dryly, “Yeah, I noticed the murder part.”

Luca’s jaw tightened slightly at that, but he didn’t deny it.

Instead, he said, “You saw something you shouldn’t have.”

“I didn’t choose that,” she said.

“No,” he agreed. “But you were there.”

Emily stepped forward now, “That doesn’t mean you get to take control of my life.” Luca looked back at her.

And for the first time, his voice changed slightly, “In my world, Emily,” he said, “control is the only thing that keeps people alive.”

That made her pause. It’s not because she agreed. But because she believed it completely.

Emily studied him, then asked him, “So what? You’re protecting me?”

Luca didn’t answer immediately. That hesitation… mattered. Finally, he said, “I’m preventing consequences.”

Emily scoffed again, and she said, “That sounds like a nicer word for imprisonment.”

A faint shift crossed Luca’s expression. Something closer to irritation… or interest.

“You talk too much,” he said.

Emily blinked at his word, “…What?”

Luca stepped slightly closer again, “You question everything,” he continued. “You argue when you should stay quiet. Emily lifted her chin.

“That’s called having a personality,” she said

Then Luca said something that made her stomach tighten slightly.

“In my world,” he said, “people like you don’t last long.” Emily held his gaze.

And she said, not undefeated, “Then maybe your world is the problem.”

This time, Luca didn’t respond immediately. He just looked at her.

Longer than necessary. Like he was trying to understand something unfamiliar.

A quiet knock interrupted them.

The door opened. A woman stepped inside. Elegant and Calm.

Emily turned slightly, and asked, “Who is she?”

Luca didn’t look away from Emily, and replied, “My assistant.”

The woman spoke gently, “Dinner is ready, sir.”

Luca nodded once. Then glanced at Emily, “You should eat.” Emily stared at him.

“I don’t take instructions from you,”

After a faint pause

Then Luca said, “You will tonight.”

Emily opened her mouth to argue. But something in his tone stopped her. The control wrapped around his words. But it has effect on her. She hated that it worked.

Luca turned toward the door, then stopped.

Without looking back, he said, “One more thing.”

Emily frowned, but asked, “What?

His voice lowered slightly.

“You keep your sketchbook with you.”

That caught her off guard. “…Why?”

Then Luca said quietly, “Because it’s the only thing here that belongs to you.” And then he left.

Later, In the evening, the dining room was too large. That was Emily’s first thought when she entered inside. Too polished and too quiet.

She sat at one end of the long table while Luca sat further down—not distant enough to feel ignored, but far enough to remind her she wasn’t equal in this space.

The assistant placed food in front of her. Emily didn’t touch it immediately.

Luca noticed.

“You’re not eating.”

“I’m not hungry,” she replied.

Luca calmly said, “You’re stressed.”

Emily looked up.

“That’s one way to put it.”

Then Luca added, “You’ll get used to it.”

Emily almost laughed and replied, “That’s the problem. I don’t want to get used to this.”

Luca studied her again.

Then he said, “You will anyway.”

Emily put her fork down. Angrily, she replied him, “Why are you so sure about everything?”

This time, Luca didn’t answer instantly.

But when he did, his voice was quieter, “Because I’ve learned what happens when I’m wrong.”

That line lingered. Even Emily didn’t interrupt it. For a moment, the room felt different.

Then Emily asked, “Do you always keep people like this?”

Luca’s eyes lifted slightly.

“No.”

That answer came quickly.

Emily narrowed her eyes.

“Then why me?”

This time, Luca didn’t look away. He held her gaze. Then he said, “Because you didn’t look at me like I was your answer.”

Emily froze slightly.

“…What does that even mean?”

Luca didn’t explain. Instead, he said, “You’ll understand soon enough.”

And for the first time, Emily realized something terrifying. She wasn’t just inside Luca Moretti’s world.

She was already part of it. Whether she agreed or not.