Chapter Seven

Theo and I entered the limousine, and the door slammed shut behind us. I sat as far from him as possible, but the space between us felt smaller than it was. Theo slid into the seat next to me, his presence pressing against me like a heavy weight.

He leaned back, his eyes glinting as he placed both hands on my lap, making my stomach twist in discomfort. I froze, unsure of what to do, but my body instinctively shifted away from him, trying to create more space.

Theo noticed immediately. His grip on my thighs tightened, a sharp, possessive hold that left me feeling trapped. “Don’t even think about it,” he muttered, his voice low and almost amused.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. The car felt smaller with each passing second.

The limousine finally came to a stop, and I looked out the window. We had arrived at a large event hall, towering and grand. Cars were pulling in one after another, and from the looks of them, they were all high-end, luxury vehicles. It was clear this was a place for the wealthy and influential.

Theo didn’t say anything as he opened the door and stepped out first. He turned back to me, waiting for me to follow. My heart pounded as I hesitated before stepping out of the car, feeling completely out of place. I followed him, trying to keep up with his confident stride. The entrance to the hall was lined with flashing cameras and well-dressed people, adding to the pressure of the moment.

Theo’s hand gripped tightly around my waist as he guided me into the hall, his touch firm and unyielding. I tensed, feeling the weight of his hand pressing against me. He pulled me closer as we walked through the entrance, the flashes from the cameras adding to the feeling of being trapped.

Inside, Theo approached a group of men who were talking and laughing. They all turned to look at us as we approached, and Theo greeted them with a confident nod. One of the men, a tall guy with a smug smile, raised an eyebrow and asked, “So, who’s the special guest tonight?”

Theo’s lips curled into a smirk, his eyes briefly flicking down to me. “You know, my toy,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “I like to keep her around for entertainment.”

The men laughed, clearly enjoying the comment. One of them leaned in, giving me an appraising look. “You got a hot one there, Theo,” he said with a grin.

I felt my face burn with embarrassment, but I didn’t dare say anything. I could feel Theo’s grip on my waist tightening slightly, as if he was reminding me that I didn’t have the freedom to speak up. His friends continued to laugh, clearly amused by the whole situation.

I wanted to shrink away, to disappear into the background, but I forced myself to stand tall, trying not to let their words affect me.

As the laughter from Theo’s friends died down, a tall man who looked like a security guard approached us. He was dressed in a dark suit, his face unreadable. He leaned in close to Theo and whispered something in his ear. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, as it wasn’t in English, but the tone of the conversation felt serious.

Theo’s expression shifted from smug amusement to something more stern, more businesslike. He nodded curtly and glanced at one of his men standing nearby. “Keep an eye on her,” he said, his voice low and commanding.

The man who had been watching us nodded in acknowledgment, stepping a bit closer to me.

As Theo’s attention shifted to the security guard, a thought crossed my mind. This could be my chance to escape. The guards were all focused on keeping an eye on me, and if I moved quickly enough, I might be able to slip away.

I quickly assessed the situation and realized I had nothing to lose. I turned to the bodyguard who was standing close by, his eyes fixed on me. “I need to use the toilet,” I said, trying to sound casual but firm.

The guard gave a quick nod, following me closely as I made my way through the hall, weaving past the guests. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept moving forward, determined not to waste this chance.

When I reached the ladies’ room, I made a quick turn and stopped just before the door. The guard took a step closer, as if to follow me inside. I turned around, giving him a look that I hoped conveyed my annoyance.

“Really? You’re going to follow me into the ladies’ room?” I said with a sarcastic edge. “What are you, some kind of pervert?”

The guard froze, his eyes flicking between me and the door. There was a moment of hesitation, and then he stepped back, clearly caught off guard by my blunt comment. “I… I’ll wait out here,” he muttered, his face flushed with embarrassment.

I smirked, pleased with myself, and quickly slipped into the restroom. As the door clicked shut behind me, I allowed myself a small breath of relief. But I knew I couldn’t stay there long. I had to make the next move.