{ dark romance } { check warnings }
When Layla finally gets her opportunity to run away from her parents, she runs to New York. Her goal is to blend in, but within the first 48 hours of being in the city, that proves impossible. Her secrets follow...
After a minute of Callum's hyper state of excitement, the soft ding of the elevator finally sounds and the doors slide open.
Stepping out, my eyes are instantly go to the view. Walking with Dina across the dark marble floors, we go to the 20 foot window, taking in the magical skyline. Callum takes a few steps toward the window, but when he looks down, he immediately takes some steps back.
"We're pretty high up..." He laughs nervously looking away from the window.
"101 stories. The top 3 floors were used to create this penthouse", Leon states, walking over to the bar and pouring himself a drink. As he says that, I turn from the window and notice the insanely high ceilings. On my left, a big glass staircase going up to the second floor and another flight of stairs going down. In the middle of the staircase, a crystal chandelier hangs, but instead of just crystals, chains wrap around it. Glancing around the penthouse at all the expensive furniture and impressive artwork, I don't even want to think about how much this cost.
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I'm in awe. Looking around. Dina and Cal seem to be just as speechless as I am.
"This is absolutely beautiful Leo." Dina walks over to the bar, kissing Leon on the cheek and then going over to Callum. Leon gives her a thankful smile before tilting his head back and finishing his drink.
"Leon where are our rooms? I wanna see the movies!" Callum says, practically jumping up and down.
Turning around on his stool, "Upstairs, turn left, the doors on the right of the hallway are Cal's and Dina's" he answers, before quickly shifting his glance to me, taking another sit of his drink, "Layla, you're directly across the hall." he finishes, turning back to the bar, filling up his glass.
"Thanks Leo!" Cal says. Leon lets out a short chuckle, not even getting a chance to reply as Cal jets up the stairs.
Dina says goodnight to us, giving me a warm hug and a small wink as she makes her way up the stairs. I stand at the bottom of the staircase, going up a few, before I feel a chill. He's looking at me. I turn around, meeting his gaze. He puts the drink down hesitantly, spinning one of the stools next to him towards me, telling me to sit down. I slowly walk over, trying to keep my composure. I can't stop thinking about what happened in the Maple. I can still feel his hand wrapping around my waist, his cold touch.
He is cold. He is merciless. He is cruel. So why is he keeping me around? He's a dangerous man, I know that; so I have to be smart about this. I have to make him trust me.
I take my coat off, tossing it on the couch before walking over and sitting down next to him. He turns back to the bar, facing the wall. I sit down slowly, looking up at him. He looks like he's deep in thought. Does it trouble him to have us here?
I peel my eyes away from him, reaching over the bar and grabbing a glass.
"I don't believe you're old enough to drink Miss Stone" He turns to me, snatching the bottle of whiskey before I can grab it. Is it the drugs? Is it the alcohol? Or is this just what he's really like?
