Y/N's POV
The security detail waiting outside didn't move a muscle as I passed them. They sent Jimin wary looks but kept to their posts. I ran along crowded streets, thinking about what I'd done and what I was about to do. What my behavior could bring about. I glimpsed a flight of stairs between two buildings, took a turn, and ran straight up, taking another turn and disappearing into the first narrow street I saw. It ended in another flight of stairs. I climbed higher and higher until I found myself two blocks away from the place I had escaped from. Then I leaned against the wall, panting. My shoes might have been works of art, but they definitely hadn't been made for running. I stared into the sky and the grand castle looming over Taormina. Fuck this, I thought. I can't go on like this.
"It used to be a fortress," I heard someone say. "You want to run all the way up there or will you spare my boys the exertion? They're not as fit as I am." I turned my head. It was Jimin. Standing at the top of the stairs. It was clear he had followed me in a run—his hair was disheveled. He hadn't even broken a sweat. Unlike me. The Man in Black leaned nonchalantly against the wall, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"We need to go back now. If you'd like a workout, there's a gym and a pool back home. Or, if you're more of a staircase marathon kind of girl, there's a lot of those back at the villa, too."
I knew I had no choice. I had to go back with him, but at least for a moment I had felt my fate was in my own hands. Jimin extended a hand, which I ignored, heading back down the stairs where the two suited bodyguards were already waiting. I passed them both with a disapproving frown and walked over to the SUV parked a couple of feet away. I got in, slamming the door behind me.
A while later, Jimin joined me. He took the seat next to me and put his phone to his ear, talking all the way, until we reached the driveway. I had no idea what he was saying. Jimin's voice was calm, though, and down-to-earth. He listened more than he spoke, and I couldn't read his body language.
We stopped at the mansion. I grabbed the handle, but the door was locked. The Man in Black finished his call, tucked the mobile into his breast pocket, and fixed me with a stare.
"Dinner will be served in an hour. Taehyung will come for you."
The car door opened, and I saw the young Korean, his hand outstretched to help me out. I let him do so, sending him a wide, ostentatious smile. Then I ran to the building, looking straight ahead, not wanting to catch even a glimpse of the spot where the nightmare of last night had taken place. Taehyung followed me.
"Turn right," he said quietly as I was starting to lose my way in the labyrinth of corridors.
I turned back, thanking him for the assistance, and a while later I was back in my room.
The young Korean stopped in the doorway, as if waiting for me to allow him in.
"They'll bring you all the things you've bought in a minute. Do you need anything else?" he asked.
"Yes. I could use a drink before dinner. Unless I'm not allowed, of course."
Taehyung smiled and nodded understandingly, disappearing in the darkness.
I went to the bathroom, took off my dress, and locked the door behind me, stepping into the shower and turning on the cold water. It was freezing—I could barely breathe, but after a while I got used to it. I needed to cool off. When the chilling stream calmed me down, I turned up the temperature. I washed my hair, massaged in some conditioner, and sat down with my back against the wall. The water was pleasantly warm. It cascaded down the glass shower wall, relaxing me. I had a moment to think about what had happened in the morning, and then in the afternoon, back in the shop. I was confused. Jimin was a complicated man—totally unpredictable. Slowly, it was dawning on me that if I wouldn't accept my newfound circumstances and start living normally, I'd simply die of exhaustion.
That's when it struck me—there was nothing to fight, nothing to run away from. There was nothing for me back in Warsaw. I wasn't losing anything, because everything I had was now gone. The only thing I could do was let this adventure unfold. It's time to accept your situation, Y/N, I thought, standing up.
I rinsed my hair and wrapped it in a towel, put on a bathrobe, and left the bathroom.
My bedroom was filled with dozens of boxes. I couldn't help feeling elated at the sight. In the past, I would have given everything to be able to go on a shopping spree like that. Nothing was going to stop me enjoying this now. I had a plan.
I rummaged through everything, finally finding the Victoria's Secret bags and digging through the dozens of lingerie sets until I found the red lace one. Then I picked a black see-through dress and a matching pair of Louboutin high heels. Jimin would have a heart attack! I headed toward the dressing table, snatching the bottle of champagne from the table on my way. I poured myself a glass and downed it in one gulp—I could use some liquid courage. Pouring another glass, I sat down by the mirror and took out the makeup set.
When I was finished, my eyes were heavily accented, my skin perfectly coated with foundation, and my lips shone with Chanel nude lip gloss. I dried my hair, curling it slightly for a wavy effect.
I heard Taehyung calling from outside.
"Dinner's served, miss."
Putting on the underwear, I called back through the door, "Give me two more minutes."
I pulled on the dress, stepped into the impossibly high heels, and sprinkled myself with a generous dose of my favorite perfume, stopping in front of the mirror for a second to nod with approval. I looked gorgeous. The dress fit perfectly and the red lace visible beneath it matched the red soles of the stilettos. It was provocative, but also elegant. I downed another glass of champagne, feeling ready to face the world and a little tipsy.
As I left the bathroom and presented myself to Taehyung , his eyes widened.
"You look—" He broke off, looking for the right word.
"Yes, I know. Thank you," I replied, smiling coquettishly.
"Those high heels are incredible," he added in a whisper, and offered me his arm.
I took it and let him lead me down the corridor.
We went to the terrace I had had breakfast on earlier. The canvas-roofed gazebo was illuminated by hundreds of candles, and Jimin was standing beside it, his back turned to the building, staring into the distance. I let go of Taehyung's arm.
"I'll manage on my own, thank you."
The man retreated into the darkness while I headed toward the Man in Black with a steady gait.
Thank you for reading<3
