obsessively mine

HER (2)

It was early morning, just before sunrise, when the doorbell rang. The sound pulled me from a deep sleep, my eyelids heavy with the comfort of rest. I groaned, reluctant to leave the warmth of my bed, but a prickling sense of unease made me sit up. I grabbed a shirt from the chair beside the bed and slipped it on over my tank top. My heart beat a little faster as I made my way downstairs, each step echoing in the silent house. I opened the door to find Marco standing there, his expression unreadable. My stomach tightened. If Marco was here, Vince couldn't be far behind. A chill of anxiety ran through me. Was today the day he had finally uncovered the truth?

"Marco? What are you doing here this early?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. Before he could respond, Vince appeared from behind him, his face hard and unreadable. My pulse quickened.

"Surprised to see me?" Vince asked, his tone cold and laced with suspicion.

I forced a smile, masking the unease creeping through me. "No, just caught off guard. Come in," I said, stepping aside to let them enter.

Vince motioned for Marco to stay put. "Keep watch," he ordered curtly, his eyes never leaving mine. I saw the flicker of irritation cross Marco's face before he nodded and stepped back. I closed the door behind Vince, a smirk tugging at my lips, but it quickly faded as Vince turned to face me.

"Cut the crap. You lied to me," Vince snapped, his voice low and angry.

My heart pounded, but I kept my expression neutral. "Lied about what, exactly?" I asked, my voice dripping with feigned innocence.

In a flash, Vince was on me, shoving me hard against the wall. His hands gripped my arms, pinning me in place. "Don't play dumb," he hissed, his face inches from mine. "I know who you really are."

His words hung in the air, sharp and cutting. I met his glare head-on, refusing to flinch. "Do you? Then enlighten me. What do you know, Vince?"

His eyes burned with fury. "You're an Angelino. To the world, you're a CEO, but behind the scenes, you're just as dirty as the rest of them. And I know about your past—"

I cut him off sharply, not wanting him to go any further. "Did you find the answers I sent you looking for?" I shot back, my voice low and challenging.

His fingers tightened on my arms, the pain shooting through me. "Don't try to turn this on me. You don't get to ask questions," he growled. "Do you understand me?"

"Let go, Vince," I demanded, my voice strained.

"Why should I?" he taunted, his grip tightening. "Is your so-called love for me that fragile?" He leaned in closer, his breath hot on my face. The proximity sent a jolt of fear and something else—something darker—through me.

I summoned all my strength and pushed him away, forcing him to stumble back. "Let's make a deal," I blurted out, desperate to regain control.

He scoffed. "A deal? What kind of game are you playing now?"

"You didn't even let me finish," I snapped. I took a deep breath, steadying my voice. "You stay here with me, in this house, for a month. If you don't fall for me by the end of that time..."

He cut me off, his tone harsh. "Then what?"

I met his gaze, my voice firm even as my hands trembled. "Then you can shoot me. I won't resist. I promise."

For a moment, silence hung between us, thick and suffocating. Vince's eyes bore into mine, searching for any hint of deception. I held my breath, waiting for his refusal, but when he finally spoke, his words took the air from my lungs.

"Fine," he said, his voice cold as ice. "One month. But don't think for a second that I'll hesitate when the time comes."