Devil's Desire {A BWLM Novella}

10

Santiago was tense after our lunch with Rosa, and I couldn't figure out why. He was quiet, distant, his beautiful, masculine features locked into a mask that revealed nothing. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but the tension between us felt too thick, too impenetrable, and I didn't dare break it.

When we got back to the mansion, he barely said a word before herding me upstairs like I was some wayward child. And then, to top it all off, he locked me in my room. I stood there for a moment, staring at the door, trying to process the fact that the man I was falling for—if I was honest with myself—had just caged me again. Part of me wanted to scream, but I knew it wouldn't change anything.

I'd thought I was starting to earn his trust. Guess I was wrong.

Despite everything, Santiago did keep his word and gave me the new iPhone and MacBook, though, of course, there was a catch. There always was with him. He took my old phone in exchange, and the new one was pre-programmed with only three numbers: Santiago's, the butler Rodger's, and Melissa's. No internet access, no freedom. Just another shiny toy with strings attached.

I was so engrossed in trying to figure out how to bypass the restrictions on the phone that when a text lit up the screen, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Melissa: Santiago has planned a quiet dinner for the two of you. He asks that you wear formal attire.

Athena: Is he asking or demanding?

Melissa: One and the same where Santiago is concerned.

Athena: 👍🏾

Melissa: Do you even know what to wear?

Athena: I suppose you're going to pick something out for me.

Melissa: I'll be up there in five minutes.

I sighed and tossed the phone on the bed, turning on Disney Plus for some background noise while I waited. But no matter how hard I tried to focus on the movie, Santiago kept creeping into my thoughts. He was becoming the center of my universe, and I hated it. I hated that I couldn't stop thinking about him, that my resolve was crumbling a little more each day. It felt as if this was a betrayal to Tyler's memory and all that we had.

I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to block out the tears that threatened to spill over. But it was no use. The dam broke, and I let them fall. What is happening to me? Why am I falling for him? I'd tried so hard to understand myself, to figure out why I felt this way. Was I that desperate for love? It wasn't like I hadn't grown up with love. My dad had always been there for me, always made me feel safe. But Santiago... he was different.

I could almost hear Dr. Montgomery's voice in my head, calm and reassuring. "Acceptance, Athena. Recognizing and accepting that certain things are beyond your control is a crucial first step. Direct your energy on the things you can control."

But what could I control? Santiago controlled everything. Even this new iPhone had some weird software that restricted everything. I couldn't call anyone other than his pre-approved contacts, couldn't access the internet. He was a tech genius, apparently, pulling off this level of sophistication. Who was he, really?

I closed my eyes and tried to picture myself back in Dr. Montgomery's office. I could see the blue wallpaper, the pictures of the ocean. I could almost hear the soft tapping of her pen against her notepad, grounding me.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was losing control. This emotion—this pull toward Santiago—it was consuming me. And I didn't know how to stop it. No man had ever made me feel this way. From the moment we met, he had made me come alive. It wasn't just his looks. There was something about him that I couldn't resist. Something I wanted to explore, even though I knew it was dangerous.