The Vaults Temptation (an ADULT 18+ READ)

Chapter 15

Holly Grace

Standing in Dimitri's office, I can't help but feel small. The air in the room feels thick, heavy with tension. Dimitri's pacing back and forth, his presence filling the space in a way that's almost overwhelming. His chest is still rising and falling, his breathing a little too fast, like he's trying to calm himself. I can't tear my eyes away from him, even though I should. Then he stops right in front of me, and I freeze. "Who put you in front of house?" he asks, but his voice is gentle, almost too gentle.

"N-Nobody," I stammer, shifting nervously on my feet. I can feel my pulse racing, and I hope he can't hear it.

"Nobody?" His voice changes, firm now. "What were you doing there then?" I swallow, trying to think of something to say that won't sound like an excuse. I know I'm in over my head, but I just wanted to help.

"The lower vault was empty," I explain, my voice softer than I intend. "And they were really busy upstairs, so I thought I'd help Ben and Alicia out." I try to stand taller, to show him that I meant well, but I can see the frustration on his face as he closes his eyes and rubs his temples.

"Holly," he says with a sigh, "Alicia and Ben have been doing their jobs perfectly, without fail, for over five years. They can handle it, trust me. Remind me to have a talk with Ben about this whole situation." He's not yelling, but the disappointment in his voice cuts deeper than anything. I bite my lip, trying not to fidget, but I can feel my nerves getting the best of me.

He steps closer, and I have to fight the urge to step back. "I put you in the lower vault for a reason," he says, his voice quieter now, almost gentle again. "You'll come to learn that there's a reason for everything I do." His words hang in the air, and I nod, swallowing hard. I don't know what to say, so I just nod again, hoping he'll stop looking at me like he can see right through me.

Then he sighs, and his expression shifts, like he's made up his mind about something. "You know what?" He smirks, but there's a challenge in his eyes. "You think you're ready for the ground vault? Since you're so keen on doing whatever you want anyway." His shrug is casual, but the weight of his words hits me. The ground vault. My heart races as I think about it—the money, the chance to finally pay off my college loans, to get a new apartment, to take care of Claudette once and for all. I feel a flicker of excitement, despite the tension in the room.

"Let's take a tour, shall we, sweetheart?" he says, and my breath catches in my throat. This is it. This is the chance I've been waiting for, and even though I'm nervous, there's a part of me that's ready. Ready to see what the ground vault is really about. Ready to prove myself.