Rhea's life is a picture of quiet bliss-working in her cozy bakery, surrounded by the sweet smells of fresh pastries, and living a life full of sunlight and simple pleasures. But there's one person who disturbs her peace every day: Keane, the enigma...
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Keane never felt more alive than when he watched her.
The moments when Rhea was unaware, when her every step, every smile, every flicker of emotion played out in real time before him—those were the moments he craved. She was a puzzle, and he was piecing her together, one observation at a time. Her reactions, her quirks, her habits—they were all laid out for him, raw and unguarded.
He watched from afar, a shadow lurking in the corners of her life, and he liked it that way. The world didn't need to know how deeply he was invested in her. Not yet, at least. The beauty of his game was in the patience, in the subtlety.
Tonight, as he sat in the dark, isolated room of his penthouse, his eyes never left the monitors in front of him. The feed from the small cameras he'd placed outside Rhea's bakery flickered on the screen, showing her walking out after closing. It was just past 8 p.m., and she was locking up, humming softly to herself, oblivious to the eyes that were always on her.
He leaned forward, his sharp eyes tracking her every movement. He could see the way her long, sun-kissed legs carried her with effortless grace as she walked to her car, the red velvet box clutched tightly in her hand. She had no idea she was being watched. And she never would.
Keane's fingers tapped idly on the armrest, his gaze shifting to another screen—this one displaying the camera feed of her apartment building. The street was quiet tonight, no one lingering around. Rhea had gone home alone, as she always did, and it was exactly what he wanted. He liked that she was hers and hers alone. It made him feel powerful.
But even more than that, it made him feel connected to her in a way no one else could.
The cameras inside her apartment showed her in the kitchen, washing her hands after dinner. It was a mundane moment, yet Keane watched with intensity. He didn't need to be there in person; he had every angle, every view. It was enough to see her in this intimate, private space.
He could hear her soft hums as she moved about, a sweet melody that echoed through the static of the speakers. Her life, all of it, was so... perfect.
Her lighthearted laugh when she spoke to herself, her quiet sighs, even the way she pressed her fingers to her lips when she thought deeply—everything about her drew him in. It was maddening, how much he craved these moments.
But there was more to it than just the physicality of her presence. There was something deeper, something more visceral. He wanted to control it, to bend her love and devotion to his will.
Keane closed his eyes for a moment, letting the weight of his obsession wash over him. He was patient, but this need—it was starting to eat away at him.
Rhea was still awake in her small apartment, her mind swirling with thoughts of Keane. After locking the door to her bakery and finishing a late dinner, she'd retreated to the small, cozy space she called home. The radio played softly in the background, a cheerful station that made everything feel a little warmer.
She shouldn't be thinking about him this much, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't stop thinking about how he always came to her bakery, how he always knew exactly what she needed. Red velvet cupcakes—her favorite. Every day, without fail. It was as if he understood her in a way no one else did.
Rhea sighed as she pulled out a box of chocolate from her pantry, the one indulgence she allowed herself. She had never seen a man quite like Keane. He was different, enigmatic, with an air of mystery that seemed to follow him everywhere he went. Every time he walked into the bakery, it felt as though the world around her slowed, his presence taking up all the space, consuming her.
She ran a hand through her hair, lost in thought, and felt a flicker of unease. She'd caught him staring at her a little longer than usual this morning. Just before he left, there had been something in his eyes—something sharp and possessive that made her heart skip a beat.
Rhea shook her head. What was she thinking? Of course, he was just... intense. He had a way about him that made everything feel deeper than it was, but that didn't mean anything, right?
Yet, the more she tried to push him from her thoughts, the more he clung to her mind. He haunted her, even in the quiet moments, even in her own apartment, where she should have felt safe.
Her phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, snapping her from her thoughts. She picked it up, seeing a text from a friend.
Did you hear about the new guy in town? I saw him walking past your bakery the other day. Looks like trouble!
Rhea frowned at the message, her mind immediately flashing to Keane. He was the only man who had ever made her feel uneasy, but in a way that stirred something dangerous within her. She couldn't place it—did she like it? Or did she fear it?
She typed back quickly, not wanting to sound like she was hiding anything, but knowing the last thing she wanted was her friends getting curious about him.
He's not new. Just a regular customer. Nothing to worry about.
She hit send, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety. Keane wasn't dangerous. He was just... intense. Different. Maybe she was overthinking things. She always did that.
The kitchen was quiet again, save for the hum of the refrigerator. But her peace was fleeting. There was a sound, distant, almost imperceptible. A tapping. Like a light knock. She froze, her heartbeat quickening.
She stood still, listening. The sound came again—this time more distinct. A tap. Tap. Tap.
Rhea's skin prickled with unease.
Was someone out there?
She moved toward the window slowly, her hand trembling as she drew back the curtain. Her eyes scanned the empty street below. The dim glow of the streetlight illuminated the sidewalk, the stillness of the night broken only by the occasional passing car.
No one was there.
A deep breath escaped her as she let the curtain fall back into place, but the feeling lingered. Something wasn't right. Her pulse raced as she backed away from the window, feeling the weight of being watched.
She was being paranoid. Nothing was wrong.
But she couldn't shake the feeling. Someone was out there, just beyond her reach, lurking in the shadows.
Keane's gaze never left the screen.
He had seen her, through the cameras, just moments ago. She had moved to the window, just like he knew she would. He could see her standing there now, her face uncertain, as if sensing the presence of someone who wasn't there. But Keane was there. He was always there.
She had no idea how close he was to her, how much he knew, how much he cared for her.
It was almost time. Just a little longer, and she would understand.
Rhea was his.
And no one—no one—would ever take her from him. —————————-—————————-—————————-—————————-———— HEYY it's me I hope your enjoying this book so far as it's so fun to write Ngl not sure if anyone's gonna read this but it's worth a shot Stay sexy babes xoxox
