Today's meeting was rough, Don Virelli returned to the estate early and angry. One of his guards approached before he removed his gloves.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Sir, Miss Eliana has been accused of espionage".
Don didn't react immediately, the guard continued.
"She's being taken to the execution room."
Silence settled between them, the Don went still for a brief moment, the kind of rage that comes before bloodshed.
"Who ordered it?" his voice was quiet.
"Miss Cassandra, sir."
Of course, adjusting his cufflinks he walked quietly. The guards followed behind him.
The execution chamber doors were already open when he arrived the axe raised. Eliana on her her knees, she wasn't begging.
Interesting.
Without raising his voice, he ordered "Stop." and the axe froze mud-air, subtly close to her neck. Cassandra turned, relief flashed across her face, until she saw mine.
"Don," she said quickly, "she's a spy. I found her journal. She plans to destroy..."
"I did not ask," he cut in.
The room went silent.
He walked past Cassandra as if she were furniture, his gaze settling on Eliana. Even being faced with death, her eyes still held anger.
His jaw tightened as he walked close to her, "Untie her."
The guards obeyed immediately.
Cassandra stepped forward.
"She is your enemy. I protected your empire."
Don turned slowly, the temperature of the air shifting "you" he said evenly, "do not protect my empire."
Her lips parted.
"I do."
Stepping closer, he continued "you act when I command. You decide when I allow."
No one speaks after that tone. He turned back to Eliana, a faint red line marked her neck. The blad had been too close. A feeling of ownership, possesion moved in his chest
He reached out for her wrist, pulling her closer to himself. She stumbled but did not lean on me.
Don virelli had noticed Cassandra's jealousy since the first night he asked Eliana to sit beside him instead of her.
Cassandra's smile had stiffened.
Her hand tightened around her wine glass.
Most women in this estate competed for proximity to his bed but Eliana barely does, she listened in meeting, correcting figures quietly and assisted in expansion plans and that alone made her different in a dangerous but useful way. So he thought, and Don Virelli doesn't discard useful things without solid proof.
"Bring the journal to my office," he ordered.
Cassandra's voice shook slightly. "You don't need to read it. I already..."
He shot her a cold glance and she lost her composure immediately, leaving her statement unfinished. Suspicion is not proof but jealousy? Jealousy is predictable and Jealousy makes people destroy.
Dragging Eliana toward the exit, he spoke calmly "Next time," he said without looking at anyone, "no one is executed in my absence."
"Yes, Don."
"And Cassandra...."
She stiffened.
"If you ever make a decision of this magnitude again…"
He let the sentence hang, Silence is more terrifying than threats.
"I understand," she whispered.
Good. restoring fear with order, he stepped out of the chamber. Eliana finally speaking.
Night came faster than usual, whispers had already spread among the other mistresses. By dinner, everyone new what had happened in the execution chamber.
At midnight, he intentionally scheduled Eliana to be in his room and spend the night that day.
Eliana knocked lightly on the door, her posture steady and untouched. She stepped in slowly, wearing a silk dark blue dress. As she walked into the room her eyes scanned the room once before shifting her gaze to the Don, now lying on his bed.
"Close the door," he said.
She did quietly.
"You were almost executed today," he said calmly, "but you were not afraid."
"I am not weak." she replied softly, climbing the bed and crawling to me slowly.
He leans closer to her, the air shifting instantly. He brushes her hair off her shoulders lightly with his fingers, his eyes scanning the faint mark still on her neck.
"You do not fear death," he murmured.
"I fear being powerless."
That answer was honest. His hand slid from her neck to her chin, tilting her face upward "tonight, you'll get powerless in my bed"
Her pulse beat fast under his thumb, adrenaline rushing down her body. He could feel the heat coming from her but she didn't step back. He pulled her lightly, she fell on his chest. Their foreheads nearly touching.
"If you betray me," he said quietly, "I will not stop the blade next time."
" And if I don't?" she replied seductively, her breath warming his chest.
"Then," he said evenly, "you may prove useful enough to keep."
Her fingers brushed against his wrist, like she was testing him.
"You don't see me as the others," she said.
"No."
"Why?"
He didn't respond to her question, he slightly pulled himself away from her, removing his hand from her face.
"Undress." the command was calm and controlled.
"You saved me today. Is this my debt?, I know today isn't supposed to be my turn here" she said softly almost like a whisper, her eyes glittering as she stared into his eyes.
"I do not entertain questions in bed, Eliana."
His tone dropped lower, "and I do not trade mercy for pleasure."
He held her gaze and continued "When you enter this room, it is because I chose you. Now so what you know how to do best"
Her breathing changed as she went down, between his knees, his hands resting on her waist. She slowly opened the zip of his trouser, pulling it down. She gulped his manhood into her mouth, thrusting deeply and continuously as the lights flickers.