"Boss, what should I do with this one? Should I throw her back to the hole?

Kade was already up the stairs, he didn't pay them any mind.

"Boss?"

"Throw her back in her room. No one should see her until I say so. Serve her some food at appropriate times. I will see you later."

"Okay boss."

———

Mira's reflection stared back at her, eyes swollen and bruised. Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at the shattered remains of her dignity. 

The luxurious room, with its precious armour now felt like a gilded cage. The soft carpet, and the elegant drapes seemed to mock her captivity. 

Her mind drifted to Alex, wondering if she'd ever see him again. The memory of Kade's nonchalant walk, dismissing her threats, fueled her despair.

"How could he?" she whispered, her voice cracking. 

The door was impenetrable and no one would open it. This meant they had the food and water delivered through a small space through a small slot in the door. 

A clang echoed outside, followed by the rattle of a tray being slid through the door slit. 

"Eat."

Mira ignored the food, her stomach churning with emotions. Eat? Was she a dog or a cat? 

As darkness fell, the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the occasional footsteps outside. 

Mira collapses onto the bed, overwhelmed. Her mind reeled with fears and doubt.

Would she ever escape? 

Would Alex find her?

Was she doomed to remain Kade's prisoner, will she be cajoled to do what she wants. 

Tears consumed her and she surrendered to despair. As darkness fell, Mira's hopes seemed to fade with the light. 

She wasn't ready to fight back...not yet. 

More tears flowed down her face. 

Exhausted, Mira slid to the floor and heaved. She was trapped and alone.

Days were long and nights were worse. They blended together in an endless cycle of despair. Morning light crept through the elegant drapes as if sneaking home. 

Mira's eyes grew heavy, her lips dropping under the weight of exhaustion. Nights were worse with the creepy shadows dancing on the wall.

Every creak of the floorboards made her jump, hoping against hope that someone had come to rescue her. But the silence  that followed was always deafening. 

Time lost meaning. Hours ticked by like eternity. Mira's thoughts spiralled into darkness. 

She paced the room, her footsteps echoing, Mira's mind was not settled so she couldn't sleep. 

She must get out of here and she must get out here fast. 

Her mind spinned with different plans, but each one crumbled under the weight of reality. 

Amidst all of it, she knows one thing, she will not die here. In the darkness of the night, she whispered to herself, 

"I won't give up."

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In the morning of the fifth day of isolation, she was expecting the tray to slide in as usual. 

But instead the lock of the door snapped open. She sat on the bed, back to the door and she didn't bother to check who came in. 

Footstep came troupe in, from the clatter, there were many people. 

The footsteps halted beside her. Mira didn't flinch, her gaze faxed on the wall.

"Good morning, Mira." someone said. Mira recognized Kade's voice in a million. It has become the voice of her pain.

She didn't respond.

"You are looking rather kind of...dashing." He said with a tone dripping with sarcasm. 

"I trust you're enjoying your accommodations."

Mira's silence was her defiance. 

Kade's entourage shifted, their presence suffocating. She sensed their eyes on her, probing her vulnerability. 

"Let's cut to the chase," Kade said, his voice losing its pretence of civility. 

"I have shown you what's going to happen, if you don't cooperate. You have two options, stay here and cooperate, refuse and life will become...you know what is coming." 

He paused to let his words sink in. 

Mira's heart pounded, but she refused to show fear. She won't give him anything to hold on to. 

"I am a busy man, Mira. For me to be here, it means I like you very much. And as you know already, no one's coming for you. Everyone is oblivious to your plight. I am your only hope." 

A chill ran down her spine. 

"What do you want from me?" Mira asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Kade's smile was cold, calculating the odds.

"I think you already know that. You'll do what I ask, when I ask, and how I ask. You will be my companion, and I will use you. In return you will have food, shelter and protection." 

Mira's mind recoiled at the implications. 

"I don't want your food and shelter! I just want to go home."

One of the people stepped forward, only when she came to her view did Mira realise it was Kade's mother, Isabella.

"Mira, don't make this harder than it needs to be. Personally, I don't understand what my son wants from you. But I have grown to totally trust him. He is one stubborn boy. He won't back down. You know what he wants, give him what he wants." 

Mira's gazed at Isabella, here is the face of the woman who birthed a monster. There was no empathy in these eyes, not like she hoped for any. The fruit doesn't fall far away from the tree after all.

Kade's voice cuts through her thoughts. 

"So Mira, what is it to be? Heads or tails, cooperate or do I need to persuade you further?" 

The air was heavy with tension as Mira weighed her options. She knew that surrendering would mean losing herself, but resisting too, might prove to be a catastrophe. 

In the darkness of her mind, a spark rekindled. 

"I won't give up."

Mira's eyes locked onto Kade's, desperation creeping in. 

"Please, Kade. Let me go. I'll give you information. Anything you want to know. Just let me go."

Kade chuckled, an eyebrow raised as if he was intrigued. 

"What information could you possibly have that would be of interest to me?"

 "I know places, influential people. I can call Alex, he has dirt on your rivals. He can tell you about their dealing and secrets, I can give you leverage."

Kade's expression sounded sceptical.

"And why would I need your information? Mira, I have people in powerful places that are keeping tabs on my rivals. I have more power and resources than you could ever imagine. So thank you, I don't need your information." 

"But I know specifics, details that could benefit your business...Please try to understand, I am trying to help you, just listen." 

Kade leaned in, his voice low and teasing. 

"I already have everything I need, Mira. You can keep your information, it's worthless to me."

Mira's heart broke several times over, her eyes welled up. "Then what do you want from me?"

Kade came closer to her, so close he could feel her ragged breath. 

"I already told you. Unless you are deaf or daft, you should not be asking me again, should you?"

Mira's heart sank, tears rolled down her eyes again. This was Kade's true intentions and like his mom said, he is one sick stubborn son of a bitch. 

Well, if he was stubborn, then that makes two of them. 

"No," she whispered, a sudden defiance rising within her. 

"What is that again, I don't seem to get that. I may have some dirt in my ears."

"Then read my lips. I said no. Kill me if you must, but you can fuck yourself off to hell."

Kade smiled, his smile as cold as ice.

"We'll see about that."

He rose straight, his eyes narrowing with a hint of anger. 

"I have waited five days for this crap. You have 24 hours to decide. After that, I will make my decision." 

With that, he turned and left, leaving Mira feeling trapped and vulnerable. The entourage filed out.

The door locked with an ominous click, sealing her fate for the time being. 

As the silence enveloped her, Mira's resolve hardened. She will not cower, she won't break, she will find a way to escape, no matter the cost.

With this newfound determination, Mira began to craft a new plan, she rose and scanned her surroundings for anything. She paced like a man whose wife is in labour chatting to herself as if she had gone bananas. 

There must be something she was not looking out for. A simple piece of information that can help her cause. She cannot break and help the man who ruined her family. Her father will never forgive her for that. She must find a way. 

But which way? 

The game had only begun.