Getting an invite to one of the charity houses belonging to Miss Anabella’s charity was comically easy...but only because I had Damian’s support.
Easy enough that it almost felt wrong, like the world itself wanted us here for a reason.
All he needed to do was send a message to the director of this place and do it by legal means and the doors were opened for him and me to arrive there.
His name alone reshaped reality — and I couldn’t forget that even for a second.
The charity place was well-established and had clean walls that welcomed us in. The place also looked well–maintained and did not seem to lack for much. We even got a dedicated guide to show us around the place.
Too pristine and polished. Like a stage prepared for an audience they were nervous to impress.
The kids we passed were a little shy and refused to look at us as they walked past us, but they generally looked healthy and had decent color on their faces. Everything looked...a little too perfect which raised warning bells in my mind.
Children shouldn’t be this uniform. Fear shouldn’t be this well hidden.
’Is there...really nothing to look for here? Somehow, it does not feel like that...’
My instincts never stayed silent when danger lurked, and right now they were screaming.
I controlled my shiver as I looked around. But once more, things did not magically change to become ugly. The only thing that changed as we kept walking was the way Damian’s arms tightened around my middle.
Protective... possessive... grounding. A silent warning to anyone watching that I was not to be touched.
"Ahmmm, if you would like, then I can show you the cafeteria...
Our guide asked us as she led us around. Her eyes looked at the place where Damian was holding me with intense jealousy.
She wanted him — not subtly, not politely, but desperately.
Her eyes threatened to burn me but when she looked at Damian, her eyes softened and got an almost wistful look in them that I did my best to ignore.
Wishful, hungry, delusional — as if she had already imagined replacing me.
"There is no need to show us the cafeteria. I would like to see the director now."
I told the female guide and her face became red. She was likely getting both angry and annoyed with me.
’Good. Let her be angry. Let her understand her place.’
"Please understand that the director is busy at the moment. But if you want, you can wait for him outside his room. I can show Mr. Black around alone..."
The female glanced at Damian with hooded eyes, clearly shooting him signs to pay attention to her. She also bowed in a way that would put more volume in her chest area as she neared Damian.
A pathetic performance. But dangerous all the same — women like her didn’t care who they had to step on.
Her intention was rather clear—she wanted to separate Damian from me so that she could get her chance at seducing Damian.
The very thought of this caused me to frown. I felt jealousy burn inside me as I thought about Damian standing by someone else’s side, supporting them instead of me. The image alone was enough to make my fingers twitch with the urge to claw.
If Damian ever decided to betray me, then I would be done for. I could not loosen my hold on him...Not now. Not ever.
"I am sorry, but we both are here together and we both need to see the director."
I told our guide, emphasising on the term we to make her understand that we were a bundle deal. But the guide was either too thick to get our words or she ignored the message I was trying to send her (likely the latter).
She thought I was temporary. She thought she could replace me. Idiot.
"Hmm, sounds like a you problem. Besides, Mr. Black has not said a word by now. It seems he’s much more interested in this tour compared to you, honey. Maybe you should really leave him alone—"
She truly believed she was winning.
"And why would you suggest that? I have no intention of leaving my fiance alone."
Damian finally spoke up but he kept his voice light and airy. He was speaking calmly but somehow, his words sent a shiver up even my spine.
The kind of calm that hides danger — the kind that makes people disappear.
Our guide looked shocked and shivered just a little. She also quickly changed her tone once she realized that Damian was on my side and likely would remain on my side.
Her confidence cracked. Good. She should be afraid.
"Of course. Miss, you wanted to see the director? Please wait a minute and I will try to contact him on your behalf."
The female told me before she took us to the guest room and told us to sit down while she went and got her boss’s attention.
I took my seat and Damian quickly sat beside me as well. He looked bored but decided to speak once he noticed that I was paying attention to him. His arm brushed mine — casual, meaningless to anyone watching, but I felt it everywhere.
"What do you think about this place?"
Damian finally asked me and by the tone of his voice, I could tell that he was finding this off-putting as well. I decided that there was no point in hiding what I felt from this place from him.
We were aligned — and that was more intoxicating than it should have been.
"There is something off-putting about this place. It feels...too clean. At least, it looks too clean at first glance."
I told Damian and he nodded.
Our doubts fed into each other perfectly.
"You are right. I am certain that this place has some massive secret. You develop a...sixth sense for these kinds of things. I am sure I do not need to tell you more about it, right?"
Those words brought me back to my senses and made me realize once more that Damian and I lived in vastly different worlds. Still, we were together this time, and I was going to pull my weight.
Different worlds, same battlefield — and somehow, we made sense.
The guide came back and she looked flustered. She tried to hide her nervousness before she faced us.
Her makeup couldn’t hide fear — she knew something was coming.
"I had talked with the director and he has agreed to welcome you. Please follow after me and also leave your phone and purse behind. For the director and kids’ safety, taking anything beyond this point is not permitted."
The female guide told us and I felt alarm bells ring in my mind. Damian likely had a similar experience because he gave me a small nod to follow along.
We were walking into a trap — and neither of us was turning back.
We deposited our devices near the front door before we entered any further. So far, things had been pretty normal for us and we finally reached the director’s room.
Too normal — the calm before the drop.
"Before we enter, I would like to make a general plea to you both. Whatever you see inside or whatever happens, please do not hold it against the kids or the orphanage. This is our only means of survival and we won’t be. Please consider that when you make a decision about our fate."
The guide told us before she opened the door for us.
And with that warning... the real show finally began.