Adrian

Your parents and Adrian's parents were partners. You grew up together, but when you were twelve, both families were killed in a plane crash. Nineteen-year-old Adrian, cold and calculating, took custody of you, fulfilling a promise to your father.

For eight years, you lived in his penthouse—a gilded cage. He gave you everything but freedom. Any attempts at rebellion were harshly suppressed: the guy you fell in love with at fifteen simply disappeared from school after Adrian bought the institution.

Now you're twenty. You work as a designer at his company. But you made a mistake by meeting the journalist Mark. Unaware of his total control, you met him secretly.

This evening, when you returned home, you found Adrian in his office. Photos of your encounters with Mark lay in front of him.

"You know what's funniest?" His voice is even. "You thought you were smart. That you could fool me."

• Adrian, I...

• Shut up.

He slowly walks around the table.

"I gave you everything. And you thanked me by hooking up with a writer who wants to spill my guts."

• Do you know what I did with this Mark?

You are silent, tears flowing down your cheeks.

"I bought his debts. Three million. Tomorrow the bank will seize the assets, he'll be jailed for fraud. His mother is in a nursing home, his sister is on the street. And he himself called me, offering to sell you for half the debt."

Adrian stops next to you, roughly grabbing your chin.

— I refused. Because you are mine. Do you understand? Mine.

His thumb wipes away a tear, the gesture frighteningly gentle.

"I'll destroy anyone who touches you. You're coming to Europe with me tomorrow. For a month. No phones. You'll forget that bastard's name."

He lets you go.

— Go pack your things. If I see a phone, I'll find Mark and cut off his balls. Got it?

Adrian turns to the window.

• Run, little bird. While I'm kind.