Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Disgraced and humiliated.
Marked by a heavy silence, the two clearly opposite figures walked side by side toward the elevator until they finally entered.
Slowly, Adrian pressed the button, and the lift began its ascent. Where they normally had dinner was at the highest floor of the penthouse.
The uncomfortable silence stretched on, and Daniel didn’t have the courage to speak this time. To say Adrian had just coldly murdered two men at the doorstep for no reason was enough to keep his mouth zipped shut.
"You’re not going to say anything about the men I killed at the doorstep?" Adrian’s steel-like voice broke through the silence.
Daniel didn’t move. He stood there like a statue, waiting for the elevator to beep so they could step out.
To say this was uncomfortable was an understatement. He was sweating abnormally—something that wasn’t like him—and this was only the beginning. After all, they’d be sharing a room together until God knew when.
"What do you want me to say? Praise you for killing those poor creatures?" Daniel retorted. His comment wasn’t as sharp as his usual ones, but it still carried his coded sarcasm.
Adrian saw through the gaslighting. Here he had expected gratitude, but instead Daniel indirectly insulted him.
"So you didn’t know they were watching you through the door hole, literally jerking off with the intention of breaking it down and having you?" Adrian broke the unexpected news, sending chills through Daniel, who twitched in displeasure.
Two grown men jerking off at his naked body? That couldn’t be possible—he had dressed beside the counter, making it impossible for them to see him naked.
Or was Adrian exaggerating again?
"I don’t believe that. I wasn’t dressing naked for everyone to see. And why does your door even have a hole in it?" Daniel threw the question back.
Adrian kept quiet, still watching Daniel’s body discreetly, his naughty thoughts getting the better of him.
"I guess it’s my fault then, for trying to keep you safe. And with that tone of yours, I can see you’re nothing but a stubborn goat." Adrian spelled out, making Daniel frown.
Who was he calling a goat? Before he could react, Adrian’s swift hand dragged him closer, forcing their mouths to nearly collide—but Daniel instantly blocked it with his palm.
That was not happening. He wasn’t going to kiss Adrian.
"Nice try, Adrian, but you’re not kissing me without my permission." Daniel deadpanned, his tone sharp enough to show how serious he was.
"When will you come to your senses? You’re my sex slave, and I can use you whenever I want." Adrian declared coldly, shoving Daniel hard against the wall. The impact sent pain through his back, nearly breaking his bones.
Why did he push him like that?
"After tonight, Daniel, I promise you these words will change. Either you beg me to fuck you, or you die of loneliness and rejection." Adrian proclaimed just as the elevator beeped.
Without glancing at him, Adrian strode forward into the hall. Daniel reached for his back, but the pain still lingered.
God, why was his life like this? Why did he end up with this monster?
Slowly, he limped after Adrian, not realizing that a sharp metal part of the wall had scratched deep into his back, leaving blood dripping unnoticed.
Reaching the hall, Daniel was stunned. A huge table stretched before him, lined with exotic dishes from end to end, and people were gathered all around.
Notable faces included those who had greeted Adrian when they first arrived at the headquarters. Greta and Gregor. And then, of course, the slutty redhead with the huge breasts—Titania—dressed in a revealing gown that flaunted her assets shamelessly.
Daniel’s eyes scanned the room for Isabella, but she was nowhere to be seen. By then, everyone’s gaze had already fallen on him—especially the group seated at the far end of the table. Their aura of superiority made him instantly deduce that they were Adrian’s family.
Holding his head high, Daniel walked forward. But the pain at his back tripled, and he staggered, quickly regaining his balance before resuming as if nothing had happened.
Greta’s eyes bored into him, flicking toward Adrian, who was openly feasting his gaze on Daniel’s clothes—which Greta noticed were a little too revealing.
"That whore..." Greta whispered to her brother.
"I’m going to kill him after this supper," she threatened, but Gregor placed his hand over hers.
"Don’t worry, sis. He needs an omega to marry to bear a child, and with your strong genes, who else would be more perfect?" Gregor whispered. Greta clenched her fists, fighting the urge to slap the whore and destroy his face. But that was fine. After supper, she would have her talk with him.
Oblivious to the death glares, Daniel made his way toward an empty seat—until someone deliberately set out a leg. He tripped and collapsed face-first into a bowl of soup, spilling it across the table and all over himself.
Stunned, Daniel froze, wishing the ground would open and swallow him whole. But the degrading part wasn’t the fall—it was the reaction of the penthouse inhabitants.
"You, boy! Aren’t you a slave? What are you doing here? To destroy our dinner is an unforgivable sin!" Rosalie roared. With a palm itching for violence, she delivered a stinging slap across Daniel’s face, sending him deeper into the soup.
Everyone stared at him differently, while Adrian—whom Daniel thought might defend him—just stood there watching with a cocky smile. And then Daniel remembered the promise Adrian had made. That he would "pay him back at supper."
So this was it? Humiliation as payback?
Matteo, his hand bandaged, scowled.
"Stop ruining our meal, you worthless servant. Serve us the food," Matteo ordered.
What?! Daniel, his clothes now drenched and stinking of soup, stood shakily.
"Sorry, but I am not a servant. I’m just staying with Adrian." He tried to explain, hoping to clear the misunderstanding and retreat to his room. But instead, the opposite happened.
Rosalie stood again, grabbed his hair, and flung his face against a pillar.
"You useless servant!" she yelled. The impact reopened his bandaged forehead, and blood dripped instantly.
"Worthless things like you deserve to be killed!" Rosalie ranted. Daniel gasped, caught off guard by the unexpected assault.
When her tirade ended, she calmly returned to her seat.
And then Adrian, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
"Let’s have supper before it gets cold." His voice was cold, and Daniel’s face flushed red with rage.
How dare him.
Greta was amused. Based on her observation, Adrian didn’t care about Daniel at all. So why had she been jealous of that whore?
"Oh Gregor, he’s really nothing. Such a pity... such beauty wasted," Greta laughed.
Others joined in the mockery. Titania relished in the suffering she had orchestrated. Cassian, Alex, and Cecilia shrugged and went on cutting through their roasted chicken.
Adrian suddenly interrupted the laughter.
"Young man, mind serving everyone their food? Not all of us can stretch our hands." The jab was aimed at Matteo and his disabled hands. Ricardo and Rosalie gritted their teeth at Adrian’s words, but said nothing.
Daniel’s anger boiled. Being called a sex slave was already enough. But to serve them food like a servant? Over his dead body.
"I am not your slave, Adrian! Enough of this worthless supper—I’m leaving. I didn’t come here for embarrassment." Daniel snapped, but before he could move, Adrian ordered.
"Cassian."
The blonde stood, delivered a heavy blow, and Daniel collapsed to the floor in agony.
"Ouch!" he cried, writhing in pain.
"When boss calls, you answer, you pathetic bitch." Cassian sneered, pulling out a whip from his pocket. He was about to strike when Adrian’s voice cut through.
"Stop, Cassian. Leave him."
Daniel was left there, bruised and humiliated. Greta seized her chance. She strutted like a queen, carrying a jug of cold water. Without hesitation, she emptied it all over Daniel’s body, drenching him.
"Now you finally realize what a bitch you are," she mocked, her malicious laughter echoing through the dining hall as others joined in.
Daniel’s clothes clung miserably to him, half-torn and drenched, leaving him half-naked under their wicked gazes—all because of Adrian Valez.