Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Unwanted attention.
Back at the headquarters in the middle of the night, Daniel finally got up. He had regained consciousness and was trying to see through his surroundings.
The first thing he captured was Adrian Valez sleeping on the couch, in the dim blue light.
Blinking and rubbing his eyes, he looked again—and truly, it was Adrian Valez.
Why was he on the couch, looking exactly like a husband whose wife had denied him dinner, which led to a fight and eventually landed him there?
Sitting up, Daniel placed his feet on the floor and tried to stand, but his body was so weak. Yesterday’s issue had taken a great toll on him, and that scene—the humiliation he went through—was something he wasn’t ever going to forgive.
That pain she caused Titania was just a glimpse of what he planned on doing in the future. If Daniel ever rose up, they would all watch their backs, because he would destroy them one after the other for daring to speak shit against him.
"What a demon of a man," Daniel hissed, glaring at the sleeping figure of Adrian. If only he could poison him now, strangle him in his sleep—that would be wonderful.
But he wasn’t foolish enough to make that fatal mistake. People like Adrian never slept with both eyes closed. And just as Daniel was about to tiptoe out of the room, Adrian confirmed his suspicions by raising his head.
"Where to, at this time of the night?" Adrian demanded, his eyes narrowing at Daniel’s figure.
"I don’t know, maybe ask that to your fiancée or wife," Daniel fired back, attempting to move. But a booming voice halted his steps at once, making him clench his fists in fury.
"Don’t you dare take a step, Daniel. Unless you want to spend a good time in the headquarters cell." Adrian’s tone was dead cold.
Daniel’s breath caught. Was his freedom to walk around snatched too? Did he, anywhere in the contract, sign such a thing?
Why was this unfortunate creature disturbing him so early?
"Did I miss signing anything like that? Because last I remember, I only agreed not to leave without your permission. So, is going outside to take a walk a crime now?" Daniel shot back, irritation dripping from his voice.
Something was wrong in this man’s head. From ignoring him completely at the dining table to now showering him with unwanted attention—what nonsense.
"I did write something about doing things without instructions being forbidden. And that applies strictly to you, Daniel. You’re not stepping a foot out of this room until I say so." Adrian’s voice cut like steel.
Then, with a dominant step, he came and stood directly before Daniel.
"You were injured. So sit your ass on that cozy bed and recover. Is that too much for you?" Adrian asked, eyes scanning Daniel’s face as if trying to gauge his reaction. But Daniel wasn’t responding. His mind was still replaying the dinner incident.
"You let your crew mock me," Daniel accused sharply. "They called me a whore, insulted me, slapped me. And you didn’t stop them. Even my dress was see-through—and you let it happen because you wanted to downgrade me, didn’t you?"
"Why don’t you have anything like humanity in you? I know you kill and you find solace in that, but we are humans—not machines, not equipment you can just use and dispose of whenever you feel like it!" Daniel yelled, his voice cracking with rage.
"It isn’t nice," he finally spat out.
Adrian kept his cool, allowing Daniel to vent. When it was over, he reached out and cupped Daniel’s chin, turning his face directly toward him. But Daniel slapped his hand away.
"Don’t do that. You don’t have the right to." He spat with venom.
Adrian’s face twitched. Then he stood up straight, tucking a hand into his pajama waistband.
"You all are nothing but machines to me. Tools. Equipment that can be disposed of at will. And you, Daniel, are no different." He finally dropped the bombshell.
Daniel staggered at the cruel statement. Him—Lancaster—reduced to equipment, something meant to be used and dumped? That was the worst he’d ever received.
"So because I try to make you into something, don’t get it into your head that you’re different from those pussy-ass humans out there." Adrian let out one of his degrading smiles, one that turned darker by the second.
"So see this as a favor, Daniel. Falling for me will do you good. It’ll make you the feared partner of Adrian Valez. Imagine the power that comes with that." Adrian chuckled.
Daniel’s fists clenched tighter, hatred burning deeper inside him.
Oh, how he wanted Adrian’s head—wanted it as a trophy to show the world that he had conquered Adrian Valez. Impossible, maybe, but he would do it.
"Rot in hell, beast. You’re nothing but a beast!" Daniel yelled.
Adrian’s palm suddenly covered his lips.
"Careful, Daniel. We don’t want the whole headquarters waking up because someone is a little mad." Adrian’s tone had turned flirtatious—one that only enraged Daniel further.
Who the hell told him to switch tones? Someone needed to remind him this wasn’t Fifty Shades of Grey or 365 Days. Nothing—absolutely nothing—would ever make Daniel fall for his abuser.
That was one messed-up fantasy.
"Keep your words to yourself. And keep your distance from me, for my peace of mind," Daniel snapped with finality, treating Adrian like some kind of contagious disease he refused to catch.
But Adrian wasn’t fazed. Instead, he slid his hand down Daniel’s lap, trailing upward, until Daniel gripped it tight.
"Stop this madness now!" Daniel commanded, their eyes locking in burning flames.
"You don’t like it yet. Don’t worry, Daniel. My hands will do wonders. I’ll make you cum to me and show daddy what a good bitch you are." Adrian demanded, before delivering a loud, scandalous spank to Daniel’s ass that echoed across the room.
Daniel’s body went ice cold at the action. Rage surged through him.
"You vile man! How dare you?" Daniel roared before firing a dangerous slap across Adrian’s face. The impact burned a huge red mark onto his cheek, stunning him momentarily.
And that wasn’t all—Daniel spat on Adrian, a thick bile of saliva raining down his face and chest.
"Fuck you, Adrian Valez. Fuck your generation."
With that, Daniel turned away and walked out of the room with steps so sharp, so sexy, they echoed down the staircase. He didn’t even take the elevator. He just wanted the walk.
Adrian roared with bubbling hatred, hurling a plastic chair across the room. It smashed into a nearby mirror, shattering it into pieces.
"Your body and soul are mine, Daniel—and nothing can change that." His eyes gleamed primal, beastly.
With dangerous steps, Adrian stormed out of the room, following closely behind.