Chapter 3 - The Gilded Cage
The penthouse was a fortress of glass, steel, and breathtaking luxury.
My new life began in a whirlwind of designer clothes, private chefs, and security details.
I was given a suite that was larger than the entire apartment building I used to live in.
Maya had a nursery filled with organic toys, silk crib sheets, and a dedicated security guard stationed outside her door.
My job was to manage Victor's legitimate business fronts, organizing his chaotic schedule.
I quickly learned that the "monster" the city feared was a man of intense discipline and quiet intelligence.
He never raised his voice, yet his commands were followed with absolute, terrified obedience.
Despite his terrifying reputation, he always made time to visit the nursery.
I would often find him sitting in the rocking chair, reading complex financial reports while Maya slept on his knee.
It was a baffling contradiction that confused my heart.
"Why are you so good to her?" I asked him one evening, watching him hand Maya a silver rattle.
Victor paused, a shadow crossing his sharp features.
"In my line of work, innocence is a myth," he replied softly.
"Looking at her reminds me that something pure still exists in this dark world."
I realized then that Victor was just as trapped in his gilded cage as I was.
May you like
He was entirely alone at the top of his empire.
And for some reason, he had chosen to let us in.
