Page 10 of Milo

Gripping my chest, my eyes flutter open slowly, cautiously. I crane my neck, my blurry vision starting to focus on the man hovering above me.

Oh, it wasn't a dream.

"Where am I?" I whisper, my throat dry, sore.

"Genova," Milo explains in a gentle tone. "In your room."

We're here? Already? I look around, barely able to register the regal decor, the lavish furniture, the dark aesthetic of my surrounding.

"My room?" I wipe the moisture off my forehead.

"Yes, your room…” He narrows his eyes, observing my every movement. "You were screaming, Kiara."

At least someone heard.

"I had a nightmare.” I prop myself against the headboard. "How did I get here? Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"

"I tried but you were unresponsive. Perhaps I gave you too much. I will adjust accordingly," he says, almost apologetically. He pauses before adding, "It is Friday morning."

I blink. "What?"

"You slept for eighteen hours. I was almost worried you were in a coma."

"Well, you're the one who drugged me.” A cough escapes my lungs. "Your fault."

"Perhaps…” He scratches his gruff dark stubble. "You should take a shower now. All the belongings you requested are in the closet, plus some new clothing." His unreadable gaze sweeps across my body. "I had to guess your size, but I believe that everything should fit."

"You bought me clothes?" I ask with an unintentional scowl. "I could've done that myself."

"Not me personally," he smirks. "One of my assistants went shopping. Do not worry, she has great taste. Her name is Luisa, she is here to help you with anything you need."

"My own lady-in-waiting,” I sigh. "How exciting."

He ignores my sarcasm and gestures to the bathroom. "Go shower, Kiara. We have many things to discuss."

"I'm sure we do."

With a nod, Milo exits my room and I lazily slide out of the king-sized bed, banishing the flashes of my dream from my mind. It wasn't real. They're not real. Listlessly, I saunter toward the marble slabbed bathroom, slipping my clothes off with every step until my feet reach the heated tiles of the glass-encased shower.

Hot water spurts down my face, flowing down my breasts, my waist, washing away the emotional dirt that has rendered me lifeless. Scanning the various products stacked against the built-in shelves, I lather my hair and body in lavender-scented suds, the fragrance relaxing, soothing.

Just as I'm rinsing out my hair, a steady flashing of red light draws my attention to the corner of the bathroom.

Is that...?

Is that a fucking camera?

Chapter 4

Eyes of the Castle

With a white cotton towel wrapped around my body, I cross my arms, staring up at the security camera in the corner of the bathroom, fuming, utterly dismayed.

This motherfucker.

Thank God the toilet is situated behind a separate door otherwise, I would erupt with humiliation knowing that someone was watching me...go. Milo did say that I should get used to having no privacy but this?

This is unacceptable, improper, intolerable.

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