Page 42 of Her Alien Owner

I wake with a start, the soft sheets tangled around my legs. Sunlight streams through the ornate windows, casting long shadows across Valen's opulent bedroom. My hand reaches out, seeking his warmth, but finds only cool, empty space.

"Valen?" I call out, my voice still thick with sleep.

No answer.

Sitting up, I scan the room. His clothes from last night are gone, the chair we... occupied... neatly pushed back into place. It's as if he was never here.

A knot forms in my stomach. Was I just another conquest? A distraction from his mysterious business dealings?

I slide out of bed, wincing at the slight soreness between my thighs – a reminder of our passionate night. As I gather my clothes, scattered across the floor, doubts creep in like a chill.

"Get it together, Ariana," I mutter to myself. "You're not some naive girl."

But aren't I? I barely know this man. Sure, he shared some of his past, but how much was truth and how much carefully crafted fiction?

I pause at the mirror, studying my reflection. My hair's a mess, lips slightly swollen from his kisses. I look... well, thoroughly ravished. But also lost.

"What does he really want from me?" I whisper to my reflection.

The woman staring back has no answers. Just more questions.

I dress quickly, my mind racing. Every tender word, every passionate touch – was it all just part of his game? Is this how he treats all his conquests?

"Stop it," I scold myself. "You don't know that."

But I don't know the opposite either. And that's the problem.

Are there other maids who have been in this position? Are they shaking their heads and silently pitying me? Why didn't they say anything? or worse, maybe they all leave or are fired once he sues them all up.

I march down the corridor, my footsteps echoing off the polished floors. My heart pounds as I approach Valen's study, a mix of determination and uncertainty churning in my gut. Without knocking, I push the door open.

Valen looks up from his desk, surprise flickering across his face before his usual composed mask slips back into place. "Ariana, I wasn't expecting you."

"Clearly," I say, my voice sharper than intended. "I woke up alone."

He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. "I apologize. There was urgent business I needed to attend to."

"More urgent than..." I trail off, unsure how to finish that sentence.

Valen stands, moving around his desk. "I hoped you'd enjoy a good breakfast. Did you eat?"

"That's not the point," I say, crossing my arms. "Valen, I... I have feelings for you. Strong ones. But I'm not sure what to do with them."

His green eyes soften slightly. "Ariana-"

"No, let me finish," I interrupt. "I need to know. Am I just some conquest to you? Another notch on your bedpost?"

Valen's jaw tightens. "Of course not. You mean more to me than that."

"Do I?" I challenge, searching his face for any sign of deception. "Because right now, I'm not entirely sure I believe you."

He takes a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You're not a conquest, Ariana. You're... important to me."

I want to believe him, but there's something in his tone, a slight hesitation that makes me doubt. "Important how, Valen? As an employee? A friend? Or something more?"

He doesn't answer immediately, and that silence speaks volumes. When he does speak, his words are careful, measured. "You're special, Ariana. What we have... it's unique."

It's not the reassurance I was hoping for. His words are nice, but they feel hollow, rehearsed. I take a step back, creating distance between us.

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