CHAPTER NINETEEN: WELCOME TO HELL.

The car ride to Dominique's mansion was draped in silence. Dominique, engrossed in his iPad, rhythmically tapped away while Kalina leaned her head on the smooth, cold window, lost in her thoughts. The attempt to reach Aiden left her frustrated, questioning whether he had seen the news and why he hadn't called.

A deep sigh escaped her, prompting Dominique to turn his attention toward her contemplative expression. Transported back ten minutes, he vividly recalled the confrontation about the new phone provided by Liam.

"This isn't my phone," Kalina glared at him, her fiery spirit undiminished.

"Well, at least you're well fed and have the energy to fight me," Dominique retorted. Undeterred, Kalina responded, "I told you I didn't want a new phone."

Dominique, his patience wearing thin, snapped, "Well, your old one was broken, and I had Liam transfer your data to a new one. You're welcome, you ungrateful brat." He then asked, "Are you coming?" before walking out of his office, not waiting for her response.

Kalina felt a twinge of guilt for her apparent ingratitude as she watched Dominique's rigid posture, his back turned towards her as he walked away. She knew she had a tendency to overreact, especially when it came to him, but she couldn't help it. He always seemed to push her buttons in a way that no one else could.

She tried to form an apology, her lips parting as she searched for the right words. But nothing came out. Her throat felt tight, and she found herself at a loss for words, a rare occurrence for someone who usually had no trouble speaking her mind.

As Dominique continued to walk ahead, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, Kalina trailed behind him, her shoulders slumped in defeat. Her eyes were downcast, avoiding his gaze, and her hands fidgeted nervously at her sides. She felt small and insignificant, regret weighing heavily on her chest.

She wished she knew how to make things right, but for now, all she could do was trail behind him in silence.

Dominique, weary of Kalina's spirited resistance, decided to retreat into his work, seeking solace in the virtual realm of business on his iPad. The weight of the day's events lingered in the air as the car continued its journey.

In the front seat, Liam's eyes flickered between the stern profile of his boss and the contemplative redhead through the rearview mirror. It was an unusual moment of quiet, a temporary ceasefire in their ongoing verbal sparring.

The sleek black car glided smoothly along the winding road, the only sound being the low hum of the engine. Kalina, with wide eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

The dense woods enveloped them, a sea of towering trees stretching endlessly. Kalina gaze fixated on the forest outside, the subtle tension in the car, however, was shattered when Kalina, known for her unpredictability, broke the silence with a question that hung in the air like the mist surrounding them.

Liam, caught off guard, stared at them through the rearview mirror. This unexpected twist in their dynamic surprised him, and he found himself choking on the air as Kalina's words sliced through the quiet atmosphere.

"Is this the part where you take me into the woods and chop off my head?" she asked, her eyes scanning the tall trees they had been passing for the past twenty minutes. The unexpected statement caught Dominique off guard, his head snapping towards her with a speed that seemed almost unnatural, his expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.

He had always wondered about the workings of her mind, but now that she voiced a fraction of those thoughts, a hint of fear crept into Dominique's eyes. The unknown depths of her contemplations left him uneasy.

"You know, nobody would dare suspect you," she rambled on, her words carrying a tone of casual analysis. "Well, Lisa did see me leave with you, but I'm sure you can threaten her into secrecy. And Liam is your trusted bodyguard, right? So I guess he too probably has sworn an ormeta."

Liam's only reaction to her statement was a raised brow which none of them noticed.

Dominique, eyebrows furrowed, pondered her words. The absurdity of her assumptions momentarily amused him. "Ormeta?" he mused, recognizing the mafia term for 'secrecy.' What kind of person did she really think he was? What has she heard about him?

As the car continued its journey through the secluded woods, Kalina's confusion grew. "We've been driving past just trees for the past twenty minutes. Unless you're taking me to the woods to kill me, what kind of person would want to live away from civilization?" she asked, genuine confusion etched across her features.

She, a person accustomed to happiness and selling flowers, wasn't used to solitude. Unfortunately for her, Dominique was a master of it.

"Or you could just be taking me to your mansion and lock me up in a secret basement or dungeon known only to you and Liam," Kalina blurted out, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm but also genuine concern.

Dominique felt the beginnings of a headache pulsating at his temples, a familiar sensation that seemed to accompany any interaction with Kalina. He glanced at her, his eyes narrowing slightly, trying to decipher whether she was genuinely afraid or simply teasing him again.

Meanwhile, Liam, sitting in the driver's seat, couldn't help but suppress a smirk. The drama unfolding in the backseat was amusing to him, a welcome distraction from the monotony of the drive.

"Why do you live so far from civilization though? It's screaming serial killer if you ask me," Kalina continued, her voice wavering slightly as she glanced out of the window at the dense forest that bordered the road.

Dominique sighed, his fingers gripping the armrests a bit tighter. He shot a quick glance at Kalina, trying to maintain a neutral expression, but the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Listen, I already agreed to this marriage, so there's absolutely no need for violence, okay?" Kalina rambled on, her hands gesturing animatedly as she tried to lighten the mood with a nervous laugh.

Dominique felt a surge of irritation, the temptation to toss her out of the moving vehicle was almost overwhelming. He couldn't comprehend how someone who appeared so angelic could have such a dark and twisted imagination. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, and focused his attention back on the device on his hand.

Alas Kalina wouldn't let it be. She opened her mouth to talk again but Dominique noticing from his side eyes and having had enough of her incessant rambling interrupted her.

"Please stop talking," he uttered in frustration, running his palm down his face.

Just then, the car pulled in front of a giant black gate, a watchtower standing tall beside it. Kalina, about to voice another question, was left in shock as a sensor attached to the gate scanned the car, and with a soft hum, the gate opened on its own. The car drove through, leaving Kalina in awe of the mysterious entrance to Dominique's mansion.

The black glass mansion loomed on the horizon, a sleek and modern fortress nestled amidst the dense woods. As Kalina's gaze fixated on the architectural marvel, a breath escaped her in a whispered "whoa."

The mansion stood as a testament to Dominique's opulence and taste. Its dark exterior seamlessly blended with the surrounding woods, creating an air of mystery and sophistication. The glass panels, reflecting the play of sunlight, added an ethereal touch, giving the mansion an otherworldly quality.

A waterfall cascaded gracefully on one side of the mansion, its soothing sound echoing through the air. The water glittered in the sunlight, providing a stark yet captivating contrast to the mansion's dark facade.

The long driveway leading to the mansion was flanked by a meticulously maintained maze of black roses. The thorny elegance of the roses mirrored Dominique's enigmatic persona, creating an alluring pathway that led to the heart of the estate.

At a discreet corner stood the staff quarters, designed with a subtle blend of luxury and functionality. This area ensured privacy for the mansion's inhabitants while accommodating the dedicated staff attending to the needs of the brooding billionaire.

The entire scene painted a picture of an imposing residence, fit for a man of Dominique's stature. The combination of modern architecture, natural elements, and carefully crafted landscaping conveyed an atmosphere of both power and seclusion, perfectly befitting the brooding billionaire and his enigmatic world.

Kalina's voice, barely audible, cut through the awe-inspired silence as she gazed upon the imposing black glass mansion. "If this is what hell looks like, then I don't mind living with the devil," she muttered, the words hanging in the air, a mixture of fascination and resignation tinting her tone. The mansion, with its mysterious allure and brooding atmosphere, had left an indelible impression on her, both captivating and unsettling in its grandeur.