Darling Villain (Forbidden Fruit #1)

Chapter 6

Tiffany

T ime seems to crawl by when you’re confined in a room with no entertainment or contact with the outside world. I stare blankly at the beige-colored ceiling.

The last twenty-four hours have been anything but uneventful.

Normally, I would enjoy a day in bed, reading my favorite book or binge-watching shows. But this time, there’s no connection to the outside world and the guard stationed outside the door. At least they gave me a comfortable bed to sleep on—almost as cozy as my back home, with soft white cotton sheets and fluffy pillows.

I don’t understand why I’m being treated so well, but I won’t complain. It’s certainly better than being thrown into a cold and dreary cell.

Despite the comforts of the bed, my mind is restless. It races in circles like a trapped animal, trying to come up with a plan of escape. But there’s nowhere for me to go without a weapon or knowledge of my location. And even if I managed to unlock the door somehow, the guards outside would stop me before I could escape.

The guard who brought me dinner and water didn’t look particularly cruel or gloating, but I still refused to eat or drink anything in fear of it being poisoned or drugged.

No matter how hard I try to remain calm, fear seeps into my thoughts. The idea of never seeing my sister again, of being imprisoned forever, terrifies me. As the night drags on and dawn approaches, I know my only hope for escape lies in talking to Adrien Leroy and trying to reason with him. Maybe he’ll see reason and release me once he realizes I have nothing to do with his evil schemes.

With a heavy sigh, I turn to my side and try to get some rest. Eventually, I’ll face Adrien, but for now, all I can do is hope for a swift resolution and my safe release.

By lunchtime, my last remnants of positivity are down the drain. I’m bored out of my mind, hungry, and I’m running out of patience.

To top it off, there’s still no sign of Adrien. According to the guards’ chatter in the hallway, he’s somewhere in the house. I can’t help but eavesdrop on their conversations; it’s amazing how much men talk despite the stereotype that says otherwise.

Just as I start feeling foolish for expecting Adrien to bother with me—why would my well-being and insignificant existence matter in the grand scheme of things to someone like Adrien Leroy?—that’s when he finally appears.

The sound of a key turning in the lock makes me tense up, and I quickly hop off the bed. My body is weak from lack of food and being stationary for so long, and I have to steady myself against the wall, my vision blurring momentarily.

When I regain my composure, I smooth out my dress and meet a pair of blue eyes.

They are cold and indifferent, but I see the same burning hunger beneath their icy surface. A hunger that sends a shiver down my spine and awakens a fire within me I never knew existed. His stare is like a touch, leaving a trail of heat wherever it lands on my skin.

My first instinct is to run and hide, but I force myself to hold his stare.

Oh God.

I forgot how much Adrien Leroy affects me. My knees tremble, and I fight against the shivers running down my spine.

Adrien takes a step forward, closing the door behind him.

“How are you, Miss Carter?” he asks nonchalantly, as if I’m not being held here against my will.

Not great , I think, suddenly feeling self-conscious about my messy hair and my wrinkled dress.

I’m sure I look like a disaster. It’s a silly thing to care about, but my appearance was always one of my shields, a way for me to control how others see me, but that is no longer the case.

“I would feel better if you let me go.”

Adrien smiles and enters the room, dominating the space with his tall frame. He is much taller than me, at least six-foot-two, and his white shirt perfectly accentuates his broad shoulders and muscular chest. His features are striking—sharp jawline, strong nose, and a hint of dark stubble. I feel tiny and insignificant next to him.

“Why would I do that?” His dark eyes watch me with idle interest, taking in every detail. His intense stare sears my body, licking at my skin, and making me feel almost naked.

Pushing down any feelings of desire or lust, I straighten my posture. Tonight, my anger will prevail. I will not be a pawn of my instincts when my dignity and principles are in jeopardy.

“What happened to my driver?” The question has been on my mind for hours. Poor Joel didn’t deserve to be kicked out of the car and left to fend for himself on the streets, or worse, captured by Adrien’s henchmen and subjected to torture.

“The driver?” Adrien tilts his head. “I can assure you that he’s safe and sound. No harm has come to him, except for a high dose of sedatives to put him to sleep. He was released on my orders and sent back home safely after we provided him with some initiative to keep silent about what happened. There was no need for him to get hurt.”

“Then what am I doing here?”

“You’re my guest.”

“Your guest?” I repeat, sarcasm dripping from my words. “Does that mean that I can leave whenever I want? Like most guests do?”

“Of course not.” His tone is dismissive, but he doesn’t offer any further explanation.

“Mr. Leroy, you brought me here against my will and now I’m asking you to release me. I’m sure you can imagine it is not a comfortable situation to be in,” I say, grinding my teeth.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to be patient.” He’s amused. What an asshole. “I don’t grant favors without reason.”

I take a deep breath. “And what reason do you have for holding me here?”

“I need you.” Adrien takes a step closer.

That sentence sets off all alarms in my head.

“For what?” Suspicion creeps into my voice. “What do you want from me?”

“I need your help with something,” Adrien says slowly, testing the waters. “Something important.”

“And this has something to do with my kidnapping?” It’s outrageous. He took me without my consent and now he’s trying to make it seem like it’s my fault?

“Yes.” He smiles. “We can help each other, you and I. I can use you and you can use me. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

I take a step backward to escape his overbearing presence. “Beneficial for whom? I don’t want to be a part of your schemes. I have nothing to offer you.”

“What are you playing at?” Adrien asks, gripping my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to meet his gaze.

I attempt to pull away, but he holds me firmly in place.

“Playing?” I don’t bother hiding my confusion. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

He’s too close, his breath hot against my face. Fear stops me from breathing and I tightly press my lips together.

“Don’t play games with me. Why did Carter send you to me with your findings? His own niece, completely unprotected and alone. What’s his plan?”

“I don’t know!” I snap, frustration and anger boiling inside of me.

His piercing gaze is suffocating, trapping me under its weight. I yank my head back, freeing myself from his touch.

Adrien chuckles. “Are you telling me you’re not part of his plan and he doesn’t even know you’re here?”

“Yes!” I exclaim, my voice bordering on hysterical.

“Why would you come to me on your own, then?”

Because I was desperate. Na?ve. Stupid. I didn’t realize the danger I was putting myself in.

I struggle to find the right words; I don’t trust Adrien with the truth. If I reveal I went behind my uncle’s back to meet him and uncover the truth about the Carter Corporation’s accounts, it could only make things worse for me. Adrien is cunning and manipulative; any information I give him could be used against me or my family.

I simply shrug, hoping that he’ll interpret my silence as cluelessness.

“You’re in over your head, angel.” Adrien sighs and takes another step, closing the space between us. He smells of expensive cologne, something spicy and illicit. It’s delicious and I can’t resist inhaling deeply.

Adrien is toying with me, trying to make me uncomfortable. A simmering anger and aggression is hiding just beneath the surface, waiting to erupt. But there’s also a hint of desire in his eyes, a hunger I feel drawn to.

That’s his weakness, I realize. He’s so used to getting what he wants that self-control is a foreign concept to him.

Adrien Leroy is as attracted to me as I am to him. Though it creates complications, I might use it to my benefit. If I play my cards right, I can get on his good side and find out what he wants. Then I’ll leave before he hurts me. After all, even the most hardened criminal would think twice before harming an object of such intense, visceral desire, right?

Of course, I must tread carefully. It’s a delicate balance—I have to be careful not to reveal too much, but also convince him I can be useful. Appearing sweet and innocent is my best strategy, a facade to lull Adrien into underestimating me.

Acting may not be my forte, but the plan is worth a try.

Feeling self-conscious, I reach up and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear with trembling fingers. “You’re right,” I whisper, looking at him through my lowered lashes. “I’m just so scared and starving. Is it possible that you could bring me something to eat?”

“Well, it’s your own fault, isn’t it?” Adrien eyes me warily. “You were offered food, but you refused to eat it.”

“I was unwell.”

“You’ll know better next time the guard comes with food.”

Gentle and docile, I nod, my eyes downcast.

“Good. Now, let’s get back to my previous question. Why are you here?”

“I already told you, I came on my own accord to see you. There’s no sinister motive. I don’t have an answer that will satisfy you.”

“Yes, you do,” he says confidently. “And we both know you’ll tell me, eventually. It’s just a matter of time.”

Adrien smiles at me and lightly brushes my cheek with the back of his fingers. His hand is strong and callused, rough and yet tender, his fingers cold against my skin. Something about the gentleness and sweetness of the gesture is very unsettling. Fake. But the skin-to-skin contact is as addicting as before. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. Warmth courses through my veins, heating my skin and making my heart race.

I try to fight against my body’s reaction to him, but I am powerless. I can’t look away from his dark eyes or stop the sinful thoughts flooding my mind.

Despite the fear and confusion, a part of me revels in the way Adrien makes me feel. I crave that feeling, to be consumed by him and lost in his darkness. It’s as if he was designed to make me react this way, to yearn for something I can never have.

How can a mere look from this monster of a man cause such a reaction in me? How does he make my heart race, my legs weak, and my body ache for his touch? How can I respond to him so readily and so intensely?

“I’m not sure what you want to hear.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “All I wanted was to figure out what’s going on and why my uncle is hiding things from me. I thought I’d be able to get some information out of you but look where it got me.”

“Why didn’t you just ask Dean?” His thumb still gently caresses my cheek. “Why all the secrecy?”

“Because he isn’t very forthcoming with information,” I admit. Truthful, but not too revealing.

Adrien stares at me for a long moment before moving his fingers away from my cheek and up to my disheveled curls. He reaches out and gently pushes a lock behind my ear. The gesture is so tender I want to flinch away from his touch. But I remain still, frozen, while he stares deep into my soul.

“If I find out you are lying to me, you won’t like the consequences.” His voice is low and menacing, so intense and commanding that I can’t help but shiver.

Fear and desire are battling inside me and I’m not sure which one will win. I fear this man, but I’m also captivated by him. He is dangerous, and I’m absolutely certain that he is playing the role of a perfect criminal and a madman, but he is also enigmatic and captivating.

I always loved a little bit of darkness in my life, no matter how much I denied that part of myself.

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of danger and the forbidden.

“Can you tell me why I’m here?” I ask again, ignoring the warning in his words and the alarming thoughts in my head.

“Because you acted like a stupid, impulsive child. And now I’m going to use you in my plan.”

“Against my uncle?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t force me to do anything.”

“I have no intention of forcing you.” Adrien’s eyes glint with amusement. “You will do as I say on your own.”

“Like hell, I will,” I whisper, horrified by the realization that he has me exactly where he wants—trapped here with no one to help me.

“Oh well, we’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?” He smirks. “I’m sure I can make you agree with me.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. “Does my uncle know that I’m here? That you kidnapped me?”

“Not yet,” he says, seriousness replacing the amusement in his eyes. “He’ll find out when I want him to find out.”

“He will come looking for me.”

Adrien can’t keep me hidden here forever without someone noticing my disappearance.

“You overestimate how much your uncle cares about your disappearance. Do you think he’s going to send a search party out for you? He won’t lift a finger.”

“You don’t know that. You don’t know him like I do.”

“Maybe you’re right,” his voice drips with sarcasm. “Perhaps Dean will suddenly become the loving and concerned guardian you hope he is. Or maybe he will celebrate getting rid of the only thing standing in his way of taking over the Carter Corporation permanently. The only legitimate heiress to the family’s empire.”

My uncle has always been too stern, too distant, to be the father figure Olivia and I needed. And yet I had always clung to the hope that behind his stern exterior lays a man who truly cares for me, who would do anything to protect me. But even if there was a hint of truth in Adrien’s words, my older sister would come looking for me. Despite being caught up with wedding planning and our recent distance, Olivia will eventually notice my absence. My sister, with her fierce loyalty and unwavering determination, will stop at nothing to find me.

“Even if my uncle doesn’t care, Olivia will find me. She won’t rest until I’m safe and back with her.”

“Your sister won’t find you, not until I’m ready for her to find you. You underestimate the lengths I’m willing to go to keep you hidden, to keep you all to myself. But you can make both of our lives easier by playing along and answering my questions honestly. Just be a good girl and you’ll be out of here in no time.”

“Good girl, huh?” I scoff at his words. “And you will play the role of the charming and infallible villain, I suppose? Is that what this is all about? Some twisted role play?”

Adrien’s eyes darken at my defiant words, a muscle in his jaw twitching. For a moment, I fear I’ve pushed him too far. But then his lips curl into a predatory smile.

“I can play the villain if that’s what you want. But I think you’ll find I’m far more complex than that, angel.” He takes another step closer, invading my personal space. I back up instinctively until I feel the wall behind me. Adrien places his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. “You do not know what I’m capable of,” he whispers against my ear. “The things I could do to you...”

A shiver runs through me—fear or desire, I’m not sure. Probably both. My heart pounds as Adrien’s intense gaze rakes over me.

“But that’s not what this is about,” he continues. “This is about getting answers. And you’re going to give them to me.”

“Well, guess what? I’ve never been one to follow orders blindly,” I retort, summoning every ounce of defiance I can muster. There goes my act of meekness, but I refuse to cower before this man. “I won’t be intimidated by you, Adrien. I don’t care how dangerous you think you are. I will find a way out of here, and when I do, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you’ve done.”

“Oh, you are feisty, aren’t you?” he murmurs softly, almost admiringly. “I like that. It makes things more... interesting.” He leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. “But make no mistake, little one. Your defiance, as charming as it is, won’t save you. You’re in my world now, and here, I make the rules.”

I swallow hard. “And what exactly are these rules of yours?”

Adrien pulls back, his eyes roaming over my face. “Rule number one: honesty. I want the truth from you, always. Lie to me, and there will be consequences.”

With that ominous warning, he straightens up and takes a step back. We stand there in silence for a few seconds, the air between us electric with tension. The battle lines have been drawn, and neither of us is willing to back down.

“Honesty is a two-way street,” I say. “Honesty from you will get you honest answers from me.”

“Honesty can unravel everything you thought you knew,” Adrien replies cryptically. “Are you sure you’re ready to face the consequences of what it might uncover?”

“I’m willing to take that risk. I want to know why you’ve brought me here and what your plan is.”

When Adrien studies me, I sense his internal struggle—his desire for control clashing with a faint glimmer of something gentler beneath his hardened shell.

Finally, he lets out a resigned sigh. “Very well. Tomorrow, we will talk. But for now, I suggest you get some rest. You look like you could use it. Don’t worry, no one will come in. You’re safe.”

“And why should I trust you? Why should I believe anything you say?”

His expression softens even more, his features losing some of their sharpness. “You shouldn’t, but right now, you have little choice. Trust me when I say that the truth I have to share with you is far more complicated than you can imagine.”

Against my better judgment, a small ember of curiosity ignites within me. The allure of the unknown, of unraveling a web of secrets and lies, beckons me forward.

“Fine,” I concede cautiously. “Tomorrow then. But I won’t be easily swayed by your charm or manipulation.”

A ghost of a smile graces his lips. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

Moments later, I hear Adrien’s muffled voice issuing orders to the guard outside.

“Keep an eye on Miss Carter and bring her some food. Let me know when she finishes eating. No one can enter without my permission.”

The guard must have agreed because I hear Adrien’s footsteps fading away.

The room falls silent.

And then it dawns on me.

He ordered food for me because I asked nicely and batted my eyelashes.

Someone is easily swayed by a woman in distres s, I think to myself, both amused and frustrated.

Inadvertently, Adrien has given me some power over him. Perhaps he isn’t as untouchable as he portrays himself to be.

I settle onto the edge of the bed, relishing in this tiny victory. But as the adrenaline from confronting Adrien wears off, weariness seeps into my body, making me feel heavy and drained. It’s been days since I last slept peacefully, without fear or uncertainty plaguing my mind.

Food first.

After all, I have worked up quite an appetite.