Chapter 3
Everly
The weight of my decision settles upon me as I pack a small bag. I hadn't thought a year of submission meant moving in with Xavier, but here I am. A black car arrives to whisk me away, and my stomach clenches with a knot of unease. As we drive, I clutch the worn strap of my bag, a tangible reminder of my old life.
After a while, the car pulls up a long, winding drive, revealing Xavier's home. It's an imposing structure of glass and steel, a modern fortress perched atop a hill. I can't help but contrast it with my childhood home. Where there were soft edges and warm hues, this building screams hard lines and cool greys.
I take a deep breath as the driver opens my door and then follows me to the entrance. At the front, a woman with black hair and a tailored uniform greets me. She's wearing a grey dress with a modest collar, and her posture is rigid.
"Miss Fields, Mr. Ravenwood is expecting you." Her voice is even, professional.
She leads me inside to a vast space where other women, each clad in the same uniform, continue working. Their faces show a mixture of curiosity and a detached professionalism.
The place is grand, almost overwhelming. The foyer is a massive open room, stretching up two stories where sunlight pours through skylights. It's a world away from the cozy home I shared with my family, and the difference sends a shiver through me.
I don't belong here.
Xavier appears, commanding attention. He moves with a quiet grace, a predatory energy that makes my breath catch.
"Welcome, Everly," he says, his voice a low rumble that sends a strange thrill through me. He gestures to the uniformed women. "These women are my staff. They'll see to your needs." Then, he turns back to me. "Come, I'll give you a brief tour."
Xavier leads me through the main floor. It's all sharp edges and expensive furniture. We make stops in the vast living area, a game room packed with high-end equipment, and a kitchen that would put a restaurant to shame.
"The second floor is my personal space," he says, his voice firm, “I'm sure you'll understand we won't go up there now." He doesn’t look at me as he speaks, leading us back toward the foyer.
My unease grows with each step, the subtle signs of his lifestyle and control a constant reminder of my current situation.
Xavier takes me to a smaller lounge, where three women are seated. They turn, their eyes locked on me. One has black, curly hair, dressed in a tiny red dress. Another, a platinum blonde with a sharp bob, is clad in a severe black dress. The third has fiery red hair, and she's rocking black leather pants and a tank top. Their styles are so different from the modest clothing I'm wearing that it's almost hard to look at them.
"Everly, this is Lila, Winter, and Sable," Xavier says, his gaze flicking between them. "They are among the women living in my home."
Lila’s gaze is playful, almost predatory, a smirk playing on her lips. Winter’s blue eyes are like chips of ice, her expression impassive. Sable's hazel eyes carry a sharp caution, her posture tense. My stomach twists with nervousness and something else.
These women are beautiful.
“So this is the new girl,” Lila says, her voice carrying a teasing lilt as she rises from her seat. "I'm Lila. Pleasure to meet you.” She doesn't offer a hand, instead giving me a once over with a playful grin that somehow makes me feel naked.
Winter nods curtly. "Welcome." Her tone carries a hint of something I can't quite place.
Sable just gives me a half-scowl.
Xavier watches us, his face blank as he addresses them. “Treat Everly with respect, or face the consequences," he says, his voice holding a steely quality. His eyes drift to Lila, who barely contains a snicker.
His words seem to have little impact on Lila as she takes a step closer to me, her eyes like emeralds.
"Consequences? Oh, Xavier," she drawls, her hand smoothing down my arm, sending a strange shiver through me. "You make it sound like they'll be bad." Her grin widens, flashing white teeth.
Xavier's mouth tightens, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. “Lila," he warns, his tone low.
"What?" Lila asks, innocently blinking at him. "Just showing our guest a welcoming hand." She turns back to me. "Don't you find Xavier's threats a little dramatic, Everly? I sure do.”
Winter’s expression doesn't change, though her hand tightens on her knee. Sable's jaw ticks, her body taut with unease at the exchange. I keep silent, unsure how to navigate their dynamic. I feel completely out of my depth and, if I'm honest, a bit afraid.
Xavier steps closer to Lila, his nearness causing her to take a step back. Not submissive, but cautious, perhaps.
"You should know better than to test me." His tone is dangerously quiet, a warning wrapped in silk.
"Testing you?" Lila laughs, a throaty sound. "I'd never. I just enjoy a little…playfulness. Isn't that what you like, Xavier?" She gives him a pointed look.
I shift, uncomfortable at the undercurrent of their interaction. All this feels like a show, and I'm unsure what role I play in it. I’d never seen anything like this in my life. My hand feels for the worn strap of my bag, the familiar texture a small comfort in the tension-thick room.
"Enough," Xavier says, his voice firm, ending the banter. He turns to me, his expression softening slightly. "Come. I'll have someone show you to your room."
I nod. It takes everything I've got to make eye contact with him. His eyes hold mine in an unnerving manner, as if examining me. He doesn’t say anything else. As we exit the room, he nods to one of the women outside the door. Then he's walking off somewhere.
"This way, Miss Fields," the woman says.
I follow her, leaving Lila, Winter, and Sable in the lounge. We go down a set of stairs, heading toward the west side of the lower floor of the mansion. As we move down a hallway, she points out various doors and says who occupies them—one of the three women I just met. Then we stop before a closed door near the end.
"This is the dungeon. Only enter this room when Xavier instructs you to," the woman explains.
I can't tell what's beyond the door just by the look on her face. After I nod, acknowledging her instruction, she takes me back the way we came to one of the door's we first passed.
"This is your room. If you have need of me, just press the button by the door." She bows her head before leaving.
I step inside, taking a moment to look around. The walls are a soft grey, and the bed has white linens, not very different from my room back home. It's nice, though.
Without anything else to do but settle in, I shrug off my bag, My hands tremble as I open it. My worn journal settles into my palm as I pull it out, a small thread of home in this strange place. I set it carefully on the bedside table, its worn leather looking out of place amid the sleek surfaces of the room. A picture of Talon peeks out from the side pocket. My heart aches at the sight of his goofy grin. He's why I'm here.
I wish he didn't ask me to take responsibility for him.
I remove a couple of changes of clothes, placing them in the drawers of the dresser, then zip it back up and tuck it into the closet.
This is all so odd.
The interaction with the women downstairs replays in my mind. Lila, so bold and teasing; Winter, her cool exterior barely concealing her sharp gaze; and Sable, with her contained anger. Do they hate me already? The way Lila looked at me felt like a violation. What does she want? A shudder runs through me from the memory. I smooth my hands over the skirt of my dress, trying to calm my racing pulse.
What do they think of me? I'm nothing like them.
Xavier's words come back to me. Treat Everly with respect, or face the consequences. A strange mix of fear and anticipation bubbles in my chest. It shouldn't excite me, that word. Why is it so enticing? He hadn't looked at me the way he looked at Lila, though. What could that mean? Or was I overthinking everything?
I sit on the edge of the bed, my eyes traveling to the small window. A sliver of the city is visible, a distant world from this self-imposed prison. What will Max think? If he knew where I was, he’d be disgusted. He wouldn't understand what I’ve done. I imagine his kind brown eyes widening in concern, his gentle smile replaced with confusion. The thought sends a wave of shame through me.
I will not let him find out.
My old life feels so far away now, and my year has barely begun. I remember the scent of old books in the charity shop, the gentle buzz of conversation as I helped people who truly needed support.
I lie back in bed, flat on my back and stare at the ceiling, letting these thoughts wrap around me.
Later that evening, after doing anything I could—arranging, rearranging—I remain restless. This personal space of mine, it's opulent, more impressive than any home I’ve ever known. But I feel suffocated instead of comforted. The plush fabrics and expensive décor do nothing to ease the knot of tension in my stomach. Unable to stay put, I find myself leaving and wandering through the silent hall, up the steps to the main floor, my steps hesitant.
I stumble into the main living area, where I find Xavier sitting in the dark. He’s watching the city lights, a glass of some dark liquid nearby.
"Can't sleep?" he asks, his voice low, not looking at me. I wonder if he even knows it's me.
"No," I admit, embarrassed that he caught me roaming around.
He turns, his green eyes catching the light. "It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" he says, the corner of his mouth lifting into a half-smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.
“Yes,” I mumble, glancing around the room.
"I know that you found it hard accepting this," he says as he picks up the glass, swirling the contents. "But I hope you'll find that it's a place where you can be safe, without any worries."
His words offer a strange comfort, a twisted promise that wraps around me, yet they also unnerve me, prickling my skin with a sense of unease. I don’t need to be safe with him. I’ve never needed this kind of safety. But wouldn’t Xavier also seek to control me with that very safety? If he has ultimate power here, he'll want to control the way I feel, how I move. This feels like a trap, a gilded cage made of whispered assurances and promises that may not be worth their weight. A shudder goes through me at the thought of being completely in his grasp. I can't quite parse what he wants and that makes him feel more dangerous than any outright threat.
“I’ll try,” I whisper as I back out of the room. There's no way I can roam freely now. It's like he's a silent threat, warning me against doing anything he wouldn't want me to do.
Besides, I don't want to find out what consequences he might have in store for me.
Back in my room, I flick off the lights and slide under the crisp covers. I pull the comforter up to my chin, my thoughts running a mile a minute. Fear, curiosity, and a strange sense of excitement battle within me.
What is this year going to be like with Xavier, Lila, Winter, and Sable?