Chapter 4 Untitled Chapter
Kylie stood in front of Roberto’s desk, her hands clasped tightly together.
“What did you say you wanted, Kylie?” Roberto asked without looking up.
Her eyes darted toward Skyler and Bash, who sat quietly at the far end of the study.
“I’d like to speak with you alone.”
Roberto finally looked up at her.
Then he shot a brief glance at the two men before returning to the notepad he had been writing on.
“Say whatever you have to say now.”
Kylie swallowed hard.
“I…I just want to let you know that I love you.”
The words hung in the air. Roberto slowly placed the pen down and leaned back in his chair. His gaze was cold.
“I know.”
Kylie’s eyes widened slightly.
“You… you knew?”
“Of course.”
Her voice trembled.
“Then why do you act like it means nothing?”
Roberto laced his hands together.“Because it doesn't mean anything.”
Kylie forgot to breathe for a second.
“You can’t say that,” she whispered. “You know what we had.”
“What we had,” he said flatly.“Was nothing more than a rule.”
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest.
“I thought… maybe one day you’d feel the same.”
Roberto shook his head once.
“You’re being delusional.”
Tears burned in Kylie’s eyes.
“I’m serious, Roberto. Please… give me a chance.”
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Roberto spoke. His voice was cold and flat.
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Kylie stared at him in disbelief.
“For falling in love with you?” she whispered.
“For expecting love from me.”
His blue eyes turned icy.“You knew the rules.”
Her voice broke.“I thought I could change them.”
Roberto shook his head again.“That was your mistake.”
“I'm sorry,” she muttered in choked tears. “I know loving you wasn't part of the rule. I just couldn't help it.”
“The rule still stands, Kylie. You're leaving.”
Tears slid down her cheeks now.
“So that’s it?” she asked softly. “You’re just sending me away?”
“Yes.”
The word was sharp.
“We’re done, Kylie. There is no us anymore.”
But Rob…”
“It's Lucifer,” he cut her off. His expression was stern. “ It is high time you understood that I wanted one thing from you.”
“You wanted my love?” She asked softly.
A spark of foolish hope still burned within her.
“No,” Roberto said brutally. “ What I wanted from you at all cost was your unwavering loyalty. But you ruined it already.”
Kylie stood there frozen for a moment.
The last piece of hope inside her shattered.
“You make me hate you, Lucifer.”
Kylie turned away from the man she loved with all her heart and walked out of the study without looking back.
The door closed quietly behind her.
Bash let out a slow breath.
“Well… that wasn’t pleasant. You're one hell of a motherfucker.”
Skyler shook his head slightly.
“That girl loved you, Rob.”
Roberto simply picked up his pen again and returned to his notes, ignoring them.
The room went quiet.
He finished the line he was writing, capped the pen, and let his hand fall. For three seconds his gaze slid to the monitor on the desk.
Kendrix’s room. One dark shape curled under the blanket. The blanket twisted like she couldn't settle. He looked away and picked the pen back up.
Morning came too quiet, and Kendrix cursed under her breath. It shouldn't feel normal here but it did and she hated it.
It pissed her off more than anything.
Messy hair stuck to her cheeks as she sat up, staring at the room. For a second, her chest went tight. What if she couldn’t get out again? What if this was it? She shoved the thought down hard. Not going to let it scare her. Not this time.
“Still here,” she muttered, voice a bit rough. It never felt like her room back home.
Then her father's face flashed up. Selling her like she was nothing.
“Bastard,” she muttered. Not loud. Just enough to get it out.
Out of bed without hesitation, she grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe. A black shirt and pants. It looked simple but too expensive.
“Lucifer’s Collection,” she muttered with a scoff. “Whatever.”
Kendrix paused for a while and shook it off. It didn't matter right now. She walked to the door and listened. There was no sound from the hallway. It was quiet.
“Okay, this is getting annoying,” she said, and pushed the door open.
The hallway was hollow. There were no guards. No voices. Just that stupid golden light on the marble. She didn’t trust it. But she moved anyway. Slow at first , then faster. Her bare feet slapped gently on the floor. She wasn't running this time, just watching carefully. The downstairs was empty too. There was not a single person. That was wrong. Even she knew that. She stopped near the hall.
“Okay,” she muttered. “This is planned.”
She moved slowly near the main hall. Then she heard low voices behind a door that wasn't shut all the way. She froze and slowly moved closer and stood at a gap that was enough for her to listen.
“She saw part of it yesterday.”
Skyler's voice came from behind the door.
Kendrix's breath hitched.
Roberto answered.“She wasn’t supposed to.”
Skyler sighed. “You keep saying that.”
“You’re gonna have to tell her,” Bash said, quietly .
“About what?”
There was a long pause, then Roberto finally spoke.
“Not yet.”
Kendrix went still. Not yet what?
“You know she won’t stay calm forever, right?” Skyler said.
There was a little noise as the chair moved.
“I don’t need her to be calm,” Roberto said.
Kendrix’s hand tightened.
“Then what do you need?” Bash countered.
The silence stretched longer for a few moments.
“I needed her exactly as she is,” Roberto said.
Kendrix frowned. What the hell did that mean?
Skyler exhaled. “That doesn’t sound like debt anymore.”
That doesn't sound right. She stepped back, but it was too late. The door opened, and Roberto stood there. He was not surprised. Just looking at her like he knew.
Skyler stood behind him, not uttering a word.
“You’re listening at the doors now?” Roberto asked.
Kendrix straightened, defiant.“I heard my name.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
His voice wasn’t cold. It sounded irritated, and more different from before.
“What were you talking about?”
He didn’t answer right away. He hesitated before answering.
“Things you’re not ready to understand.”
Kendrix scoffed. “That’s your favorite line now.”
Something shifted in his face for a bit.
“Roberto…” Skyler started.
“Not now.”
He cut him off sharply. Then he softened and went back to normal.
Kendrix caught that and didn't like it. She stepped forward before she could stop herself. “No. You don't get to keep doing that.”
Roberto watched her.“Doing what?”
“Talking like I’m part of something I don't understand.”
Skyler looked uncomfortable, while Bash just looked blank.
“ Because you are.” Roberto's voice came out flat.
Kendrix went still for a moment, then she asked quietly.
“What does that mean?”
