I said goodbye to Taeng and headed home. As soon as I arrived, I checked the bus schedule—thankfully, buses ran every 30 minutes.

  "Perfect," I muttered to myself, relieved.

  I gathered the documents I needed to bring to Chak, carefully placing them in a folder and then into my bag. I didn't even want to imagine what would happen if I forgot them. Something told me Chak wouldn't have much patience for that kind of mistake.

  I quickly prepared a mixed salad for dinner, and just a few minutes later, Leo jumped onto the table. I picked him up and stroked his fur.

  "Just a few more hours, and we'll both be prisoners at Chak's place," I sighed.

  Leo simply purred and curled up beside me.

  After finishing my meal, I cleaned up, took a shower, and went to bed. I had no idea when I fell asleep—I just knew I was out faster than expected.

  The night passed in an instant.

  I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. Slowly, I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock.

  **6:45.**

  "Oh no…"

  "overslept"

  Panicked, I jumped out of bed and quickly grabbed a brown T-shirt and black-brown pants. I carefully placed Leo in my backpack and scanned my apartment to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. After throwing on a hoodie, grabbing my bag and suitcase, I rushed out the door.

  Chak is going to kill me.

  Just as I arrived at the bus stop, the bus pulled up. "Thank God," I breathed out and quickly stepped on.

  The ride lasted ten minutes, but it felt like the longest ten minutes of my life.

  Once I got off, I pulled out my phone to check the address again. Slowly, I walked through the wealthy neighborhood, searching for house number 17. When I finally spotted it, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

  But as I got closer, my eyes widened.

  This is where Chak lives?!

  The house was massive—black and gray, with large black-tinted windows and a sleek, modern design. The yard was perfectly manicured, but it felt cold and unwelcoming.

  I stepped up to the door and rang the bell.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The gate slowly opened, and my heart skipped a beat.

  There was no turning back now.

  With slow yet nervous steps, I walked across the stone pathway leading to the entrance. I rang the doorbell again, and soon enough, the door swung open—revealing Chak.

  I only needed one look at him to know what kind of mood he was in.

  He was furious.

  "You're late," he said coldly. His voice wasn't raised, but the tension in the air was unmistakable.

  "I know, sir. I… overslept," I admitted nervously.

  Chak gave a small nod, silently motioning for me to enter. I stepped inside quickly and followed him.

  An enormous hallway stretched before me.

  At the far end, I could see a wall entirely covered with windows, allowing natural light to illuminate the otherwise dark interior. I had never been in such a grand house before.

  Chak's home surprised me.

  The interior was decorated in dark tones, with various pieces of artwork hanging on the walls, adding to the serious and cold atmosphere.

  At the end of the hallway, I glanced to the left.

  There it was—a massive, modern black-and-gray kitchen.

  And across from it, an impressive dining area with a large black table adorned with glass decor, surrounded by sleek gray chairs.

  I stood frozen in place, taking in the space around me while trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart. Everything was perfectly arranged, impeccably clean, and… cold. So, so cold. As if the entire house reflected Chak's personality.

  "You're not planning to stand there all morning, are you? His voice broke through my thoughts.

  "N-no, of course not," I mumbled quickly and took a few hesitant steps forward.

  Chak didn't bother to hide his dissatisfaction. With his hands in his pockets, he stood there, as if debating whether he should scold me again. Luckily, he just sighed and walked toward the living room.

  "Bring your things."

  I quickly grabbed my bag, suitcase, and Leo's backpack before following him.

  The living room was just as modern as the rest of the house—dark tones, a large leather couch, a minimalist bookshelf, and a massive TV mounted on the wall. As I stepped closer, I noticed something else—three small bowls neatly arranged on the floor.

  "You can let your cat out of the backpack," Chak said.

  "Are you sure, sir? I asked hesitantly.

  Chak shot me a cold glance. That was enough of an answer. I carefully unzipped the backpack, and Leo immediately leaped out, stretching his small body.

  Just then, Chak called out, "Sun, Lon."

  Two cats appeared. The first one was a beige tabby with orange stripes, and the second one was gray with black stripes.

  "This is Sun," he pointed to the first cat. "And this is Lon."

  I stared at the gray cat for a moment. Lon could easily blend into this house, I thought to myself.

  "This is Leo," I introduced my cat.

  "If your cat damages anything in my house, you'll pay for it," Chak said in a cold voice.

  "He won't destroy anything, I replied calmly, meeting his gaze.

  Just then, another man entered the living room. He looked to be in his early thirties—tall, with sharp features and a cocky smirk. When he saw me, he raised an eyebrow and stretched his arms lazily.

  "So, this is the new pet?" he commented with a grin.

  I blinked in confusion and glanced at Chak, but he didn't react at all.

  "Relax, I'm just messing with you," the man added when he noticed my uneasy expression. "I'm Kit, Chak's business partner… and also his friend, though he'll never admit it."

  "Uh… hi," I muttered, awkwardly offering my hand.

  Kit gave me a once-over, eyes scanning me from head to toe before smirking and shaking my hand.

  "Nice to meet you, little guy."

  Why did everyone insist on calling me "little"?

  "Niran, come," Chak interrupted suddenly and started walking toward the stairs.

  Clearly, small talk wasn't on his list of priorities.

  I hurried after him. My room was at the end of the hallway. Chak pushed the door open and stepped aside, letting me enter first.

  The room was simple but much more comfortable than I had expected. A large bed, a desk, a nightstand, and a wardrobe—all in the same dark tones as the rest of the house.

  "Don't make a mess," he said coldly.

  "Understood, sir," I answered quietly.

  "Come to the kitchen in fifteen minutes." That was the last thing he said before turning and walking away.

  I stood there, taking in my new surroundings.

  I was here. In Chak's house. Living under his roof.

  I glanced at Leo, who had followed me inside and was now exploring the room.

  "I hope we survive this."

  Leo purred in response.

  I wasn't so sure.

  I sat down on the bed, pulling my suitcase closer, but I didn't open it. My eyes wandered to the large window overlooking the yard. Tall, perfectly trimmed hedges surrounded the property, making the place feel… closed off.

  I sighed. No escape back.

  A few moments later, the silence was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Slow, deliberate footsteps. I held my breath as they stopped just outside my door.

  My heart pounded.

  The door opened.

  Chak stood there, his expression unreadable, but his presence alone was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

  "It's time,"he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

  I swallowed hard, casting one last glance at Leo before rising to my feet.

  The game had begun.

  I froze in place.