Chapter 5: Watching Her T…
treachery, especially from women
who dared to cross him.
“Playing dumb? Fine, let’s see how long you can keep it up. Sebastian,
take her to Earl’s room.”
Earl? Was Alexander’s punishment to
offer her to someone else?
Confused, Isabella looked at
Sebastian, who couldn’t hide a flicker of sympathy as he led her to a room at the end of a hallway. Inside, she was greeted by a surprising sight: a large, black figure lounging in the corner. It was an adult black panther!
Alexander, the madman, had a black panther as a pet!
Sebastian pushed her inside and locked the door, leaving her with a look that said, “Good luck.” Now, Isabella realized ‘Earl‘ was the name of the panther staring indifferently at
Chapter 5: Watching Her T…
her.
The panther, seemingly uninterested and recently fed, made no move towards her. Its glossy coat and
muscular build indicated a life of
luxury, rivaling a five–star hotel’s
accommodations.
Isabella was certain there were
hidden cameras in the room.
Alexander, that sadist, was probably
watching, waiting for her to
embarrass herself or be mauled.
Retreating cautiously, she reached
for the door handle, only to find it securely locked by Sebastian.
Luckily, the panther appeared disinterested, likely satiated from a recent meal. Isabella hoped
Alexander would release her before the beast’s next feeding time.
She crouched down, refusing to give
Chapter 5: Watching Her T…
Alexander the satisfaction of seeing
her break down.
Upstairs, in his study, Alexander lounged in an armchair, watching the live feed from Earl’s room on his
computer. The scene unfolding
before him was exactly as he
intended, a test of character under
extreme pressure.
Isabella wasn’t the first woman Alexander had brought before Earl. The last one, a minor celebrity who had foolishly attempted to drug him, met the same fate.
Such individuals found no mercy in Alexander’s world and were unhesitatingly offered to Earl as a form of punishment.
Earl had no patience for the overly dramatic, and that woman had been
terrified, enduring a harrowing
ordeal before barely managing to
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Setting
1625
Chapter 5: Watching Her T…
escape The Windsor.
Isabella seemed smarter than her
predecessors, sitting quietly, her face set with determination as though bracing herself for a high–stakes
gamble–a gamble with her very life
on the line.
“Boss, if she makes it through this, will you let her go?”
Sebastian’s question, asked with a
cautious tone, reflected his interest
in the outcome for Isabella. Unlike
the others who had tried to get close to their boss, Isabella didn’t seem as objectionable to him. She appeared special, even though it was their first
encounter, he could sense it.
Alexander remained silent, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the desk, creating a sound that seemed both ominous and anticipatory, as if marking time for Isabella’s ultimate
5/6
Setting
1625
Chapter 5: Watching Her T…
test.
