My father sold me to the Mafia King

Chapter 168: 168/The Dangerous Lie

Chapter 168

Julie’s Point of View

When Robert asked me in his gravelly voice about the two wine bottles and the two glasses, I felt like my heart was going to stop. I didn’t know what to say. I searched my scrambled brain for a lie to save the situation and stammered, ”Olivia... it was me and Olivia.”

He looked at me with surprise, his eyebrow arching in disbelief. ”Olivia was here?” he asked.

”Yes,” I said, trying to steady my voice. ”She just left a moment ago. Didn’t you run into her?”

”I caught a glimpse of her getting into her car,” he replied stolidly, recalling the moment.

I took a deep breath. ”Yes, we were chatting, and you know how time flies.”

He stepped closer, lowering his head to the level of my face until I could almost feel the heat of his breath. ”You haven’t been drinking,” he said in a searching tone. ”There’s no smell of alcohol.”

I swallowed hard and justified, ”You know that when I drink, I lose my mind. That’s why Olivia was the only one drinking.”

A heavy moment of silence passed, then he spoke in a tone that suddenly lost its edge. ”Fine. But put those shards down; you’ll cut yourself.”

Suddenly, he leaned down and began picking them up himself. I couldn’t believe my eyes was Robert Cross actually picking up debris from the floor? I instinctively leaned down and started picking them up with him, but he shot me a sharp look that made me freeze. ”What did I tell you?” he hissed.

I stood up immediately and watched him as he carefully gathered every piece and placed them in the bag. Then he stood, dusted off his hands, and said, ”Go to sleep. It’s late.”

At that moment, memories of his kiss flooded my mind. Dammit, I wanted him to kiss me now! But what could I do? He said he only punishes me when I make a mistake.

”Robert,” I called out in a faint voice.

”What?” he asked curtly, turning to me.

Did he notice I called him by his bare name? I said with feigned embarrassment, ”I’m sorry, I should have said Mr. Robert.”

”It’s fine. Go to sleep,” he replied with a coldness that irritated me.

The bastard! What do I have to do to get him to punish me? I thought recklessly. I changed my tone to a provocative one and said, ”You’re just a mean, pathetic bastard.”

Yes, those words should definitely be enough for a punishment. He looked at me, his eyes blazing. ”Are you insulting me, Julie?” he asked slowly.

”Yes, I am,” I challenged.

He moved closer and closer, and I braced myself, my heart pounding violently. Oh my God, he’s going to do it. He’s going to kiss me again. I’m going to climb that cloud once more. He stood very close, pulling me toward him with a force that made my body press completely against his hard frame.

I felt the heat erupt inside me like fire. He tilted his head toward me until his breath brushed my lips. I was just about to close my eyes to receive his kiss, until he whispered in my ear in a cold voice:

”I’m going to punish you, Julie.”

Yes Robert, yes I’m ready... punish me, come on, don’t keep me waiting!

But he finished in a final tone: ”I’m putting the electronic lock back on your door today... I’m locking you in.”

I opened my eyes in disbelief. ”What?”

He stepped away coldly and walked toward the door without looking back.

He slammed it shut behind him, and a second later, I heard the sound that shattered my hopes... the ”click” of the electronic lock engaging firmly.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

He actually locked me in! I slapped my forehead with my palm in despair and whispered to myself, ”Are you happy now, Julie? Is this the punishment you were waiting for?”

I started cursing myself and my scattered thoughts, gripping my arms tightly as if trying to wake up my brain. You were almost raped by Marcus a moment ago, and now you’re thinking about kissing Robert? A real anxiety began to gnaw at my chest.

My situation was not reassuring at all; I was supposed to be traumatized, repelled by men, but apparently, my case was completely hopeless.

I walked toward the bed with heavy steps, threw myself onto it violently, and buried my face in the pillow, rage eating at my insides.

My anger wasn’t because he locked the door and took my freedom it was an explosive rage because... he didn’t kiss me.

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Robert’s Point of View

I exhaled in frustration as I walked down the hallway. Julie had really surprised me when she directed those provocative words at me.

At that moment, I wanted to punish her properly as I had this morning a punishment that would leave her breathless. But Carlos’s presence in the club made me uneasy; I was worried he might take it upon himself to go into Julie’s room, so I seized the opportunity to lock her door with the electronic lock so he would never see her.

I climbed up to my office with heavy steps and threw my exhausted body into the leather chair. My head was boiling with conflicts and worries: the never-ending ”Don” problem, and now Natalia’s madness which put me in an unenviable position with Mr. Harrington.

Everything around me was pressing on my nerves, leaving me drained.

My train of thought was interrupted by Carlos entering the office, wearing his jacket and straightening his clothes. ”Are you finished with the tests?” I asked stolidly, without fully looking up.

”Yes,” he answered, sitting opposite me. ”The doctor took a blood sample; the results will be out tomorrow.”

Silence filled the room for a moment before Carlos leaned forward and asked in a searching tone, ”I saw the electronic lock lit up on Julie’s room... did something happen?”

I looked up at him sharply, annoyed by his interference. ”Do you even pay attention to her door lock, Carlos?” I asked sarcastically.

”Not at all... I just noticed,” he replied quickly, trying to cover.

I looked away and said in a decisive tone to end the conversation, ”Fine. Now, what are you going to do?”

”I’m going home,” he said, rising from his seat.

”Have one of the men take you,” I told him, returning to my files.

”I will,” he replied curtly, then left the office and closed the door, leaving me alone with the whirlpool of my thoughts.

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Julie’s Point of View

I woke up with panic gnawing at my chest. I rushed to feed Axel, who was barking quietly, then dashed toward the door and tried to open it, but the handle wouldn’t budge... Dammit, Robert actually did it; he locked me in! I started pacing the room like a madwoman, my thoughts clashing: Marcus... Max... what if Robert discovers Marcus is here?

Suddenly, the electronic lock ”clicked,” and the door opened to reveal the cook coldly wheeling in the food cart. I didn’t give her a chance to speak; I lunged at her like an arrow, shoving her with my shoulder so hard she stumbled, and I ran out into the hallway in my messy pajamas and bare feet.

I heard her shouting behind me in shock, ”Stop! Where are you going?” but I paid her no mind. I had to reach Max immediately.

I went downstairs, my breath coming in ragged gasps, and burst into Max’s room without knocking.

I froze for a second; Max had just come out of the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets trickling down his bare chest. I felt the heat of embarrassment rush to my face at the sight, but my gaze quickly shifted to Marcus, who was sleeping on the bed shirtless.

”Where is his shirt?” I whispered frantically.

”It was soaked with water from the vase, so I took it off so he wouldn’t wet my bed,” Max replied coldly, drying his neck.

”And you... where did you sleep?” I asked, looking at the only bed.

”Thanks to you, darling, I didn’t sleep at all; I stayed sitting in the chair all night,” he exhaled in frustration.

”I’m sorry, Max,” I said regretfully.

”Do you realize how much I had to hold myself back from killing him?” he interrupted sharply, glaring at Marcus.

”He wasn’t in his right mind!” I defended him instinctively. I stepped closer to the bed and asked anxiously, ”Hasn’t he woken up yet?”

”No,” he said.

”Is... is he breathing?” I whispered in terror.

”Yes, he is,” he answered dully.

And at that fatal moment, the door burst open... and Robert walked in.

I froze as if struck by lightning, while Max’s hand froze on the small towel he was using to dry his hair. A terrifying silence filled the room.

Robert’s eyes, sharp as a blade, flickered between me in my pajamas and the bare-chested Max, then settled on Marcus sleeping peacefully on the bed.

”What is going on here?” he asked in a voice that was terrifyingly calm.

”I’ll explain...” I stammered, my limbs trembling with a tension I couldn’t control.

”Why did you run away from your room?” he interrupted, stepping into the room, his eyes blazing with malice. ”Why are you here? And why is Marcus in Max’s room? What are you hiding?”

I looked at Max; he was trying to feign strength, holding his head up, but his eyes betrayed him fear was clearly leaking from them.

I couldn’t risk telling the truth; Robert wouldn’t understand, and he’d kill Marcus right then and there.

”I’ll tell you,” I said, my voice trembling but trying to sound firm.

He fixed his lethal gaze on me, increasing my panic and fear, and said in a hiss, ”Yes... what? I’m listening.”

I took a deep breath, feeling my head spin, then I dropped the bomb that would change everything:

”Marcus... is Max’s boyfriend!”