Something in my silence set Hubert off. His voice turned brutal. "Fine. You want to play tough? Let's see just how tough you really are."
He ordered the bodyguards to throw me into the freezer.
Hubert stood at the freezer door, his eyes colder than anything inside it.
"Stay in there and cool off, Lavinia. You can come out when you're ready to admit you were wrong."
The cold ate through my skin, my muscles, my bones. I could feel my body temperature dropping, degree by degree.
I didn't want to die in here.
I was so close. So close to getting out.
I tried to call for Hubert, but my throat wouldn't produce a sound.
When I opened my eyes again, I was tied to a bed.
Hubert stood beside it in a tailored tuxedo, his expression glacial.
"Today is Clarissa's birthday. I won't let you ruin it."
"So your solution is to tie me up like a prisoner?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
A sharp, hollow ache bloomed behind my ribs.
Hubert didn't deny it. All he said was, "Be good. Once tonight is over, I'll make it up to you."
He turned to leave. I called out before he reached the door.
"Hubert. You promised me once that you'd give me a villa. Do you remember?"