Zara stared at Tama, who looked completely serious about what he had just said. And Zara realized the dangerous alarm bells closing in around her. Escaping the tiger's den only to walk straight into a crocodile's cage—that was what this was called!
Her mind churned as she thought of excuses and negotiations she could offer to protect herself and her dignity.
"Could I replace it with a certain amount of money? I mean, I'll repay all the money you spent last night. But I'd like to pay it in installments and be given time to settle the debt."
Tama shook his head firmly, rejecting every one of Zara's proposals. The money he'd spent the night before was trivial, and Zara didn't need to keep bringing it up. Right now, he was only interested in the offer Zara had made last night.
He was tempted.
"I don't need that. Right now, I'm interested in your offer from last night again."
Zara wanted to cry as she looked at Tama pleadingly. Her eyes glistened with tears ready to spill. "Sir... I was truly desperate then. I wasn't thinking when I said it. Please, just forget about it, okay? I'll compensate you for everything, including the money you gave me," Zara pleaded, hoping Tama would abandon his desire.
She ignored the large amount of rice still left on her plate. Her stomach cramped at Tama's statement.
Tama no longer reconsidered his words. He hadn't slept all night because he'd been thinking about the girl in front of him. After begging him the night before and making such an enticing offer, that damn girl had rejected him and asked him to forget it.
"But I've finalized my decision. So, you're coming with me after this," he said forcefully. There was no room for argument.
Zara lowered her head, her shoulders slumping. There was no hope left of avoiding this powerful man.
"If you want to run away, I can contact the person from yesterday and tell him your identity." Tama had finally begun making threats.
After staying awake all night, he'd started looking into the background of the girl before him and had gathered enough information to pique his interest.
Zara immediately shook her head and looked at Tama pleadingly again. She begged him not to reveal the identity she'd concealed the night before to her university rector.
"Aulia Zara, a fifth-semester student at Universitas Tri Satya, currently studying in the Faculty of Economics, majoring in Management."
Zara held her breath as she listened to Tama.
"One month ago, you were the student protest's orator in front of the rector's office, a BEM representative who boldly and fearlessly voiced her aspirations. And because of that courage, you were repeatedly terrorized and threatened through repressive means by that rector's people." Tama paused his lengthy speech, which felt to Zara like a criminal execution sentence being read aloud.
"What would happen if the most powerful person on campus found out that the opponent who had so loudly challenged him yesterday possessed something that violated ethics and social norms? He could use that weapon to threaten you again, Zara."
"And as it happens, I'm quite close with that rector."
Zara was stunned by everything Tama had said. Not a single word had missed the mark. And Zara realized that this man was no ordinary person.
Ever since the major demonstration at her university, she'd received academic sanctions along with several friends who had taken part in the protest. They were considered responsible for causing a disturbance and spreading inciting news that damaged their alma mater's good reputation.
Dealing with one powerful man personally was already troublesome and dangerous if the two of them were at odds. But what if she had to face two powerful men?
Zara grew even more confused and cornered. On one side, her credibility and dignity were at stake. On the other, her reputation was also under threat. How was she supposed to deal with this? Did she have to hide behind one powerful figure to fight another?
They had only met yesterday, yet Tama already knew every detail of her life. It was terrifying!
Zara swallowed with difficulty, feeling her throat go dry. She gave Tama, who was calmly drinking his beverage, a bitter look.
"I... I'll fulfill your wish, Sir. Please don't tell anyone my identity from last night." Zara finally made her decision—a major decision that would turn her life upside down.
A satisfied smile appeared on Tama's lips. His gaze roamed openly and wildly over every inch of her body.
"Hmm... Hurry up and finish your food. We'll leave after that."
Zara fell silent as she entered a luxury apartment residence strategically located in the city center. Judging by the lobby and the corridors she walked through, the building's hollow luxury was impossible to ignore.
Its design was elegant, with high-quality materials that created an expensive impression at first glance.
Zara was deeply impressed by the atmosphere inside the spacious building. And the farther she went, the more astonished she became by the atmosphere inside the man's apartment.
Tama watched Zara, who was still gaping at the apartment's luxurious yet masculine interior. The smooth, gleaming floor was made of high-quality marble. Zara could even see her reflection in the floor beneath her feet.
"Come in," he said from ahead. Zara followed Tama, her eyes admiring every part of the apartment's interior. It eased her wariness a little.
"Do you live here alone, Sir?" Zara asked casually. She watched Tama sit on a soft, dark-gray sofa. His right hand removed the watch wrapped around his left wrist.
Tama's apartment was dominated by dark gray and black, typical of a man who lived alone.
Zara herself remained standing beside the sofa, waiting for the owner of the room to instruct her. Her gaze dropped to the hems of the jeans she was wearing.
"I wouldn't bring you somewhere my wife was inside," he said lightly, as though this weren't a serious matter at all. Tama looked completely relaxed, as if he were an experienced player.
So he's married? Zara cried out inwardly.
Is he used to bringing young women to his apartment without his wife's knowledge?
How many women have there been before me?
What did you expect, Zara?! That he was still single and would fall in love with you? That's nothing but wishful thinking! You'll only become his mistress! Or maybe just his one-night woman.
Oh, God! Who said I expected him to fall in love with me?!
Keep hoping! Who knows, maybe one day you'll become queen of his business empire!
And I'll be branded a cheap homewrecker forever!
The noisy voices in her mind echoed over one another, clashing with her reason. Zara was waging war against herself, too, trying to convince herself that this was the best path she'd chosen.
"Wait and sit here. I'm going to shower first." Tama's deep voice startled Zara out of her daze. Zara nodded and sat on the sofa, her eyes following Tama as he left behind the scent of his luxurious musk cologne.
Zara sat in silence for quite some time as she waited. Her eyes kept wandering over the elegant, luxurious room and furnishings. But beneath her admiration, her heart and mind continued to churn, filling every passing moment with anxiety and fear.
Until Zara grew tired and unknowingly fell asleep on the sofa. Her eyes closed as her breathing settled into a calm rhythm, though her heart continued to pound. It beat so hard that Zara felt short of breath several times.
Half-conscious, Zara sensed someone approaching. Sitting beside her and watching her closely. She could feel him, but she didn't dare open her eyes.
She was extremely nervous and frightened, even as the fresh scent of soap pierced her senses. The musk fragrance in the air was intensely masculine and sensual.
"You were so restless that you ended up falling asleep, hmm?" Tama murmured softly. He bent over, studying every inch of Zara's perfect face. Her naturally shaped black brows, her long, curled lashes, and her round eyes when open; her small nose with its high bridge; then her jawline narrowing toward her chin, complemented by prominent cheekbones; and her naturally pink, thin lips that always curved slightly even when she wasn't smiling. To Tama, it all looked perfect.
And perhaps other men thought the same. Tama thought. This time, he didn't seem to like the idea. A possessive sense of ownership struck him with overwhelming force.
Zara couldn't take it anymore. This closeness was too much. Too dangerous. She decided to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was Tama's handsome face hovering incredibly close to hers—so close she could feel his breath, fresh with mint.
Zara's heart thundered again at the sight of that face. A mature face that looked stern, emphasized by his sharp eyes and lean features. Not to mention his thick brows, which always furrowed whenever he spoke firmly to her. His naturally red lips were always set in a flat line, further intensifying his stern aura.
Zara blinked and tilted her head upward to avoid Tama. The man straightened, followed by Zara sitting upright again.
"S-sorry, Sir..."
"Do you want to shower first, or get straight to your task?" Tama asked in a lower voice. For some reason, his voice had suddenly gone hoarse.
"I-I want to use the bathroom first." Zara looked at Tama, her trembling obvious. The distance between their faces was so small that she struggled to control her ragged breathing. Especially when she realized Tama was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.
After staring at each other for a long moment, Tama finally looked away and stood, freeing Zara from the enclosure of his body.
Tama calmly told her where the bathroom was. But only he and God knew how hard his heart was pounding.
Zara immediately walked to the bathroom to relieve herself and calm her racing heart.
Zara stared at her wan face in the mirror. She still couldn't believe that she was now trapped by an intricate, manipulative adult man. Worse, Tama possessed a charm that would be difficult for most women to ignore.
Zara exhaled heavily again. Her legs felt too heavy to step outside, where Tama was waiting for her with keen interest.
"Why is it taking so long? You're not thinking of trying to escape, are you?" Tama's voice interrupted Zara as she continued fighting her fear.
Zara slowly opened the door. Her eyes immediately landed on a pair of feet waiting outside.
Tama was still half-naked, a towel wrapped around his waist. He slowly turned and walked toward the bedroom, with Zara silently following.
The bedroom door stood open, revealing a large bed covered in soft, dark-gray sheets. Zara's long legs carried her farther inside until she reached the center of the room, right in front of the wide bed.
The room was dim, sunlight filtering through the gaps between the open curtains.
Zara swallowed hard. She saw Tama sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at her with a commanding gaze.
"Get on the bed," he ordered, his command echoing through the air.
"Ahh... mm... Yes, just like that." Tama groaned in the middle of what he was doing. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying every movement Zara made against his body.
The scent of aromatherapy drifted through the air, mingling with slightly pungent massage oil.
His eyes were tightly closed as he absorbed every movement of the delicate hands across his body. Yet he occasionally winced whenever those hands touched sensitive points. "Press harder... You're incredible, ahh."
The sound of his bones cracking made Tama groan loudly. The sensation hurt, but the relief that followed was light and soothing. All his muscles relaxed under Zara's massage of his broad, hard shoulders.
"Your hands are pretty skilled. Have you done this with someone else before, hmm?" Tama's praise made Zara happy. She increased the pressure of her hands.
"Not really. This is my first time doing it with you, Sir," Zara answered honestly. She'd never massaged anyone before. And she'd never imagined she'd end up massaging Tama after all the dark thoughts about what he might do to her had haunted her since earlier.
"A little lower. It's really stiff there."
Tama's back was so muscular and solid that she had to use extra strength with every stroke.
Zara breathed out tiredly. Her hands ached after nearly an hour of massaging Tama's broad, hard back. Her mind kept complaining about how tired she was, but another part of her told her not to complain and to be grateful that Tama hadn't done what she'd feared.
Zara sighed in relief. At least she was still able to preserve her purity for now.
"Does it still ache here?" Zara asked, her hand touching his right shoulder blade.
Tama cleared his throat while lying facedown. "Yes... that feels wonderful there," he said, feeling the gentle massage.
Zara was running out of strength. Her hands felt limp and difficult to move. She grimaced before finally giving up.
"I'm tired, Sir. My hands feel numb," she complained, holding her reddened, stiff palms in front of Tama's eyes.
Tama only chuckled lightly when he saw them, then rolled over onto his side. He watched Zara grimace as she blew on her palms.
"Rest for a while."
Zara nodded in relief. She moved both hands to ease the soreness. She was completely focused on them, even though she knew Tama had been watching her for some time.
Unable to bear his stare any longer, Zara finally gave in. She stared back at Tama and bravely asked about the worry that had been weighing on her heart.
"S-Sir... Why haven't you touched me? I mean... I thought..." Zara squeaked softly, afraid the man might change his mind.
"You thought I was going to touch you?" Tama asked rhetorically. She was overthinking him, he thought.
Though deep down he wanted to, Tama's defenses remained strong enough to resist every temptation that came his way.
Zara wasn't directly tempting him, but the situation and circumstances made it entirely possible for Tama to deliberately unleash his wilder side.
But he didn't. He chose to protect the girl.
For some reason, whenever he looked at Zara, he felt a possessive need to guard and protect her. Perhaps pity was what allowed Tama to hold on to his morality.
"No. I don't want to betray my wife." Tama continued speaking with an empty look in his eyes. It was an excuse far removed from the reality he was facing.
"Then why did you talk as if you wanted to touch me and threaten me earlier?!" Zara asked breathlessly. She felt as though the man had played with her. She had nearly died of fear thinking Tama would use her body for his own pleasure.
Tama laughed when he saw her face, now streaked with tears of relief after she'd been trapped in such a terrifying atmosphere moments earlier.
"I just wanted to see your reaction," he replied with a chuckle.
Tama rose from the bed. He looked at Zara's face, now streaming with tears. His hand gently grasped her chin so he could examine more closely the face glistening with moisture.
"And you look so pale and frightened. Am I really that terrifying to you?" he asked softly. His eyes remained fixed on Zara as she sobbed harder. For some reason, he could feel the pain she was experiencing.
"I thought you were a monster if you really touched me..."