Ryan sat in his dimly lit study, a rare look of bliss softening his usually sharp features. The date had gone better than he could have ever imagined. Emily—his Emily—was slowly falling into his world, whether she realized it or not. The thought alone sent a shiver of satisfaction through him.
His moment of peace was interrupted when his bodyguards entered, Miko leading the report. "She's home safe," he stated simply, his tone professional.
Ryan gave a small nod, pleased. But before the conversation could end, Mae Mae, ever the curious one, spoke up. "Boss," she hesitated, then continued, "What is Emily to you?"
Silence settled in the room, thick and suffocating.
Ryan's eyes, once filled with warmth, turned unreadable as he leaned back in his chair. "She's everything," he finally said, his voice low, almost reverent. "She belongs to me."
Mae Mae stiffened at the weight of his words, sensing the depth of his obsession. Miko, picking up on the shift in the atmosphere, decided to step in. "Ryan—"
"Enough," Ryan cut him off, his gaze darkening. "Make sure she remains safe. No matter what."
---
Meanwhile, in the depths of her mind, Emily found herself in her internal space, surrounded by the familiar presence of her alters.
*"What are you doing?"* Ivy questioned, arms crossed, her voice filled with unspoken worry.
*"It was just a date,"* Emily tried to reason, but even she felt the uncertainty in her own words.
Mira sighed. *"You need to be careful."*
As their voices overlapped, she felt the tug of reality pulling her back. Her phone buzzed in her hand, snapping her out of the confrontation within.
"Kia," she exhaled in relief, answering the call.
"Finally!" Kia's voice was full of anticipation. "So? How was it? And don't even think about lying to me."
Emily hesitated, her fingers curling around the phone. The alters quieted, waiting for her response.
"…It was nice," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
But deep inside, she knew—this was only the beginning of something far more complicated.