He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

(Daisy’s POV)

I decided I was done thinking about Roman Volkov.

Not in a dramatic, life-changing way. More in a very practical, this-is-above-my-pay-grade-and-also-deeply-inconvenient kind of way.

Because really- what was I supposed to do with that information?

“Oh, hi. You might be my father. Also, you’re a crime lord. Also, you didn’t bother coming to see me while I was growing up. Love that for us.”

Yeah. No.

I shifted slightly against the wall, the chain clinking softly with the movement, and then I glared at the dim room like it had personally offended me.

This was not how my life was supposed to be going.

I had plans this week. Actual plans.

My head ached slightly as my thoughts shifted, because once my brain latched onto something disturbing, it refused to let go.

School.

Goodness.

“I have a presentation,” I muttered to myself, sitting up a little straighter. “Like… an actual presentation.”

Group work. Slides. Speaking in front of people who were definitely judging me.

I had forgotten up until now, and that wasn’t even all.

“I have assignments,” I added, like the universe needed to hear me. “Multiple!”

Deadlines, submissions, and professors who did not care if you were kidnapped by a mafia family.

Because let’s be honest, if I emailed one of them- “Hi, sorry I missed class, I got abducted and now I’m chained in a warehouse”, they would absolutely still reply:

“Late work will not be accepted.”

I dragged a hand over my face.

“This is so bad.”

It was the next day now. Or at least, I was partly sure it was. Time felt weird in here, like it had stretched out and then given up entirely.

The door creaked open after a moment and I looked up immediately.

Food guy.

Fantastic.

He walked in with the same energy as always- silent and deeply uninterested in my existence, and dropped the tray on the floor in

front of me like he was feeding an annoying animal.

Some of the food shifted on impact. I stared at it. Then at him.

Then back at the food.

“You know,” I said slowly, “I’m a student and presentation week is kind of important.”

He said nothing and turned to leave.

I blinked.

“Wait- no, I’m serious,” I continued quickly, leaning forward as much as the chain allowed. “I have things I need to submit. Like… academically. This affects my future!”

Still nothing.

“Can you just- I don’t know, let me go for a few hours?” I tried. “I promise I’ll come back. I don’t even have a phone. Where am I going to go?”

He kept walking.

Wow.

“Okay!” I called after him. “Great conversation. Really interactive!” My frustration shone and he shut the door at it.

“Also,” I muttered quietly now, my brows caving, “you guys could at least bring something that looks edible!”

I studied the tray.

“…this looks like regret.”

I pushed it slightly with my foot and leaned back against the wall again, exhaling slowly.

Lillian, my roommate. She was probably losing her mind by now.

Calling.

Texting.

Pacing.

“Where are you??”

“Daisy???”

“Are you okay???”

I grew a bit uneasy now. My phone was gone; destroyed. And now I was just… missing.

I swallowed lightly and forced my thoughts away from that before they got too heavy, because I already had enough going on without adding emotional breakdowns to the list.

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