Yes or No

...#ADDICTED...

IN MATTHEW’S BEDROOM

Laura lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, the velvet box unopened on the nightstand. Matthew steps in, removing his jacket, his eyes fixed on her.

"You saw him?"

She nods once.

MATTHEW soft, dark

"Did he touch you?"

"No."

MATTHEW quietly

"Good. Because if he had, I would’ve made it... never mind"

He crawls into bed beside her. Wraps himself around her like armor or chains.

"You’re mine, Laura. Say it."

She turns to face him, her voice barely a whisper.

LAURA

"I’m yours."

He kisses her, possessive and consuming.

The velvet box catches a glint of moonlight still unopened.

They kiss was not soft, not sweet.

It’s desperate.

Laura is beneath Matthew, her fingers tangled in his hair as he buries his face in her neck. His body moves against hers with punishing intensity like he’s trying to erase every trace of Jake, of doubt, of choice.

"You’re not allowed to flinch when I touch you."

"I’m not flinching."

She arches up to meet him, her nails raking down his back. He groans, losing control for a beat.

"You’re the one who trembling, Mr. Larson"

He kisses her hard, possessive. Between gasps, the truth leaks out.

"You haunt me. Every second you pull away I unravel."

She cups his face, and for a moment, he looks so raw, like the power is just armor for a broken boy inside.

"Then why does it still feel like I’m the one being hunted?" She asked.

He thrusts deeper. Her breath catches.

"Because you are."

They fall apart together rage and desire colliding like fire and gasoline.

Laura wakes alone again. Silence. Then voices low and urgent. She slips on his shirt and tiptoes to the cracked door.

Matthew stands with his bodyguard his most trusted man.

"It’s clean. Jake’s gone."

"Burn everything that connects us. I don’t want Laura touched by this. Not even a whisper."

"What if she already suspects?"

Matthew pauses. His voice lowers.

"Then I make her doubt herself before she doubts me."

Laura steps back like she’s been slapped. But she doesn’t cry. Not yet. She has run to the kitchen to hide her self.She’s pouring coffee. Matthew walks in like nothing happened.

"Morning, angel"

He wraps his arms around her. She doesn’t lean in.

LAURA

"You always call me that."

(as if testing him)

"You think I’m innocent?"

He smiles, brushing her hair from her face.

"I think you’re mine."

Later that day.

They sit in silence. The velvet box is between them, untouched.

"Still no answer?"

"You want a yes you can control.

But I’m not a chess piece, Matthew."

"I don’t want to control you."

"You want to own me." She creams in his face.

He stands, rage barely held behind his calm.

"Don’t twist this. I gave up everything to protect you."

"You also took away my right to choose what I wanted protected from."

Beat.

"Then maybe we’re not on the same side after all."

He storms out. The door slams. She flinches wanted to cry but she doesn't want to not at this moment for sure...

AT THE AIRPORT

A sleek black car waits as the jet lands.

The door opens

REVEAL

AUGUSTUS LARSON , mid-60s, cold-eyed and composed in a tailored coat.

Beside him, his wife CAMILLA, all pearls, icy beauty, and poison behind every smile.

"Think he’s ruined things yet?"

"Don't talk about my son like that"

She looks at him with an angry eye as they step into the car. The driver shuts the door behind them.

"Bring me to my son house first I want to see him"

"But.." Camilla doesn't want to.

"NOW!"

"Y..yes sir"

Laura stands alone at the window, the city below. Her phone buzzes.

TEXT MESSAGE:

“Did you really think you were the only one he proposed to?”

Her blood runs cold.

"What is this now" as she asked it to herself.

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