Chapter 15
The east wing of the Ashcroft estate was a sprawling sanctuary of modern luxury, completely isolated from the main, public halls where the violence had occurred. Roland personally escorted Mavis to the master suite he had promised her.
He opened the heavy oak doors. The room was breathtaking. It was flooded with brilliant, natural cinematic lighting, pouring through massive skylights. The walls were painted a pristine, crisp white, offering a perfect, blank canvas for a creative mind. In the center of the room sat a professional easel, surrounded by the finest quality oil paints, sable brushes, and blank canvases money could buy.
"It's... it's incredible," Mavis breathed, stepping into the room. The trauma of the firefight was momentarily eclipsed by sheer awe.
"It is yours," Roland stated, standing in the doorway, his imposing masculine frame casting a long shadow. "No one enters this wing without my explicit authorization or yours. You will have a private chef, a dedicated security detail, and absolute freedom to paint whatever you desire."
Mavis turned back to look at him. She was still wearing the dust-covered black maid dress, but the white lace headband was gone, lost in the chaos. She looked completely out of place in the opulent room, yet she felt a strange, undeniable sense of belonging.
"What do you want me to paint for you, Roland?" Mavis asked softly, her American accent clear and steady.
Roland smiled—a genuine, rare expression that erased the cold, sociopathic detachment from his features. The loose strands of wavy hair fell perfectly over his forehead, completing the romantic, movie-star illusion.
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"I want you to paint the truth," Roland replied, his deep, raspy voice echoing in the quiet studio. "Paint the world as you see it, Mavis. Paint the beauty, and paint the monsters."
He turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the bright, sun-drenched sanctuary. The war with the Thorne family was just beginning, but Mavis knew that as long as Roland Ashcroft stood at the gates, she would never have to hide in the shadows again.
