The city was quieter tonight, but the penthouse felt alive—every corner humming with Adrian's presence.
I followed him down the hall as he checked his schedule, heels clicking softly against the marble. Every step reminded me of my place: visible, attentive, accountable.
"You've been here a week," he said, voice low. "And yet you still flinch at my instructions."
"I… I'm not used to—" I started, then stopped. The words felt small, insignificant in the weight of his scrutiny.
"Not used to power, control, expectation," he finished for me. "Good. You should feel it."
My pulse quickened. The intensity of his gaze made my stomach twist, part fear, part something else I couldn't name.
Later, in the office, I stumbled upon a file left open on his tablet. My curiosity fought with instinct, but one glance revealed something startling: transactions, movements, people… things I didn't understand. Things dangerous.
I looked up, heart pounding. He was behind me, silent, unannounced.
"You've seen something you shouldn't," he said calmly, though the dark edge in his voice made the air between us electric.
"I—It was just… curious," I stammered, lowering the tablet.
"Curiosity in my world can be costly," he murmured, leaning close. His cologne, sharp and commanding, enveloped me. "And yet…" His eyes held mine, unreadable, almost daring. "I think you might survive it."
I swallowed hard, aware of the heat pooling in my chest. His proximity was overwhelming, yet impossible to ignore.
He straightened suddenly, leaving the tablet untouched. "Remember the rules," he said softly. "Your loyalty. Your honesty. And your heart—don't give it away."
I nodded, though I could barely catch my breath.
Later, alone, I thought of the file, of his warning, of the magnetic pull I felt toward him despite every rational thought screaming to stay distant.
Survival here meant more than obedience. It meant understanding him, anticipating him, navigating his world without faltering.
And yet, the more I resisted, the more I sensed the invisible tether tightening between us.
Adrian Blackwood controlled everything around him—wealth, power, people.
And now, it felt like he controlled me too.