The morning light spilled into the penthouse through massive glass windows, but warmth didn't follow. The air between them was still cold — unspoken rules written in every glance, every silence.
Elena had decided to stay out of Aiden's way.
That was the first rule.
Don't interfere.
Don't ask questions.
Don't expect anything.
But rules were made to be broken.
---
She stepped into the kitchen that morning and froze.
Aiden stood there — sleeves rolled up, shirt open at the collar, sipping coffee. The image was... human. Almost soft. Nothing like the ruthless CEO the tabloids worshiped and feared.
He didn't look up. "You're up early."
She hesitated, then nodded. "I couldn't sleep."
Silence.
Then she saw the open envelope on the counter.
A legal document. Something she wasn't supposed to see. She didn't mean to look.
But she did.
Her eyes scanned the title.
Property Transfer Agreement.
And her name. Written right there. In bold.
"What is this?" she asked before thinking.
Aiden's hand froze mid-air.
He turned slowly, his expression unreadable.
"You read it?" he asked quietly.
"I—It was open—"
"I didn't ask why." He stepped closer. "I asked if you read it."
She looked up, defiant. "Yes."
Another step. The room shrank between them.
"That document," he said, voice low and dangerous, "was locked away. Which means you went through my things."
"I didn't mean—"
"You broke the first rule," he said sharply.
Her fists clenched. "And you? You're transferring property in my name without telling me. Why?"
He stared at her. No anger now. Just... silence.
Then: "Because I don't trust anyone with it. Not even myself."
That silenced her.
She wasn't sure what surprised her more — the confession, or the vulnerability that slipped through his mask for just one second.
But then it was gone.
He walked away, coffee forgotten.
And Elena stood there, breathless.
She'd broken the first rule.
And it had opened the first crack in his walls.