The ink on the marriage contract was barely dry when Ayla Khan realized the weight of her decision. She sat in Adrian Blake's penthouse office, the silence so heavy it felt like it could crush her.
"Your new home will be with me starting tomorrow," Adrian said, his tone cold as ice. "Appearances must be flawless. No one will suspect this marriage is anything less than real."
Ayla's chest tightened. She had imagined a business deal, a distant arrangement. She hadn't expected to actually live with the man whose very gaze could freeze her blood.
"I agreed to marry you, Mr. Blake, but living under the same roof wasn't part of the bargain," she said firmly, trying to keep her voice steady.
Adrian's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something unreadable flashing in them. "Then consider this the first condition. You will do exactly as I say, Mrs. Blake… or this deal is off, and your family can start packing."
Her fists tightened in her lap. For her parents' sake, she bit back the retort that burned on her tongue. "Fine. But I'll follow my own rules."
Adrian leaned closer, his shadow falling over her. "In my world, Ayla, there are no 'your rules.' Only mine. Break them… and you'll find out just how dangerous crossing me can be."
The air grew heavy between them, his words lingering like a dark promise. She forced herself to meet his piercing gaze, refusing to show fear.
"Danger doesn't scare me, Mr. Blake," she whispered, though her voice trembled ever so slightly. "Lies do. And I can already tell you're full of them."
For the first time, a small, dangerous smile tugged at Adrian's lips. "Good. You'll need that fire… because starting tomorrow, you're stepping into a world where nothing is as it seems."
The elevator doors opened behind her, breaking the tension. Adrian turned away, dismissing her with a flick of his hand. "Pack your things. A driver will pick you up at 8 a.m. sharp. Don't be late."
As Ayla left the towering building, the cool night air hit her face, but it did nothing to ease the storm brewing inside her chest. She had sold herself to save her family. But what, exactly, had she walked into?
To be continued...