The envelope sat on Nina's desk like a living thing, its weight pressing against her chest every time she looked at it. She hadn't even opened it again since that night at La Rosa. She didn't need to. She knew what it meant.
She had told herself it was for her education, her future. That Adrian Moretti was just a stepping stone, not a permanent scar. But even as she repeated the lie, she felt the invisible chains tightening.
And Adrian hadn't wasted time.
The next morning, another message appeared on her phone:
Adrian: You have class at 10. I'll pick you up at 8. Wear something I'll like.
No explanation. No "please." Just an order.
Nina stared at the screen, anger flickering through her chest. Who did he think he was to dictate her life like this? And yet, when 8 o'clock came, she found herself standing outside her hostel in her best blouse and skirt, her coat pulled tightly around her.
The sleek black car slid to a stop in front of her. The back door opened, and she climbed inside. Adrian was waiting, dressed in another immaculate suit, his eyes sweeping over her body in a single heated glance.
"Better," he murmured, though his tone suggested she could do much better. "I'll have to take you shopping soon."
"I don't need you buying me clothes," she snapped before she could stop herself.
His smirk returned, slow and deliberate. "You do if you're going to be seen with me."
Her cheeks flushed. She hated how easily he got under her skin.
The car pulled away, the city blurring past. She finally turned to him, her voice tight. "Where are we going?"
"To my place," he said simply.
Her heart stumbled. "Why?"
He leaned closer, his voice low and smooth. "Because you belong to me now, Nina. And I don't like waiting."
The words sent a shiver down her spine.
Adrian's penthouse overlooked the city, a glass and steel fortress that reeked of money and danger. The elevator doors opened to a space larger than her entire hostel floor: marble floors, leather furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows that made the skyline glitter like a private stage.
She stood frozen, afraid to touch anything.
Adrian slipped off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch, watching her with the calm of a predator who had lured prey into his den. "Do you like it?"
"It's… beautiful," she admitted softly.
His eyes gleamed. "Get used to it. You'll be here often."
Her chest tightened. "Adrian"
"Shh." He crossed the room in two strides, his hand lifting to brush a strand of hair from her face. His touch lingered, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "Stop overthinking. You already chose this when you took my money."
Her breath came fast. "I didn't choose this."
"Yes, you did." His thumb grazed her lower lip, making her tremble. "You just don't want to admit it yet."
Nina's knees weakened under his touch. She hated how her body betrayed her, leaning into him even as her mind screamed at her to pull away.
Adrian's smile darkened. "Do you know what happens when you give yourself to me, Nina?"
She shook her head, unable to form words.
His lips brushed the shell of her ear, his voice a husky whisper. "It means I own your time. Your body. Your pleasure. It means I decide when you breathe faster, when you beg, when you fall apart."
A whimper escaped her throat before she could stop it. Heat coiled low in her belly, sharp and relentless.
"Look at me," he ordered softly.
Her eyes fluttered open, meeting the intensity of his.
"That's better." His hand slid down her arm, fingers wrapping around her wrist. His grip was firm but not cruel, a reminder of his strength. "I won't hurt you unless you want me to. But I will push you. Do you understand?"
Her heart pounded. She nodded slowly.
"Good girl," he murmured, the phrase sending another shiver through her.
Adrian guided her to the couch and made her sit. He poured two glasses of deep red wine, handing one to her before settling close beside her. His thigh brushed hers, his presence overwhelming.
"Tell me," he said, swirling his glass, "have you ever let a man teach you what your body is capable of?"
Her cheeks burned. "That's none of your business."
He chuckled softly. "It's my business now." He leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear again. "And I can tell you haven't. Which makes this even more fun for me."
Her pulse raced. She wanted to deny it, to push him away, but the truth was too obvious. No one had ever looked at her the way Adrian did, like she was both fragile and dangerous, a puzzle worth unraveling.
He took her glass from her trembling hand and set it aside. Then he cupped her chin, tilting her face toward his. His eyes locked onto hers, dark and commanding.
"Kiss me, Nina."
Her breath caught.
"I…."
"Do it," he said, his tone quiet but unyielding.
Her lips parted, and before she could stop herself, she leaned in. Their mouths met soft at first, tentative. But Adrian deepened it instantly, his lips firm, his tongue teasing hers until her head spun. His hand slid into her hair, holding her exactly where he wanted her, while his other hand pressed against the small of her back, pulling her closer.
Nina gasped against his mouth, her body igniting under his touch. The kiss was nothing like she had known before it was hunger, control, fire.
When he finally pulled back, her lips were swollen, her breath ragged.
Adrian smirked, his thumb brushing her mouth. "You taste like surrender."
Her body ached with need, every nerve buzzing. She hated that he was right. She hated that part of her already wanted more.
And as his hand slid down her thigh, possessive and slow, she knew this was only the beginning of the cage she had willingly stepped into.