The penthouse was quiet in the early morning, the kind of silence that felt heavy with unspoken rules and restrained power. Daisy Ross sat at the small breakfast table in the kitchen, arms crossed, coffee untouched. Her appetite had disappeared somewhere between the contract and the first day of board meetings, and she didn't see it returning anytime soon.
Kaiden Brown entered the kitchen silently, as though he owned the air around her—which, of course, he did. His tailored suit from yesterday had been replaced with something more casual, yet every inch of him radiated command.
"Coffee," he said, nodding toward the cup she had ignored.
Daisy glanced at him, eyebrows raised. "Thank you. That's… thoughtful."
He smirked faintly, pouring himself a glass of water instead. "Thoughtful isn't my style," he said. "But efficient is."
Daisy's lips pressed into a thin line. She hated that even his casual words irritated her. She hated the way he moved with certainty in her space, the way his presence filled the room, the way he made her question everything she thought she had control over.
The first days of living together had been a delicate dance. Kaiden had not once touched her beyond necessity, yet every glance, every word, every calculated silence carried weight. Daisy had spent hours unpacking, organizing her floor, asserting small victories in the territory she claimed as her own. And Kaiden had let her—at least for now.
But the peace was fleeting.
"You're tense," Kaiden said abruptly, leaning against the counter, eyes studying her.
"I am not," Daisy replied, tone clipped. She didn't want to admit it, but tension had seeped into her muscles. Tension born of being constantly observed, constantly measured, constantly reminded of the contract she had signed in a moment of desperation.
"You are," he insisted. "You can't hide it."
Daisy rolled her eyes. "Why do you care?"
"Because it's my responsibility," he said simply. "And because I promised myself I'd make this arrangement bearable… if possible."
The words were simple, but the tone carried layers she couldn't decode. Anger, maybe. Calculation, certainly. Possibly… concern? She didn't allow herself to consider that last thought.
By midday, Kaiden had summoned her for another meeting, this time with the marketing team. Daisy followed him through the hallways, heels clicking against the polished floor, feeling exposed under his gaze.
"You'll need to present," he said quietly, as if it were a simple fact rather than a terrifying obligation.
"I'll pass," she muttered. "I'm not a speaker."
"You are now," he said. "It's part of your responsibility. You are the public face of this family as much as I am."
Daisy groaned. "I didn't sign up to be a poster child for your empire."
"You did sign," Kaiden replied evenly, his tone leaving no room for debate. "And now you bear the consequences. Like it or not, Daisy, appearances matter. If you look like a weak, unprepared woman, it reflects on me—and I do not tolerate weakness."
The words stung, but beneath them, Daisy felt a flicker of determination. She had survived worse than Kaiden Brown, hadn't she? Her father's ruin, public humiliation, financial collapse… all of it. This was just another battlefield, albeit one that involved a man who could make her blood boil with a single glance.
The marketing presentation was a disaster at first. Daisy's voice trembled as she addressed the team, fumbling over words she had spent hours practicing. Kaiden, standing behind her, said nothing, his gaze piercing, his posture calm, commanding. Every time she faltered, she could feel his judgment like a weight pressing her to the floor.
But then, something shifted. She found herself recalling every lecture, every lesson from her family's old business experiences. She straightened her spine, lifted her chin, and delivered her points clearly, confidently. The room responded, nods of approval and murmurs of respect filling the air.
Kaiden's eyes flicked to her briefly, and she caught the faintest trace of a smile—almost imperceptible, but it made her pulse spike.
"You did well," he said quietly once they left the room.
"I didn't do anything remarkable," she muttered, trying to mask the flutter in her chest.
"You did more than you think," he replied. His voice was calm, almost dangerous in its certainty. "Do not underestimate yourself. It will cost you."
Daisy wanted to argue, to remind him she was not his subordinate in any sense beyond the contract. But the truth pressed against her like an iron weight: under his roof, under his rules, she had to play by his terms… at least for now.
Later, she returned to the penthouse, exhausted, mentally and physically. She had barely had a moment alone, and when she finally stepped into her private floor, she sank onto the couch, hand resting on her stomach.
The baby moved gently, a quiet reminder of the stakes she carried. This child was innocent, unknowing, and yet entirely entangled in the storm of Kaiden Brown. Daisy had promised herself she would protect it at all costs.
The sound of footsteps made her tense. She hadn't expected him to come to her floor. And yet, there he was, standing in the doorway, dark eyes unreadable.
"You're here late," Daisy said, voice guarded. "I didn't expect—"
"I work late," he interrupted, stepping inside. "You're learning about responsibilities. So should I."
Daisy's heart raced. She didn't want him here. She didn't want him watching her, judging her, claiming every inch of space she thought was hers. And yet… the undeniable fact remained: he had a power over her she could not deny, even if she wanted to.
"I don't need a lecture," she said sharply.
"You don't," he admitted. "But you will get one."
Daisy's hands clenched into fists. The old defiance rose within her. "I will not be controlled," she said firmly.
Kaiden's expression softened just enough to unsettle her. "You already are," he said, his voice low and calm. "Not by me, not fully. But by the circumstances. By the baby. By the contract. Accept it. Learn from it. Survive it. Or you'll regret every day you resist."
Daisy wanted to scream. She wanted to deny, to fight, to throw the papers into the fire and run far away. But she also knew he was right. She had survived her father's ruin, public humiliation, financial disaster. She could survive this. She would survive this.
The tension between them was electric, unspoken, charged with every unvoiced thought, every simmering emotion. Daisy realized something dangerous: every interaction with Kaiden Brown made her heart race, her mind spin, her body respond in ways she couldn't name.
And that terrified her.
Night fell. Daisy tried to read, tried to distract herself, but Kaiden's presence was everywhere. Not physically, not always, but in the rules, in the contract, in the memories of how he dominated every room, every conversation, every space she entered.
A knock on the door startled her. She rose, heart racing, to find him standing there again. No words this time—just a presence that demanded acknowledgment.
"I thought I should check on you," he said softly, almost humanly. "You've had a long day."
Daisy's pulse quickened. She wanted to tell him she didn't need his concern. She wanted to tell him he had no right. She wanted to push him out.
Instead, she said nothing.
Kaiden stepped closer, close enough that the air between them seemed to crackle. His hand hovered briefly near hers before retreating, leaving a phantom warmth. Daisy felt the pull, the dangerous magnetic draw, and wanted to resist. She also wanted to give in, just a little, just enough to see what he would do.
"You're stronger than I thought," he murmured. "And weaker than you believe."
Daisy's hands trembled. She wanted to argue. She wanted to leave. She wanted to deny every word. And yet… the truth pressed against her chest like a heavy weight: she had already survived, and she would survive again.
But Kaiden Brown would not make it easy.
And she wasn't sure if she wanted him to.