The city lights blurred outside the window.
Elena sat in silence.
The contract was still on the desk.
Signed.
Real.
Irreversible.
Her chest felt tight.
"You can leave now," Adrian said.
His voice was calm again.
Like nothing had happened.
Like she had not just given him a year of her life.
Elena stood slowly.
Her legs felt weak.
But she refused to show it.
"I want a copy," she said.
He looked at her.
A small pause.
Then—
"You'll get one."
Not "yes."
Not "of course."
Just that.
Controlled.
Everything about him was controlled.
She hated it.
She turned to leave.
Hand on the door.
"Tomorrow," he said.
She stopped.
Did not turn.
"8 AM. You start working for me."
Her fingers tightened on the handle.
"I already have a job."
"No, you don't."
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, she turned.
"What?"
He leaned back slightly.
Relaxed.
Too relaxed.
"I bought the company this morning."
Silence.
Her mind went blank.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
Her stomach dropped.
"You can't just—"
"I can," he said simply.
And that was the worst part.
He wasn't bragging.
He was stating a fact.
Elena stepped closer.
Anger rising fast now.
"You had no right."
His eyes didn't move.
"I have every right."
"You ruined my job."
"I replaced it."
"That's not the same thing!"
Her voice echoed in the office.
Sharp.
Alive.
For a second…
Something flickered in his eyes.
Interest.
"Sit," he said.
Again.
That same tone.
She didn't move.
"I'm not your employee."
A pause.
Then—
"You signed the contract."
Silence.
It hit again.
Hard.
Her jaw tightened.
Slowly, she sat.
Because fighting him like this… was useless.
For now.
He opened another file.
Thinner.
Clean.
Precise.
"Your new position," he said.
She didn't take it.
"What is this?"
"You'll assist me directly."
Her eyes narrowed.
"No."
"Yes."
"I'm not your assistant."
"You are whatever I need you to be."
The words were calm.
But they landed like a threat.
Her chest tightened.
"I didn't agree to that."
He slid the contract slightly closer to her.
"Page four."
She stared at it.
Then opened it.
Her eyes moved quickly.
Then stopped.
Her breath caught.
Clause 7.
"The employee agrees to fulfill any role assigned by Mr. Wolfe during the duration of the contract."
Her hands clenched.
"You planned this."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No shame.
Nothing.
Elena looked up at him.
Really looked this time.
"You're insane."
A small pause.
Then—
"Maybe."
But there was no humor in his voice.
Only certainty.
She pushed the file back.
"I won't do it."
"You will."
"No."
"You don't have a choice."
"I always have a choice."
A beat.
Then—
"Your father doesn't."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Her breath.
Her thoughts.
Her anger.
All of it.
Crushed in one sentence.
She looked away first.
She hated that.
Hated him.
Hated this.
"Don't use him," she said quietly.
"I'm not using him."
He stood.
Walked around the desk.
Slow.
Controlled.
Stopped in front of her.
Close again.
Too close.
"I'm reminding you what's at stake."
Her hands trembled slightly.
She forced them still.
"I'll work," she said.
The words tasted bitter.
"But I'm not yours."
His gaze dropped slightly.
To her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
"You already are."
Her heart skipped.
She hated that too.
He stepped back.
Distance again.
Control again.
"Tomorrow," he said.
"Be on time."
She stood.
Faster this time.
"I will."
She walked to the door.
Stopped.
Turned.
"One year," she said.
"Yes."
"After that, I'm free."
A pause.
Then—
"We'll see."
Her stomach dropped.
"That's not what we agreed."
His expression didn't change.
"You signed the contract."
Cold.
Final.
Unmoving.
Elena left.
The door closed behind her.
But the pressure didn't.
It followed her.
Into the elevator.
Into the night.
Into her chest.
She stepped outside.
The air felt different.
Heavier.
Like something had shifted.
And it had.
Her life was no longer hers.
Her phone buzzed.
Message.
Unknown number.
She opened it.
A single line.
"Driver will pick you up at 7:30 AM. Don't be late."
No name.
No signature.
She didn't need one.
Elena looked up at Wolfe Tower.
Tall.
Cold.
Watching.
Like him.
She took a slow breath.
"I'm not losing," she whispered.
Not to him.
To herself.
But somewhere deep inside…
She already knew.
This wasn't a game she could win.