The morning sun did not gently wake the penthouse it came through the windows in the master bedroom like a sharp knife. Elara groaned, the sound catching roughly in her throat. Her head felt less like a human skull and more like a hollowed out concrete mixer. Every time her heart beat it felt like someone was hitting her head. She expected to feel her own soft sheets, but her skin rubbed against something else. her skin immediately fringed against something entirely different, cool, heavy, impossibly expensive silk.
The scent hit her next, Alaric Virement's scent of Rain, cedar wood, and something deeply masculine that made her stomach do a violent, complicated flip. She started to remember things. It was not in order. It was like a mess. She remembered being at Yuze's place, the third beer. The elevator ride. Stumbling through Alaric's front door. The frantic, desperate tearing at his collar, and the devastating, unholy friction of his mouth against hers. He had warned her they would regret it. She had told him to shut up. Elara sat up fast. She felt dizzy and like she was going to be sick. She was alone in the bed. The other side of the bed was empty. She could see where Alaric had been lying. She looked at herself she was wearing one of Alaric's shirts. It was really big on her. "Oh No" she whispered, her voice cracking. "No, no, no." She wasn't just a Montclair anymore; she was Sebastian's fiancée. And last night, she had thrown herself into the bed of Sebastian's ruthless, terrifying younger brother.
The vivid playback of the night before didn't just flash through Elara's mind; it practically drop-kicked its way through her hangover.
Sitting on the edge of the matte-black bed, she froze as the memories hit their absolute, unfiltered peak. She remembered everything. She remembered Alaric sliding off the bed onto the thick carpet, his large hands hooking under her hips to drag her to the edge of the mattress. She remembered the shocking, piercing heat of his tongue licking a slow stripe up her folds, forcing her to literally stuff his discarded shirt into her mouth just to muffle her own undignified screeching.
And god, the rest of it. The way he'd stood up, grabbed her ankles to open her up completely, and buried his entire length inside her with that single, deep, unyielding thrust. Her brain practically short circuited recalling the rough, heavy momentum the literal sound of their bodies slapping together echoing in the sterile penthouse while the entire heavy mattress shifted violently against the headboard. He had pinned her down, smothering her cries with a bruising, sweaty kiss, forcing her to ride that chaotic wave until her mind fractured entirely.
The physical reaction to the memory was immediate, highly unhelpful, and deeply alarming.
A sudden, intense rush of heat pooled right between her thighs, a heavy wave of slick wetness dampening her skin. Her body was apparently throwing a party that her conscience definitely hadn't invited it to.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Elara hissed to herself.
Panic setting in, she instantly crossed her thighs together so tightly you couldn't have slipped a legal brief between them. She squeezed her eyes shut, her face glowing a brilliant, radioactive shade of crimson. Her skin felt hot, a flush spreading down her neck as she sat there, practically vibrating with a mix of leftover lust, absolute terror, and profound embarrassment.
She wanted to disappear. No she wanted the floor to open up, swallow her whole, and deposit her on a different continent where the name Virement didn't exist.
Realizing she couldn't sit on the bed of sin forever, she scrambled to her feet. Her legs felt like freshly cooked noodles, and the physical reminder of his possession slicked her skin with every step. Shaking like a leaf, she hastily yanked on her underwear, threw on her leggings—which felt entirely too tight against her sensitized skin—and hauled her oversized hoodie over her head like a hazmat suit.
Clutching the aspirin and the glass of water with trembling fingers, she downed the pills, took a deep breath, and began her escape.
Hoping to bypass the Grim Reaper entirely, Elara lifted her heels and began to sneak across the suite on absolute tip-toes. She looked like a cartoon burglar in a multi-million dollar penthouse, trying to move her weight so precisely that her bare feet wouldn't make a single peep against the polished concrete. If she could just reach the private elevator without triggering his predatory, billionaire senses, she might survive the day.
Naturally, she didn't even make it past the kitchen island before a deep, smooth voice cut through the silence.
"If you're trying to sneak out, your posture is terrible." Downstairs in Apartment 4B, the atmosphere was really relaxed. It was not like Alaric's place, with its fancy stress.
The rain started at exactly 8:17 a.m. Shen Yuze noticed, because of course he did.
The first drop of rain hit the windows that go from the floor to the ceiling just as he turned down the heat under the pan. By the time the coffee was ready, rain was streaming down the glass in lines, making the city of New York look all fuzzy and grey.
It was nice and warm inside the penthouse apartment.
The lights under the kitchen counters were on. They looked nice against the black marble. The butter, in the pan was making a crackling sound. The coffee smelled strong and bitter it was an expensive kind of coffee that some people might think is too pricey.
Yuze moved through the kitchen with practiced precision, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, glasses low on his nose as he checked something on his tablet between cooking.
Then someone started aggressively punching his front doorbell.
Not once. Continuously. Yuze closed his eyes slowly .
"IF YOU'RE IGNORING ME ", Sara Bennett yelled through the door, "I'M REPORTING YOU TO RESOURCES FOR EMOTIONAL ABUSE."
Yuze didn't even look up from the stove. "You don't work here."
"I work everywhere spiritually."
The bell rang six times.
Yuze put down the spatula with an expression, like a man rethinking his life choices.
When he opened the door cold air with a rain scent rushed in.
Sara Bennett stood there holding an iced coffee and absolutely zero shame.
She looked like she'd gotten dressed during a power outage.
An oversized dark green t-shirt hung off one shoulder, nearly swallowing her whole. A tiny black skirt disappeared beneath it, paired with ripped tights and heavy boots wet from rain. Silver rings flashed across her fingers as she pushed damp, dark hair away from smudged eyeliner. Somehow, she looked both chaotic and put together at the same time. Like trouble with good taste.
Yuze shut the door behind her. "Why are you here this early?"
Sara dropped dramatically onto one of the barstools. "You told me the Henderson files needed revisions before eleven."
"I said sometime this week " Yuze replied.
"Exactly. And look at me," Sara said, spreading her arms. "I'm being proactive. I'm growing."
"You called me a parasite yesterday " sara said.
Yuze ignored her. Went back to the stove.
Sara watched him for a moment.
The apartment was spotless with marble counters and warm lighting. Rain tapped against the windows.
Then Sara saw the breakfast. Fresh fruit, eggs and toast.
Her expression turned suspicious. Sara sat across from him, looking at his tablet.
"Have you been working since morning?" she asked.
"I've been awake since five " Yuze replied.
"That sounds like a disease ", Sara said.
Yuzes phone beeped. He glanced at it. Paused.
Sara noticed. "Who texted you?" she asked.
"None of your business," Yuze replied.
"You looked concerned." she said
Yuze locked the screen immediately Too quickly.
Sara smiled sweetly. "You'd miss me."
Yuze ignored her.
"You know," she said casually, "for someone emotionally constipated, you're acting suspiciously human today."
Yuze took a sip of coffee. "And for someone employed under me, you're remarkably committed to disrespect."
"I think it builds character." she said with confidence
He said, "I think disrespecting me will get you fired."
Sara smiled nicely. "You would miss me if I was gone."
Yuze said, "No."
"You hesitated internally."
He ignored her.
Sara watched Yuze carefully. She noticed something about him was off today. Not that he was messy or emotional a little out of rhythm. It was like someone had walked into his organized life and moved one thing slightly. Most people would not notice this. Sara did.
"Okay " she said slowly "who is she?" Yuze almost choked on his coffee. It was a reaction, barely noticeable but Sara saw it right away. She sat up straight feeling triumphant. "Oh my god there is a she " she said.
Yuze denied it saying "there is not." Sara did not believe him. She thought he was hiding something. "You literally malfunctioned " she said, trying to get him to talk. Yuze just said he had inhaled his coffee incorrectly. Sara was not convinced.
Sara narrowed her eyes at Yuze over her coffee.
Yuze exhaled slowly through his nose then, finally "My best friend came last night."
The words hit Sara strangely. Not because of what he said. Because of the way he said it.
My best friend. Simple. Natural. Important.
Something unpleasant twisted briefly in Sara's chest before she shoved it down instantly.
"Oh," she said lightly, taking another sip of coffee like she couldn't care less. "You have friends now. That's adorable."
Yuze ignored the comment.
"She was drunk i don't know where she went i was dozed out."
The softness in his voice surprised Sara more than the actual story.
Because Shen Yuze wasn't soft with people.
Helpful? Sometimes. Reliable? Unfortunately yes. But soft? Rarely.
Something sharp poked at her chest again. "Maybe you should call her if you are worried" "You think i didn't?"
Something sharp poked at her chest again. Small Ridiculous.
She ignored it immediately.
"Wow," Sara said casually, looking away toward the rain. "You really care about her."
Yuze answered without hesitation. "She matters to me."
The ache in Sara's chest worsened irrationally.
Which was stupid because she didn't care.
"Oh," she said simply.
Yuze noticed the shift immediately. Of course, he did.
Sara Bennett was loud when she was comfortable. When she went quiet, it meant something.
But instead of asking about it, Yuze picked up his coffee again and looked toward the rain outside.
Ignoring things was one of his greatest talents.
Sara slid off the counter. "So," she said, voice lighter now, cleaner, "the Henderson files."
Yuze glanced at her.
The joking edge from earlier was mostly gone. She tucked loose hair behind her ear, already moving mentally into work mode.
Efficient. Focused.
It should not have disappointed him as much as it did. "The revisions are in the study," he said.
Sara nodded once and walked toward the hallway without another joke.
The apartment suddenly felt quieter after she left the kitchen.
Yuze stood there for a moment longer, coffee cooling slowly in his hand while rain blurred the city beyond the glass. On Alaric's penthouse
Elara stopped so violently she almost dropped the glass Her soul briefly left her body.
Slowly, painfully, she turned around.
Alaric Virement stood near the kitchen counter like he'd been placed there by a luxury watch advertisement. One hand rested loosely against the marble while the other held a black coffee mug. Steam curled upward through the dim grey light pouring in from the rainstorm outside.
He looked devastatingly awake Which felt deeply unfair.
His dark shirt was rolled to his forearms, exposing strong veins and expensive tattoos disappearing beneath the fabric. His hair looked slightly messy, like he'd run his hands through it recently.
Or like someone else had.
Elara's brain immediately betrayed her with several vivid memories from last night.
She almost choked on air.
"You tried to sneak out barefoot."
Elara looked down. Right. Barefoot. Wonderful. Humiliation complete.
She immediately stepped backwards, trying to regain the dignity she no longer possessed.
Unfortunately, her legs still felt weak from last night. Very weak.
One wrong step and her knee buckled slightly.
Alaric moved instantly. His hand caught her waist before she could stumble. Then, Three loud knocks sounded through the penthouse. Elara froze instantly.
Alaric's expression changed first. Not panic. just sudden coldness.
Another knock came from the front door. Slow. Patient. Not a guest.
Someone who expected the door to open.
Elara felt her stomach drop. "No " she whispered.
Alaric already knew what was going on.
The penthouse security system showed the entrance camera on the wall screen.
Sebastian Virement stood outside the private elevator lobby wearing a charcoal coat darkened slightly from rain. One hand rested in his pocket while the other adjusted his watch calmly.
Elegant. Perfect. Terrifyingly composed.
Elara felt all the blood drain from her face. "Oh my god." Her voice cracked.
Alaric's jaw tightened almost invisibly as he looked at the screen.
"He's early EARLY? Elara stared at him in horror. "He comes here often?!"
Before Alaric could answer, Sebastian knocked again.
Three times. Precise. Patient.
Like he already knew exactly what was happening inside. Panic exploded through Elara instantly.
"He cannot see me." She grabbed Alaric's arm hard enough to wrinkle the fabric. "Alaric, he cannot see me here."
Her engagement ring suddenly felt like it weighed ten pounds.
Sebastian was not stupid.
He notices everything. If he saw her barefoot in Alaric's shirt She genuinely might die.
Alaric looked down at her hand gripping his arm. Then back at her face.
Fear. Real fear. Not embarrassment anymore. Fear.
Another knock echoed through the penthouse.
This time Sebastian spoke calmly through the door. "Alaric."
Just that one name. it was deep and smooth and controlled. That just made things worse.
Elara looked around fast. "Where do I go now?"
Alaric moved away. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down the hallway quickly.
The penthouse felt too open all of a sudden It was too bright too easy to see everything.
The rain was hitting the windows hard while Elara was stumbling after Alaric with no shoes on her heart beating really fast against her ribs.
Alaric opened a room beside his office. "Go inside ", he said.
Elara stared at him You're putting me in a CLOSET?"
"Do you have a better plan?"
Fair. Elara slipped inside quickly.
Before Alaric shut the door, Elara caught his sleeve.
"Alaric." His eyes met hers instantly.
For one second, neither of them spoke.
Then she whispered "Don't let him find me."
Something unreadable crossed his face. The door shut softly. Darkness swallowed the room.
Outside the room Elara heard footsteps coming back through the penthouse from away.
Then the front door opened. There was a pause.
The door shut softly behind Elara. She was alone in the storage room.
The storage room was dark. Her breathing was too loud in the storage room.
Outside the storage room she heard footsteps.
Outside, she heard measured footsteps crossing the penthouse. Calm. Unhurried.
Then the front door opened.
"Sebastian." Alaric's voice was smooth again. Cold enough to hide everything.
A soft chuckle answered him.
"You sound irritated," Sebastian said pleasantly. "Should I come back later?"
Elara pressed herself closer against the shelves instinctively. Her pulse was beating fast.
"I wasn't expecting company," Alaric replied.
"No," Sebastian murmured. "You rarely do."
The silence that followed felt strange.
Not tense. Worse. Familiar.
Like two predators circling each other carefully. Elara swallowed hard.
Then she heard the soft clink of glass against marble.
Sebastian had probably helped himself to alcohol already. Of course, he had.
"That storm is getting ugly," Sebastian commented casually a pause. "Almost makes people stay places longer than intended."
Outside, the silence stretched for one terrifying second too long.
Then Sebastian moved away again.
Like he hadn't just casually reminded them both that he knew exactly where every room in this penthouse was.
Inside the storage room, Elara pressed both trembling hands against her mouth, fighting to keep her breathing quiet.
Outside, neither brother spoke. Outside, the footsteps started moving again.
Closer, not toward the exit, toward the hallway, toward her.
Her pulse exploded instantly No No no no.
The footsteps stopped directly outside the storage room door.
Elara froze so completely she almost stopped breathing.
On the other side of the door, Sebastian spoke softly.
"You kept the storage room."
The handle didn't move Not yet.
But Elara could feel him standing there, thinking Knowing.
Behind her ribs, panic clawed violently.
Then Sebastian laughed quietly under his breath "Interesting."
Alaric's voice cut sharply through the penthouse "Sebastian." A warning.
But Sebastian sounded entertained now.
"You know," he said casually, "Father always said you love to hide things ."
Elara stared at the door in absolute terror. Then
A shadow appeared beneath the crack at the bottom of it. Closer now.
The metal handle shifted slightly, just slightly.
And on the other side of the door
The handle turned.