7:28 AM.
Elena stood outside her building.
Arms crossed.
Waiting.
She had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the contract.
His face.
His voice.
"You belong to me now."
Her jaw tightened.
"No," she muttered.
A black car stopped in front of her.
Silent.
Smooth.
Expensive.
The door opened.
The driver stepped out.
"Miss Carter."
She didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Yes."
"Mr. Wolfe is waiting."
Of course he was.
She got in.
No hesitation this time.
If she was trapped…
She would not act like it.
The ride was quiet.
Too quiet.
The city moved around her.
Normal.
Unaware.
While her life had changed overnight.
Her phone buzzed.
Another message.
From him.
"You're late."
Her eyes narrowed.
She checked the time.
7:32.
Her fingers moved fast.
"I'm on time."
The reply came instantly.
"I don't tolerate delays."
Her jaw tightened.
"Then you shouldn't have sent the car at 7:30."
Three dots.
Then—
Nothing.
Silence.
She smirked slightly.
First small win.
Wolfe Tower.
Again.
Cold.
Perfect.
She stepped out.
This time, no hesitation.
When she entered, the receptionist didn't ask anything.
Just nodded.
"Top floor."
Of course.
The elevator opened.
Same hallway.
Same silence.
But this time…
She didn't hesitate.
She walked straight to the office.
Opened the door.
He was already there.
Sitting.
Waiting.
Watching.
Like he had been expecting this exact moment.
"Miss Carter," he said.
Her voice was steady.
"Mr. Wolfe."
She didn't wait to be told.
She sat.
Across from him.
A pause.
Short.
Sharp.
"You were late," he said.
She leaned back slightly.
"No. Your driver was."
Silence.
Then—
Something changed.
Very slightly.
His eyes darkened.
Not anger.
Interest.
"You're testing limits," he said.
"I'm setting them."
A beat.
Then—
"There are no limits here."
Her gaze didn't move.
"There are for me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Tight.
He stood.
Slowly.
Walked toward her.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Elena didn't move.
Would not move.
He stopped in front of her.
Close again.
Too close.
"You think this is a negotiation," he said quietly.
Her heart beat faster.
But her voice stayed calm.
"It is."
A pause.
Then—
"No."
That single word felt like pressure.
Like weight.
Like something closing in.
He turned away.
Walked back to the desk.
Control again.
Distance again.
"Stand up," he said.
She frowned.
"What?"
"Stand."
She hesitated.
Then did.
Because refusing now would only make things worse.
He picked up a folder.
Walked past her.
Stopped behind her.
She felt it.
His presence.
Close.
Too close.
"You'll attend a meeting with me," he said.
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm not ready for that."
"You don't need to be."
"I don't even know what I'm doing here."
"You'll learn."
That answer irritated her more than anything.
She turned slightly.
Facing him.
"This isn't how this works."
His gaze dropped to her.
Cold.
Sharp.
"This is exactly how it works."
He handed her the folder.
"Read."
She took it.
Opened it.
Her eyes scanned quickly.
Then slowed.
Then stopped.
Her breath caught.
"This is… a merger deal."
"Yes."
"You want me in this meeting?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
A pause.
Then—
"Because I said so."
Her jaw tightened.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you need."
Elena closed the file.
Harder than necessary.
"You're not using me as decoration."
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"That's what you think this is?"
"I know men like you."
Silence.
That landed.
His gaze sharpened.
Dangerous now.
"Careful," he said quietly.
She didn't step back.
"I'm not here to smile and sit quietly."
"No," he said.
"You're here to listen."
"I don't follow orders."
"You signed a contract."
Again.
Always back to that.
Her chest rose slowly.
Then—
"Why me?" she asked again.
This time softer.
But more real.
More direct.
Silence.
Longer now.
Different.
He didn't answer immediately.
That was new.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Very close.
Close enough that she could feel his breath.
"Because," he said quietly,
"you're the only one who ever looked at me… like I was nothing."
Her heart stopped.
Just for a second.
"What?"
His eyes didn't move.
"Five years ago."
Her mind raced.
Searching.
Confused.
"I don't—"
"You will," he said.
Cutting her off.
Cold again.
Controlled again.
He stepped back.
Distance.
Walls back up.
"Get ready," he said.
"Meeting starts in ten minutes."
Elena stood there.
Frozen.
Her thoughts spinning.
Five years ago?
What was he talking about?
She had never—
Then it hit.
A memory.
Blurry.
Old.
A party.
A man.
A moment.
A mistake.
Her breath caught.
"No…" she whispered.
Across the room…
Adrian Wolfe watched her.
And for the first time…
There was something different in his eyes.
Not just control.
Not just power.
Recognition.