The morning sunlight filtered through the towering curtains, painting the room in gold. Lila stepped carefully into the kitchen, her stomach twisting with nerves. She hadn't expected living with a man like Adrian to feel so… suffocating.
Adrian was already there, meticulously reading over documents, his tie slightly loose but his posture perfect. He didn't look up when she entered.
"Coffee?" Lila asked tentatively, hoping for a smile, any sign of warmth.
He paused, finally glancing at her with those piercing eyes. "Make your own."
She swallowed her irritation and moved to the coffee machine, trying not to spill. Every small noise felt deafening, every glance too intense.
Breakfast passed in silence, broken only by the occasional clink of cutlery. When she tried to speak, he offered only curt answers.
After breakfast, Adrian suddenly stood. "We're going to the office. You'll come."
Lila blinked. "Me? I… I don't even work there!"
He ignored her protest. "You're under my contract. Observation is part of it."
At the office, Lila followed silently, absorbing the hustle of the corporate world. The employees barely glanced at her, but she could feel their whispers, their curiosity about the CEO's new wife.
Hours passed. Lila stumbled over unfamiliar terminology, nearly knocking over a stack of files. Adrian caught them with a single hand, his eyes blazing.
"Careful," he warned, his tone sharp but his grip gentle.
The close proximity sent a strange warmth through her chest. She quickly turned away, wishing she could disappear.
By evening, exhausted and embarrassed, Lila returned home. She found a single envelope on the table, addressed to her in Adrian's neat handwriting.
Inside was a note:
"You survived the day. Tomorrow, you'll do better. Or you'll learn why rules exist."
Her heart raced. Was it a warning… or something more?
Was Adrian testing her… or teasing her? And why did she feel her heart flutter against her will?