The ride to Daniel's penthouse was quiet but filled with unspoken tension. Jade kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye, still trying to process everything the proposal, the contract, the goodbye to her mother… and now this.
When the car pulled into the private underground entrance of the skyscraper, Jade looked up.
Her jaw almost dropped.
The building towered above the clouds, made of shimmering glass and black marble. It looked more like the headquarters of some futuristic empire than a place someone actually lived.
As they entered the private elevator, Daniel casually tapped a code, and the doors closed silently.
"You live here alone?" Jade asked, half-joking, half-stunned.
Daniel smirked. "For now."
Ding.
The elevator doors opened directly into the penthouse.
Jade stepped out and froze.
Marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city skyline, walls lined with modern art, and a faint scent of luxury she didn't even know luxury had a scent, but this place smelled expensive.
"Welcome," Daniel said simply.
Jade took a few cautious steps forward, still stunned.
"This place is insane…" she whispered, then added sarcastically, "Do I get a map, or do I just risk getting lost in the guest bathroom?"
Daniel chuckled. "You'll get used to it."
He walked past her and loosened his tie. "Your room is down the hall on the left. But don't worry my lawyer insisted we put that in the contract," he added, teasingly.
Jade gave him a side glance. "Good. Wouldn't want to breach any clauses on day one."
As Jade wandered through the penthouse, still half in disbelief, Daniel's voice called out behind her, calm and deliberate.
"Don't forget our contract… I expect my goodnight kiss at 11:30. In my room."
Jade turned her head, arching a brow. "Relax, I'm not going to climb out a window."
He gave a faint, knowing smile, then walked off, leaving her alone to explore.
She found the room Daniel had pointed to earlier and the moment she stepped in, she froze.
"This is... a guest room?" she muttered, glancing around.
It was bigger than her entire apartment. Plush velvet headboard, silk sheets, soft golden lighting, a bathroom that looked like a spa, and a walk-in closet with glass doors.
Curious, she stepped into the dressing room and her jaw dropped again.
Rows of clothes hung neatly in place. Dresses, heels, bags, accessories all her size. Someone had been here already.
"Helena," she whispered knowingly. "Of course."
She slid open one section of the closet and found sleepwear — or, more accurately, the most luxurious collection of lingerie and seductive pajamas she'd ever seen*.
Jade pulled out a soft silk nightgown short, winered, and dangerously delicate.
She groaned. "Seriously, Helena? Did we not agree that is', not 'honeymoon package'?"
Still, after a long, hot bath, the silk felt too comfortable to resist. She slid it on, examined herself in the mirror, then sighed.
"Great. Now I look like the lead in a drama where the fake wife starts catching real feelings," she muttered.
The clock ticked closer to 11:30.
Her heart did something weird.
Jade stepped into Daniel's room slowly, the door creaking just a little as she entered.
It was dimly lit, sleek and elegant all dark wood, warm lighting, and an air of quiet power. The kind of room that didn't need to try hard to impress.
Daniel wasn't there… at first.
But the faint sound of running water behind the frosted glass door told her everything.
"He's in the shower," she murmured, awkwardly standing in place.
She sighed, then sat down stiffly on the edge of his bed, crossing her legs and trying not to overthink. "Alright. Just one kiss. One quick kiss and done. It's in the contract," she whispered to herself.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened.
And Daniel walked out.
Completely naked.
Jade's eyes widened in horror, and she immediately spun around, hands up as if shielding herself.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she shrieked, her voice higher than usual.
Daniel didn't flinch. "Relax. You're the one who walked into my room. My house. My rules."
"I know it's your house," she shot back, still facing the wall. "But ever heard of a towel?"
He walked calmly past her toward his wardrobe, utterly unbothered. "I usually don't need one when I'm alone. You're the exception. Not the habit."
Jade groaned. "This marriage is going to kill me."
Daniel smirked as he pulled on a pair of sweatpants. "That's not in the contract."
She peeked only after she was sure the coast was clear.
"Next time, I'm knocking. Or texting. Or both."
"Next time," he repeated with a lazy grin, "you'll be used to it"
Daniel sat beside her on the bed, a towel draped casually over his damp hair, wearing only a pair of black lounge shorts. His bare chest glistened slightly from the shower, and the heat from his skin radiated close to hers.
Jade tried not to look.
Tried.
He leaned in just slightly, his voice low and smooth. "Why did you panic when you saw me naked I'm your husband, after all."
Jade, clearly flustered, shot him a look. "Correction. I'm not your wife yet."
Daniel smirked, clearly amused by her sass.
He gently cupped her cheek, his thumb grazing her skin. Her entire face flushed instantly she hadn't expected that touch.
His amber eyes locked onto hers, dark and unreadable. "Or… am I just too nice to look at?" he teased.
A shy smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
Then he leaned in.
His lips brushed lightly against the curve of her neck.
She jumped slightly, her whole body tensing as her breath caught. She didn't know if it was shock… or something else. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
Her thoughts were spinning.
Just when she was about to melt under his touch, her senses kicked back in. She pushed him away with both hands and stood up, cheeks flaming.
"That wasn't a simple kiss. That's not what we agreed on," she said, trying to steady her voice.
Daniel, still sitting on the bed, watched her with a smug smile. "Relax. I won't go further than a kiss. Yet. But… let's be honest, you'll be the one begging me to touch you like a real woman soon enough."
Her eyes widened. "W-what?!"
He stood and leaned forward again this time kissing her softly on the lips.
"Goodnight," he whispered.
She turned quickly, ready to escape the heat in the room, but his voice caught her again.
"With all that fiery attitude, you're scared of a naked man? Or just scared of doing things reserved for adults?"
He was clearly enjoying himself.
She shot him a sharp glare before storming out, heart racing like a drum in her chest.