Sophia woke the next morning in a haze of heat and memory.
The sunlight spilled through the tall glass windows of Adrian's penthouse bedroom, painting golden streaks across the sheets. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget — to simply lie there, cocooned in silk, with the faint scent of him clinging to the pillows.
But reality always returned.
She rolled over and found the other side of the bed empty, cold. Adrian was gone.
A flicker of disappointment tugged at her chest before she shoved it down. What had she expected? A tender good morning? Coffee in bed? Adrian Blackwood wasn't that man. He didn't do softness.
Still, the hollow space beside her made her uneasy.
---
Strange Behavior
The unease grew over the next week.
Sophia began to notice things — small things, at first. Adrian's phone buzzing at odd hours. The way he would step out onto the balcony, voice low, whenever he answered. The late nights at the office that stretched longer than usual.
And the look in his eyes when he came back, as though carrying a storm he refused to share.
Once, she caught a glimpse of his phone screen when he left it on the counter. A name flashed before it disappeared — "Marcus."
The way Adrian snatched the phone up instantly made her pulse spike.
"What are you hiding?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
He froze, then turned to her slowly. "You've been here long enough to know that I don't appreciate accusations."
"That's not an answer."
His jaw flexed, but he didn't give her one. Instead, he brushed past her, muttering, "Stay out of things that don't concern you."
The words cut. Because hadn't everything in her life been forced to concern him the moment she signed that contract?
---
Seeds Of Doubt
That night, Sophia sat at her vanity, brushing out her hair, watching her reflection in the mirror.
Why had Adrian chosen her? Out of all the women he could have — women polished, wealthy, perfectly suited to his world — why the broke girl with nothing left?
She wanted to believe it was chemistry. That somewhere beneath his icy control, he wanted her.
But the whisper in her mind grew louder: What if she was just a pawn? A tool in whatever dangerous game Adrian was playing behind her back?
The thought made her stomach twist.
She didn't even hear him enter the room until his reflection appeared behind hers in the mirror.
"You're thinking too much," Adrian murmured, his voice low.
Sophia flinched, but his hands were already on her shoulders, sliding down her arms, grounding her.
"Tell me what you're hiding," she whispered, meeting his gaze in the mirror.
He pressed his lips to the curve of her neck instead of answering. "Not tonight."
---
The Fragile Romance
She should have pushed him away. Demanded the truth. But the heat of his touch drowned out her doubts.
Adrian turned her gently, lifting her from the vanity chair and pulling her close. His kiss was slower this time, deliberate — as though he knew she was on the edge of breaking and wanted to keep her tethered.
"Stop running from me," he murmured against her lips.
"Then stop giving me reasons not to trust you," she breathed back, her fingers clutching his shirt.
The passion that followed wasn't wild like before; it was deeper, laced with something softer, something frightening.
When it was over, Sophia lay against him, her cheek pressed to his chest. His heartbeat was steady, but his silence screamed louder than any words.
She knew he was still hiding something.
---
The Warning
Two days later, Adrian was called away suddenly for another "meeting." He left with a kiss to her forehead that felt more like a distraction than affection.
Sophia stayed behind, restless, pacing the quiet mansion.
She decided to clear her head with a walk through the gardens. The air was crisp, the sky painted with the colors of dusk. For a moment, she almost felt at peace.
Until she wasn't alone.
A tall figure stepped out from the shadows of the hedge-lined path. A man, sharp suit, sharper eyes. He moved with confidence, the kind of confidence that came from power.
"Sophia."
She froze. "Do I know you?"
The man's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Not yet. But I know you. And I know the mistake you've made."
Her pulse quickened. "Who are you?"
"Let's just say I'm someone who's been watching Adrian Blackwood for a very long time. A rival, if you will." His gaze raked over her. "And now, I see he's chosen… you."
The way he said it made her skin crawl.
"What do you want from me?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "To warn you. You don't belong in Adrian's world. Whatever contract you've signed, whatever game he's playing, it won't end well for you. Walk away now, before it destroys you."
Sophia's breath caught. "Why should I believe you?"
His smile widened, but his eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "Because unlike Adrian, I don't need to lie to you."
And with that, he slipped back into the shadows, leaving Sophia shaken, her heart pounding in her ears.