Adrian & Elora POV
Adrian noticed immediately.
She was avoiding him completely. No glances. No accidental encounters. Not a hint of acknowledgment. It had been three days since the classroom incident. She had gone out of her way to take different routes, avoid common areas, and bury herself in work or studies.
He remembered the last time clearly. The way she had pushed him, the frantic pulse in her throat, the sharp glare in her eyes. He remembered how small she had seemed pressed against the wall, how soft her scent was in that enclosed space, how instinctively alive she had felt beneath him. He loved that.
He had left that day with nothing more than a calm expression, but the memory lingered, constant. Every time he saw her across campus, even from a distance, the memory came back. Her resistance fascinated him. It fueled a desire to see her again, closer, and on his terms.
For the first time, he realized that her avoidance was absolute. She wasn't just cautious. She was fearful, and rightly so. She had every reason to be. But it did nothing to diminish his interest. If anything, it sharpened it.
He decided to give her space. But not too much. He had messages to send, small, controlled. He had been away from work for too long, attending meetings and handling other obligations, so he would bide his time. And in the meantime, he would strategize.
Elora hadn't noticed the messages at first.
Small notifications flickered on her phone. "Hope your day went well," "Don't let the library kill you," "Coffee?"
She ignored them all. Every single one. His timing, his tone, even his restraint—none of it mattered. She was determined. She would not give him the satisfaction of acknowledgment.
But he didn't panic. He didn't need her panic. That would come later. He only needed to think, to plan. And he had the perfect leverage.
Adrian considered her situation carefully.
Her finances weren't secret. He knew from casual conversations, from observing the way she managed her life. She lived frugally. She worked odd jobs just to cover necessities. She had nowhere stable except her small apartment and her campus routines. She was practical, intelligent, but she had vulnerabilities he could exploit without her ever suspecting danger.
A plan formed quickly. He would offer her something she could not refuse. It had to be tempting, but controlled, with clear boundaries he could enforce.
A few days later, he sent a carefully worded message:
"I have a proposal for you. It could help you with your weekend schedule and ease your financial worries. If you're interested, we can talk."
He left it at that, letting her stew.
Elora's mind raced when she saw the message.
She hated the idea of speaking to him. She hated that he seemed to know her habits, her weaknesses. But she also hated being broke. A job that covered her weekend hours and included accommodations sounded too convenient to dismiss.
She debated it for hours. Finally, practicality won over pride. She replied tersely:
"Fine. Tell me what it is."
Adrian responded almost immediately, calm and precise:
"You will work as help in an apartment. Your pay is guaranteed. Your accommodations are covered. You arrive Sunday evening, leave Friday evening and return to your routine on weekends. Simple, discreet, and beneficial."
Elora hesitated, staring at the screen. She did not like him. She did not trust him. But her account balance was glaring at her from the app.
Friday came faster than expected.
She arrived at the apartment, carrying her small bag, nervous, cautious, and alert. The building was quiet, orderly, and luxurious. Adrian was already there, casually observing from a corner. He didn't approach immediately. He let her notice him, but on her terms.
"I assume you've read the instructions," he said, voice calm but commanding. "You do exactly what is expected. Your accommodations are ready. Your schedule is clear. Do not overstep. Do not assume. Do not complain. Everything else will follow naturally."
Elora's instinct was to retreat. She kept her eyes level, expression neutral, and nodded without speaking.
He observed her carefully. Every motion. Every hesitation. Every subtle glance around the apartment. She was cautious, careful, and entirely unaware of how much he noticed.
Her role was simple. Clean, organize, and maintain the apartment. She could go home Friday evening to Sunday evening, but she was technically under his observation during the entire period. He would remain in the background, subtle, calm, watching, waiting.
It was perfect. He had her back under his radar without force. Without confrontation. Without the previous friction. He had created leverage she could not ignore.
Elora did not realize how tightly controlled this situation was.
As she unpacked her things, she told herself repeatedly: she was there for the money. Nothing more. She would not engage. She would not falter. She would not let him have power over her emotions.
Adrian watched quietly from across the room, noting her careful movements, the tension in her shoulders, the subtle way her eyes scanned the corners of the apartment. He smiled faintly, satisfied.
Everything was in motion. She was there. Within reach. Hesitant, cautious, alive. And over the weekend, he would have plenty of time to observe, to guide, and to test her limits.
The game had begun.