Chapter 4 Terms Of The Deal

Elena leaned against the gallery wall, her thoughts racing as the cryptic message burned in her mind. "Victoria's not the only one watching. Be careful." Her grip on her phone tightened. This deal was already pulling her into shadows she hadn't agreed to step into.

The sound of purposeful footsteps drew her attention. Aiden Thorn appeared, his composed demeanor giving nothing away, but his eyes were sharper than usual.

"You called," he said simply.

She stepped forward, holding out her phone. "This isn't just about Victoria, is it? Someone else is digging into your life. Or mine."

Aiden scanned the message, his jaw tightening. When he handed the phone back, his expression was grim.

"Victoria thrives on theatrics, but this isn't her style. Someone else is trying to cause trouble," he said, his tone clipped.

Elena folded her arms, her frustration rising. "I didn't sign up to be collateral damage in your personal battles, Aiden. You assured me this was a business arrangement, but now I'm getting dragged into things I don't even understand."

His gaze softened slightly, though his stance remained firm. "You're right. I underestimated how quickly the vultures would circle. But I'll handle this, Elena."

She frowned, unconvinced. "How? By ignoring it and hoping it goes away?"

"No," Aiden said, his voice firm. "You're moving into the Thorn Estate tomorrow. I'll have security monitoring the grounds, and any threats will be eliminated before they reach you."

Elena's eyes narrowed. "You mean I'll be under surveillance? That wasn't part of the deal, Aiden."

"This situation has changed," he countered. "Protecting you is now part of the agreement, whether you like it or not."

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped, recognizing the resolve in his voice. Still, the idea of being watched left her uneasy.

"Fine," she said finally. "But I'm not going to hide away like some damsel in distress. If someone's targeting me, I want to know why."

Aiden's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. "Duly noted. Just don't make it harder for my team to do their job."

The tension between them was palpable, neither willing to back down. Finally, Aiden stepped back, his expression unreadable.

"I'll have someone pick you up at 10 a.m. Be ready."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked out of the gallery, leaving her with her racing thoughts.

---

The next morning, Elena stood outside her apartment, her single suitcase at her feet. A sleek black car pulled up, and a professional-looking driver stepped out to greet her.

"Miss Reyes?" he asked politely.

She nodded, allowing him to load her belongings into the trunk. As the car glided through the city streets, Elena stared out the window, trying to steel herself for whatever awaited her at the Thorn Estate.

When they arrived, the sheer scale of the property took her breath away. The sprawling mansion loomed ahead, surrounded by manicured lawns and guarded gates. It was a world entirely unlike her own-a world that felt both suffocating and strangely alluring.

As she stepped inside, Aiden was waiting for her in the grand foyer. His presence was as commanding as ever, but there was a flicker of something softer in his gaze as he looked at her.

"Welcome," he said simply.

Elena forced herself to meet his eyes. "Let's get one thing straight. I'm here because of the contract, not because I trust you."

"Understood," Aiden replied, his tone unreadable. "But whether you trust me or not, you'll be safe here."

She wanted to believe him, but something told her that safety was the last thing she'd find in his world.