Chapter 4 The Contract of Shadows

Celene stood in front of her mirror, the paper in her hand as cold as the offer it carried.

Twelve pages. Dense legalese. One signature line. Her name already typed beneath it.

At the top:

Confidential Arrangement Agreement Between Mr. Adrian Valerio and Ms. Celene Rivera

Beneath it, a bold subtitle:

Duration: Indefinite. Termination: Only by mutual consent.

She read it three times. Still didn't believe it.

A house. A monthly allowance that made her head spin. Designer wardrobes. A car with her name already on the lease.

And one condition: "Complete discretion and personal availability as required by Mr. Valerio."

Celene dropped the paper onto her coffee table and poured a shot of cheap vodka. It burned like truth.

*This is insanity. You don't sell your soul just because it's tired.*

*And yet... what if it was never truly yours to begin with?*

A knock on her door again-softer this time. She already knew who it was.

Adrian didn't wait to be invited. He stepped in like he owned the air. Black shirt, open collar, dark eyes gleaming with that dangerous calm.

"You've read it."

"You know I have."

"And?"

"You're serious about this?" she asked. "You want to... keep me like a damn pet?"

His smile was faint. "I want to own the part of you that doesn't belong to the world."

"I'm not something you can own."

"But you're something I can protect," he said softly. "Do you want to dance every night for leering strangers or be seen only by the man who actually sees you?"

She exhaled sharply. "This is wrong."

"It feels wrong because it's honest. We both want something. I want you. You want security. It's a transaction-but one laced with fire."

"You think I'm for sale?"

"No," he murmured, stepping closer. "I think you're for rescue. I'm just charging a different kind of price."

He lifted her hand. His lips brushed her knuckles. "You still have a choice, Celene."

She swallowed. Her pulse thundered. Her body screamed yes. Her pride hissed no.

And then her fingers reached for the pen.

With one signature, the lines blurred between power and surrender.

Adrian stepped forward, claimed her mouth in a kiss that felt like possession. Like war. Like the beginning of something too massive to name.

When they broke apart, he whispered against her lips:

"Tomorrow, I move you in."