Chapter 3 Penthouse Rules

Sebastian Cade's Penthouse - 7:58 PM

Amara stepped off the private elevator, and the doors closed behind her with a soft whoosh-sealing her into a world that wasn't hers.

The penthouse wasn't just luxurious. It was a statement of dominance. Polished marble floors, warm lighting embedded in curved ceilings, walls of glass revealing a glittering Chicago skyline.

It was the kind of place built not just to be lived in, but to impress... or intimidate. She dragged her suitcase behind her, heels clicking as she walked into the main lounge. Before she could absorb another detail, she heard his voice.

"You're early again." She turned.

Sebastian was standing by the built-in fireplace, dressed down this time-in black slacks and a dark gray sweater that hugged his body in a way she refused to acknowledge out loud. "I like to be prepared," she replied, chin lifted. He raised a brow, then pointed toward a hallway. "Guest suite's at the end. You'll find everything you need-clothes, toiletries, workspace." "You bought me clothes?" she asked, startled. "I prefer not to see you in the same outfit twice," he said simply.

"You'll be a representation of me while you're here. Clean lines. No chaos." "So I'm a work of art now?" she said, eyebrow raised. His eyes swept down her figure unapologetically. "You always were." She felt the heat creep up her neck, cursed her body for reacting, and turned quickly toward the hall. "Right. I'll settle in." Guest Suite - 8:20 PM She stared at the walk-in closet like it might swallow her whole. Everything was color-coded. Designer labels she'd only seen in magazines. Silks. Satins. Nudes. Neutrals. Power-dressing with a sensual edge. And hanging in the center? A note in that same clean serif font: Tomorrow at 7 AM.

Boardroom meeting. Dress accordingly. - S. Cade She almost laughed. Almost. Her life had officially crossed into a new realm of strange. Dining Room - 9:03 PM She'd changed into a soft cream loungewear set she found folded on the bed-modest, but expensive. She hadn't expected him to invite her for dinner, yet here he was, pouring two glasses of wine at the marble dining table. "Join me," he said without looking. "I didn't know this was included in the job description."

"It's not. But I like... observation." He handed her a glass. "Helps me understand people." She sat. "What are you trying to understand about me, Mr. Cade?" He studied her over the rim of his glass. "Why someone with your skillset is still living paycheck to paycheck." Her stomach turned. "That's... a little invasive."

He didn't flinch. "You signed the contract. You're living in my home. There's nothing between us that isn't allowed to be known." She sipped her wine slowly, eyes never leaving his. "Then what about you? What don't you want me to know?" A beat of silence. Then, slowly, Sebastian smiled. But this time, it wasn't charming. It was wicked. Dangerous. "There's a reason I chose you, Amara. And when I'm ready, I'll tell you." Her breath caught. "And when that happens?" she asked, voice soft. He leaned closer, voice a dark whisper. "Then you'll have to decide whether to walk away-or fall." Later That Night - Amara's Room She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Not because of the bed-it was perfect. Not because of the silence-it was heavy, but bearable. But because somewhere in the penthouse, just beyond these walls, was a man who unsettled her entire nervous system. A man who knew her name before she walked in. A man who offered her money and rules and mystery. And worst of all... A man she couldn't stop thinking about. Elsewhere - Sebastian's Study Sebastian sat at his desk, staring at a photo tucked in a leather folder. It was old. Amara, maybe nineteen. Her father beside her. Smiling. Clueless. The rage in his chest simmered beneath the surface. "She's just the beginning," he muttered to himself. "He took everything from me. Now I'll take everything from him." He closed the folder with a snap. "Starting with her."