The first night in the mansion wasn't something Elana had imagined.

Her room was lovely, the bed was softer than she thought but instead of comfort, it felt like mockery.

She sat down quietly on the bed, listening to the hollow silence, reminding her she was all alone.

The morning came so soon.

Elena barely slept. The bed was comfortable, yes, but whenever she closed her eyes..his face appeared..

By 6 am,she was already staring at the ceiling when the housekeeper walked in with a tray.

“Get up and change into your uniform.”She barked. She handed over the tray which contained the folded black dress, a leather note, a tablet, and a pen.

“I hope that’s not a maid’s cloth,” Elena said frowning.

The housekeeper’s mouth tightened. “No, Mr Adrian has decided you will serve as his assistant. You will run errands, manage calls, fetch him coffee, and take notes. Understood?”

She found him in his study, he was already dressed, and he had this aura of power that made the whole room bend around him.

“You’re late”, he said without looking up, still flipping through the documents.

“It’s six fifty-five.”

He lifted his head gently. His eyes cut into her. “In this house, five minutes early is on time. Sit.”

He slid a folder containing all her work duties towards her.”You’ll shadow me everywhere.”He said with a smirk.

Elena blinked” Shadow you? You mean all day?”

“Yes all day” he replied coldly.

He leaned back, watching her. Something wrong?

She remained quiet.

He stood moving towards the door. Let’s begin. I have meetings, you will take notes.

She rushed to grab the notebook and the tablet, nearly tripping on the edge of the rug.

“That's clumsy,” he said. Try not to embarrass me today.

“I’ll do my best not to trip over your ego,” she murmured under her breath.

“Careful Miss Elena. He said turning his head sharply. My ego pays your debt.”

Her cheeks heated. She hated that he always had the last word.

The day was tiring.

She followed him through endless meetings, jotting his instructions as he barked at the people twice her age who trembled at his tone. His arrogance was beyond imagination, he had zero tolerance and patience.. Yet, no one dared argue.

By noon, Elena’s hand ached from writing. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since the rushed breakfast.

Adrian asked Elena to go to a business dinner with him. She thought he wanted her to take notes instead she realized her presence there was a test.

The men at the tables were all dressed in suits, laughing loudly, and drinking too much wine. One of them, a young sly investor walked towards Elena when Adrian’s attention was elsewhere.

“So you're Adrian’s assistant”, he said. How much of that service keeps him warm at night?”

The words hit her like a slap. She stood up sharply, ready to put him in his place.

“What did you just say to her?” Adrian who has been listening to him quietly said, his voice as sharp as a blade.

The man chuckled nervously “Relax Adrian, it's just a joke.”

Adrian’s gaze hardened.”No jokes sound funny when it comes to what’s mine.”

The table went quiet. The man quickly apologized, burying himself in his glass of wine.

By the end of the day, she fell into the chair across his desk, too tired to care how embarrassing she looked.

“You barely lasted, you’ll need to toughen up. I need an assistant who can break down, I need someone sharp.”

Elena met his gaze.“So why pick me ?”

He was silent for a while then responded. “Because you hate me, and hate makes people sharper than fear does.”

The words sent a shiver down her spine.

His phone rang, disrupting the moment. He stared at it, then dismissed her with a wave. “Don’t be late tomorrow.”

Elena stood up and held onto her bag towards the door.

“Miss Elena” Adrian called out softly. “You belong to me now and this is your cage. Don’t waste energy trying to break from it.”

Elena glared at him with so resentment, her chest rose.

“Maybe cages aren't meant to hold me,” she said sharply, and turned to leave.

“We’ll see how long you last,” Adrian murmured.