Ammie had imagined wealth before.
But nothing in her imagination looked like this.
The car slowed as the gates opened automatically, revealing a long private driveway lined with perfectly trimmed trees and soft golden lights. The house at the end wasn't just big—it looked like something carved out of silence and power.
Glass. Stone. Space.
Everything screamed control.
Ammie sat quietly in the back seat, her fingers resting tightly on her bag.
Beside her, Adrian didn't speak. He hadn't spoken since they left the company.
That silence… was beginning to feel like part of him.
The car finally stopped.
The driver stepped out immediately and opened her door.
"Miss," he said politely.
Ammie hesitated for half a second before stepping out.
The air here felt different—cleaner, colder, too calm.
She looked up slowly.
The building towered over her.
This was not a house.
This was a world.
"Try not to look like you're lost," Adrian's voice came from behind her.
Ammie turned slightly.
He was already walking toward the entrance.
No welcome. No explanation.
Just expectation.
She followed.
Inside, everything was even worse—or better, depending on how you looked at it.
High ceilings. Crystal lighting. Soft marble floors that reflected every step she took. The space was quiet, but not empty. It felt… controlled. Like everything had a place, and nothing was allowed to be out of order.
A woman in a neat uniform approached immediately.
"Good evening, sir," she greeted Adrian.
He nodded once. "Prepare the west room."
"Yes, sir."
The woman turned to Ammie with a polite smile. "This way, miss."
Ammie followed her upstairs, feeling Adrian's presence still behind her like a shadow that didn't need to speak to be felt.
The room she was shown into was large.
Too large.
Soft bed. Clean white sheets. A wardrobe she could probably fit her entire life inside. A glass window stretched across one wall, showing the city lights far below.
Ammie stood still.
"This is your room," the woman said kindly.
"My… room?" Ammie repeated.
"Yes, miss. The boss instructed it."
Ammie blinked slowly.
Of course he did.
No discussion. No asking. Just placement.
Like she was part of an arrangement already finalized.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
The woman nodded and left.
Ammie remained standing there alone.
Later that evening, she changed into something more comfortable and sat on the edge of the bed.
Her phone buzzed.
Blue.
Ammie exhaled and answered immediately.
"Hello."
"Ammie!!" Blue's voice exploded through the phone. "Tell me you're alive first before anything else!"
"I'm alive," Ammie said tiredly.
"Good. Now tell me EVERYTHING."
Ammie leaned back against the bed slowly.
"I moved in."
Silence.
Then—
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
Ammie pulled the phone slightly away from her ear.
"I said I moved in."
Blue screamed again, incoherently this time.
"Ammie! Into the CEO house? The rude one? The tall one? The walking intimidation??"
"Yes."
Blue paused.
Then lowered her voice dramatically.
"…Is he there right now?"
Ammie glanced toward the door.
"No."
Blue exhaled loudly. "Okay good. Because I need you mentally stable for this story."
"It's not a story," Ammie muttered.
"It IS a story," Blue insisted. "A very expensive one."
Ammie almost smiled.
Almost.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
She straightened immediately.
"Hold on," she said into the phone.
The door opened before she could even stand properly.
Adrian.
He stepped inside without asking.
Ammie froze slightly. "Sir—"
"Change the way you dress," he said immediately.
No greeting.
No softness.
Just instruction.
Ammie blinked. "Excuse me?"
His eyes moved over her briefly, unimpressed.
"This isn't a hostel," he said. "Dress appropriately."
Ammie's jaw tightened slightly.
"I am dressed appropriately."
A pause.
Then—
"You're in my house now," he replied calmly. "Appropriate is what I decide."
Silence dropped between them.
Blue, still on the phone, whispered loudly:
"…Is that him??"
Ammie quickly pressed the phone closer. "Blue—later."
Adrian's eyes flicked briefly to her phone.
"What's that?"
Ammie hesitated. "My friend."
"Tell your friend you're busy," he said flatly.
Then he turned slightly toward the door.
"And don't leave this room unnecessarily."
Ammie frowned. "Am I a prisoner?"
He stopped.
Looked back at her.
Expression unchanged.
"No," he said.
Then added calmly—
"You're a responsibility."
And just like that, he left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Ammie stood there for a moment, stunned.
Blue's voice came faintly from the phone.
"…Ammie?"
Ammie sat down slowly.
"I think…" she said quietly.
"I just entered a very complicated life."
Blue paused.
Then softly:
"Yeah."
"And I think," Blue added, "your CEO is crazy."
Ammie let out a small breath.
"…I think so too.