The morning felt heavier than the night before.
Ammie stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself for a long time.
Same face.
Same eyes.
But nothing about her life was the same anymore.
Her phone buzzed.
Mum
Her chest tightened slightly before she answered.
"Hello, Mum."
"Ammie," her mother's voice came immediately, soft but alert. "Where are you? You didn't come home last night."
Ammie closed her eyes briefly.
She had expected this.
"I… I got a new job, Mum."
Silence.
"A new job?"
"Yes," Ammie said quickly. "It's a live-in position. Training starts immediately, so I had to move in."
There was a pause on the line.
"You didn't tell me anything about this."
"It happened fast," Ammie replied, forcing calm into her voice. "I didn't want to worry you."
Her mother didn't respond immediately.
Then softly—
"Are you okay there?"
Ammie hesitated.
Her eyes drifted around the massive room she was now in.
"Yes," she said. "I'm okay."
A lie.
But a necessary one.
"Alright," her mother finally said. "Just… take care of yourself."
"I will, Mum."
The call ended.
Ammie lowered the phone slowly.
For a moment, guilt sat heavy in her chest.
Then—
She pushed it down.
There was no room for hesitation anymore.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
Before she could respond, the door opened.
Adrian.
As always—no warning.
He walked in holding a black folder.
"Sit," he said immediately.
Ammie frowned slightly. "Good morning to you too."
He ignored her and placed the folder on the table.
"Read."
She hesitated, then opened it.
Her eyes scanned the first page.
Then the second.
Then she stopped.
"…These are rules," she said slowly.
"Yes."
Her brows tightened. "Rules for what exactly?"
He looked at her calmly.
"For living here."
Ammie turned another page.
Contract Rules:
No unnecessary movement in the house
No visitors without approval
No contact about personal arrangement
No disclosure of contract marriage
Must attend all required appearances with CEO
Must obey relocation instructions when given
Her grip on the paper tightened slightly.
"This is not a job anymore," she said quietly.
"It never was," Adrian replied.
She looked up at him. "So what is it then?"
A pause.
His gaze didn't change.
"A transaction."
The word hit harder than she expected.
Ammie shut the folder.
"I'm not an object."
"No," he said simply. "You're part of an agreement."
Silence stretched between them.
Ammie stood slowly.
"And if I refuse one of these rules?"
Adrian stepped closer—not threatening, just deliberate.
"Then you break the contract," he said. "And you lose everything that comes with it."
Her jaw tightened.
"So it's control."
"It's structure," he corrected.
Ammie held his gaze.
For the first time—
She didn't look away first.
A voice interrupted from the hallway.
"Sir?"
Ammie turned slightly.
A woman stepped in—tall, elegant, perfectly dressed. Her eyes immediately landed on Ammie.
And stayed there.
Longer than necessary.
"Who is she?" the woman asked politely.
But the tone wasn't polite.
It was sharp.
Adrian didn't even look at her properly.
"She stays here."
That was all he said.
The woman's expression tightened slightly before she forced a smile.
"I wasn't informed we had… new staff."
"I don't report household arrangements," Adrian replied coldly.
The woman nodded quickly. "Of course, sir."
But her eyes flicked back to Ammie again.
Measuring.
Judging.
Ammie felt it instantly.
Not welcome.
Not accepted.
After the woman left, Adrian turned back to Ammie.
"You'll attend a company event tomorrow," he said.
"So soon?"
"Yes."
She frowned slightly. "Why?"
His eyes finally met hers.
"Because now," he said calmly, "you're part of my public image."
That sentence settled between them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Ammie exhaled slowly.
"So I'm not just in your house," she said. "I'm in your life."
Adrian didn't deny it.
He simply said—
"Don't misunderstand your position."
Ammie looked at him.
"I won't."
But inside…
She already knew.
Nothing about this would stay simple.