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When this all started, it was meaningless at first. The only things sent to me were random letters or gifts. I didn’t think anything of it. There was no inclination they meant me any harm. But out of nowhere, they began sending me pictures of myself in various places. Like at an event, telling me how beautiful I looked in my dress.
Slowly, the photos took a drastic turn. They became images of me sleeping or eating. It went from one letter a month to a couple a week. It got so bad I had to report them to the police. Once they started investigating, it led them nowhere. All I could do was wait.
With each day that flew by, the unease in my mind grew. Excessively working was the only way I could pretend this wasn’t happening to me. The crazy part was a big part of me was relieved Adrian knew about my stalker. Although I’d never admit that to him. He didn’t deserve the peace of mind when it came to me. I didn’t want to move in with him, let alone have to work with him all hours of the day and night. But again, what other choice did I have…
He had the financial means to find out who was stalking me. I may have hated him. However, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind he’d keep me safe. I loathed having to rely on him this way, knowing he’d used it to his advantage like he did everything with me. I had to stay strong in my defenses against him. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in this situation with Adrian.
I. Hated. Him.
I had to keep reminding myself of that.
Reading my mind, he questioned, “What can I do to ease your concerns?”
“I’ll agree to this on one condition.”
“You’re in no place to start making demands, Cherry.”
“From where I’m standing, I’m the one in control, Adrian.”
He grinned, obviously amused with my feisty attitude.
“You need to add in your contract after the six months are up, you’ll leave me alone. It’s over. We’re over. Are we clear?”
“Only if I find your stalker.”
“Fine. Add it to the contract. Understood?”
His jaw tightened before he reluctantly nodded.
“And just to make myself even more crystal clear, I won’t fuck you.”
He scoffed. “This isn’t about sex, Paige. We go much deeper than that.”
“Don’t use words you don’t understand.”
No emotion spread throughout his face as if he agreed with my statement. For some reason, it made me hurt for him. Adrian had always been a paradox of contradictions. One right after the other. I played his game and I lost.
I loved him.
I gave him everything I could, hoping he’d love me back.
I tried. God, did I fucking try.
His brother was all that mattered to him. I was simply another conquest in his life. I spent years trying to forget about him. I couldn’t. He was embedded into my skin; he made sure of it.
They say if something was yours, it’d come back to you. Those words echoed in my head as I stood there staring at him.
Stay strong, Paige. You must stay strong.
I wasn’t that naive nineteen-year-old girl anymore, but he had the power to make me feel like I was. Despite being almost thirty, the memories of us lay out in front of me like no time had passed between us. Adrian was my first everything.
From my heart.
To my soul.
To my cherry.
“One last condition,” I firmly declared. “Wherever we stay, I want my own room and it has to be the furthest away from you.”
He grinned again. “Don’t trust yourself to be close to me?”
“More like the other way around.”
He slightly chucked, “Anything else?”
“We’re not friends. This is simply a a necessary evil I have to fulfill in order to get this stalker out of my life, okay?”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself, sweetheart.”
“I’m serious, Adrian. You treat me like an EA and nothing else. I’m just another employee.”
“Let’s see if that’s still demanding that after my meeting tomorrow.”
“After you amend your contract, I’ll sign it.”
“Go pack, Cherry.”
“Where are we staying tonight?”
“At one of my properties downtown.”
“Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?”
He didn’t pay me any mind, adamantly restating, “Go pack, Cherry.”
I did, trying my best to get used to his demands.
For the next six months, I had to follow his orders. As much as I wanted to shake his effect on me, I couldn’t help but think about what I’d gotten myself into with him.
Or by the simple fact that leaving with Adrian Drake…
Felt so fucking right.
Seven
Adrian
“Adrian Drake!” Paige shouted through my penthouse. “I’m going to hurt you! Badly!”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it.
It was comforting she was finally breaking the silence between us. We were both quiet on the drive to my place. It was obvious we were lost in our own thoughts. Once we walked into one of my many residences, my housekeeper, Miss April, took over. She knew I was coming back with Paige.
