Novel-novel oleh Amara Ukome

Alexander didn’t waste time with warnings after the office incident.By six that evening, a black designer suit was laid out on my bed, complete with a crisp white shirt and a blood-red tie that screamed control.A note in his sharp handwriting rested on top of the outfit that read:“We're going to a charity gala. 7:30 sharp. Be ready or the allowance drops to zero. No excuses this time Noah.”I stared at it, jaw tight. Part of me wanted to shred the suit and walk out in ripped jeans just to watch his perfect face crack.But the other part – the broke, grieving, cornered part – knew I was trapped.I dressed like I was going to war.The suit fit too well, hugging my shoulders and waist like it had been tailored for me. The tie felt like a noose. When I stepped into the living room, Alexander was already waiting by the elevator, checking his watch. He wore midnight black, the jacket cut sharp enough to slice. His eyes swept over me once, slow and assessing, almost like… he was checkin

The door had barely clicked shut behind me when Alexander’s voice sliced through the silence causing me flinch where I stood.“Noah.”I froze mid-step, one hand still on the handle of the door as he pushed it open. He stood in the doorway, filling it completely, shoulders rigid, jaw locked, eyes burning with something darker than just simple anger. The hallway light cast sharp shadows across his face, making him look every inch the ruthless billionaire he was. I forced a smirk, even though my palms were sweating buckets and it felt like my knees were about to buckle from here. “What? Can’t a guy admire the decor?”Alexander stepped inside and closed the door behind him with a soft, final click. The lock engaged automatically. The sound echoed like a gunshot in the quiet room.“What are you doing here Noah?” His eyes searched my face for answers I couldn't verbally give. “As I said, I'm just enjoying-” I motion to the room around me “-the decor” Even I, couldn't believe myself, b

I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and the sound of my stomach trying to eat itself. The alarm clock on my bedside table read 9:47, but I could care less about the schedule that bastard has set up for me. The housekeeper had already been here at 8, but I’d just stayed buried under Alex’s stupidly expensive blanket and flipped her off through the door. Now the penthouse smelled like bacon, and it felt like I was starving on purpose. I yanked on yesterday’s jeans, no shirt, and strolled into the open kitchen like I didn’t blatantly ignore Alexander’s orders. Alexander sat at the marble island, tablet in one hand, coffee in the other. He looked like he’d been up since dawn, yet he was already dressed in a crisp white shirt, with his sleeves rolled, and his hair still damp from the shower. The sight of him hit me low and mean, and I hated how much I noticed about him. He didn’t look up from his tablet when I walked in. “You’re late.” “Good morning to you too, warden.” I o

I showed up at the penthouse at 11 pm with one beat-up duffel bag and murder in my eyes. The doorman didn’t even blink when I stormed past him. Guess billionaires get whatever strays they want delivered after midnight. The private elevator spat me straight into the living room where I met Alexander standing in the middle of it like he’d been waiting there the whole time. His jacket was gone now, just his shirt remained now, the sleeves of it rolled up to his elbows, forearms corded like he actually used them for something other than signing checks. His eyes flew to my duffel as soon as he spotted me. “That’s it?” “That’s everything I own now, guardian.” I dropped the duffel on the floor with a dull thud. “Thanks to you.” Alexander didn’t smile, he rarely did anyways. He just gestured to the long glass dining table where a single sheet of paper waited. “Sit.” I stayed standing, who was he to tell me what to do? He picked up the paper anyway and started reading in that low,

The eviction notice was still taped to my door when the lawyer showed up. I was dragging the last soggy box of my belongings down the hallway, rain dripping off my hoodie, when some slick-suited asshole stepped out of the elevator and right in my way.“Noah Kane?” “Yes?” I answered uninterested, not stopping for a second to hear him out. I already a gut feeling that whatever would make its way out of his mouth wouldn’t be in my favor.He held out a thick envelope, and pushed it against my chest successfully stopping me in my tracks. “This is for you.” He said robotically, like a man that couldn’t care less about others person space, or wellbeing.I laughed, ugly and tired, snatching the paper from him and glancing through the words.“What more could there possibly be for me to deal with. I just got tossed out of my apartment for goodness sa-” I said as I glanced through the document, but he said the words before I could even get to them. “Alexander Sterling has been named your leg