CHAPTER 4: Moving In

"Jessica will drive you to collect your things", Adrian said, already back to business mode as he filed the signed contract on his desk. "The penthouse is ready for you."

Emma blinked, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "Wait, I'm moving in today?"

"Tonight," Adrian corrected. "I need you available starting tomorrow morning."

He's not wasting any time, Emma thought, panic rising in her chest. "I have to give my landlord notice, pack properly, arrange"

"Your landlord has been contacted," Adrian interrupted smoothly. "Jessica has the details."

Emma stared at him. "You contacted my landlord before I even signed the contract?"

"I was confident in the outcome." Adrian's golden eyes met hers without a hint of apology.

Confident or arrogant? Emma felt her temper flare. "What if I had said no?"

"You didn't."

The calm certainty in his voice made Emma want to throw something. "That's not the point! You can't just make decisions about my life without asking me!"

"I can when those decisions benefit you," Adrian said mildly. "Your landlord was understanding about the early termination. Especially with the compensation I provided."

Compensation. Emma's anger warred with curiosity. "How much compensation?"

"Enough that he won't have trouble finding a new tenant."

Adrian wasn't going to give her a straight answer, Emma realized. Just like he hadn't given her straight answers about anything else.

A knock on the office door interrupted her spiraling frustration.

"Come in," Adrian called.

Jessica entered, looking as polished as ever. "The car is ready, Mr. Cross."

"Excellent." Adrian stood and walked around his desk to Emma. "Jessica will take you to collect your belongings, then bring you to the penthouse. I'll meet you there at seven."

Meet me there. Emma's stomach twisted. "You don't live in the penthouse?"

"I live in the penthouse," Adrian said, watching her face carefully. "You'll be living with me."

Emma felt the blood drain from her face. "With you?"

"The penthouse has multiple bedrooms," Adrian said quickly. "Your privacy will be respected."

Living with him. Emma couldn't breathe properly. "This wasn't part of what we discussed!"

"It's in the contract. Page thirty-two."

"I didn't realize" Emma stopped, frustrated with herself. "I should have read it more carefully."

"Yes," Adrian agreed. "You should have."

The bluntness of his response stung. Emma lifted her chin defiantly. "I still don't like it."

"You don't have to like it," Adrian said. "You just have to do it."

God, he's infuriating. Emma wanted to argue, but what was the point? She'd already signed the contract. She was trapped.

"Go," Adrian said, his voice gentler now. "Get your things. We'll talk more at seven."

---

Two hours later, Emma stood in the lobby of the most expensive building she'd ever seen, clutching her two pathetic duffel bags and fighting the urge to run.

This is insane, she thought, staring up at marble columns and crystal chandeliers. I'm about to move in with a man I barely know.

The doorman smiled at her politely. "Ms. Parker? Mr. Cross is expecting you. The penthouse elevator is to your right."

Emma walked on unsteady legs to a separate elevator with gold doors and a security keypad.

Jessica appeared beside her, swiping a key card. "Mr. Cross had this programmed for you," she said, handing Emma the card.

He had it programmed already. Emma stared at the card. How long has he been planning this?

The elevator ride felt endless. When the doors opened, Emma stepped into a world that belonged in movies, not real life.

The penthouse was enormous, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the entire city, and everything was decorated in expensive minimalist style. It was beautiful and intimidating and completely overwhelming.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Emma spun around to find Adrian walking toward her from what looked like a home office. He'd changed into dark jeans and a black sweater, and somehow looked even more dangerous in casual clothes.

Don't stare, Emma told herself. You're mad at him, remember?

"It's very... big," she managed.

"Twelve thousand square feet," Adrian said, watching her reaction. "Four bedrooms, five bathrooms, full gym, library."

Twelve thousand square feet. Emma's entire apartment could fit in his living room. The reminder of how different their lives were made her feel small and out of place.

"Where will I be staying?" she asked, trying to sound businesslike.

"I'll show you." Adrian reached for her duffel bags.

"I can carry my own bags," Emma said quickly, not wanting him to handle her pathetic possessions.

Adrian's mouth curved slightly. "I'm sure you can. But I was raised to be a gentleman."

A gentleman who manipulates people's entire lives, Emma thought, but let him take the bags.

He led her down a hallway lined with art that probably cost more than most people's houses. They passed several doors before stopping at one near the end.

"This is your room," Adrian said, opening the door.

Emma stepped inside and tried not to let her jaw drop. The bedroom was massive, with a king-size bed and floor-to-ceiling windows offering another stunning view.

This is bigger than my entire old apartment, Emma realized. I could get lost here.

"The bathroom is through here," Adrian said, opening another door to reveal a bathroom that looked like it belonged in a spa. "And the closet is"

"Oh hell no," Emma interrupted, staring into the walk-in closet.

It was filled with clothes. Expensive, beautiful clothes in what looked like exactly her size.

Emma turned to face Adrian, anger burning in her chest. "You bought me clothes?"

"You'll need appropriate attire for business functions," Adrian said calmly.

"When? When did you buy these?" Emma's voice was rising, but she didn't care. "How long have you been planning this whole thing?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it matters!" Emma stormed into the closet, pulling out a dress that probably cost more than her car. "This is insane, Adrian! You can't just buy someone an entire wardrobe!"

"I can when that person needs one."

Emma whirled around to face him. "I don't need designer clothes! I need a job that doesn't come with a creepy boss who knows my measurements!"

Something flickered across Adrian's face, hurt, maybe, or anger. "Creepy?"

"Yes, creepy!" Emma was on a roll now, months of frustration and fear pouring out. "You tracked me down after fifteen years, manipulated me into taking a job, terminated my lease without permission, and apparently went shopping for my underwear!"

Please tell me he didn't buy underwear, Emma thought desperately, then noticed Adrian's slight smile.

"I didn't buy underwear," he said. "I thought that might be crossing a line."

Might be crossing a line? Emma stared at him in disbelief. "What line? You've already crossed every possible line!"

"Have I?" Adrian stepped closer, and Emma's anger warred with unwanted attraction. "I gave you a job that pays more than you could make anywhere else. I'm providing you with housing better than anything you could afford. I'm offering you a chance to save your mother's life."

He's right, Emma realized with frustration. He's completely right and I hate him for it.

"That doesn't make it okay," she said weakly.

"Doesn't it?" Adrian was close enough now that Emma could feel the heat radiating from his skin. "Tell me, Emma - are you angry because of what I've done, or because you like it?"

Emma's breath caught. "I don't"

"You do," Adrian said quietly. "You like that I notice everything about you. You like that I want to take care of you. You like that someone finally sees how much you're worth."

God, he's right. The realization hit Emma like a physical blow. She did like it. Despite everything - the manipulation, the control, the complete upheaval of her life - she liked being wanted this desperately.

What does that make me?

"This is too much," she whispered.

"Yes," Adrian agreed. "It is. But too much is all I know how to do."

Something in his voice, vulnerability, loneliness, made Emma's anger falter.

"Why?" she asked quietly. "Why go to all this trouble?"

Adrian reached up and touched her face, his palm warm against her cheek. "Because when I found you again, I realized I'd been holding my breath for fifteen years. And I don't want to hold my breath anymore."

The admission was so raw, so honest, that Emma felt her defenses crumble.

"Adrian..."

"Let me show you the rest of the apartment," he said, stepping back abruptly.

Emma followed him in a daze, her mind spinning from his words.

I'd been holding my breath for fifteen years.

What did that mean? How was it possible for someone to wait that long for another person?

"The kitchen is fully stocked," Adrian was saying, leading her through rooms that looked like museum exhibits. "There's a gym on the lower level, a pool on the terrace. You have access to everything except my private office."

They stopped in front of a door at the far end of the penthouse.

"This is off-limits," Adrian said, his voice suddenly serious.

Emma stared at the ordinary-looking door. "What's in there?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

Nothing I need to worry about. Emma's suspicions flared back to life. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer you're getting right now."

"Adrian, if you're involved in something illegal"

"I'm not a criminal, Emma." Adrian's voice was firm. "But some parts of my life... some parts of who I am... you're not ready for yet."

Yet. There was that word again. "When will I be ready?"

Adrian's smile was sad and beautiful. "When you stop looking at me like you can't decide whether to run toward me or away from me."

Emma's breath caught. Because that's exactly how she felt  torn between attraction and terror, want and self-preservation.

"I should probably run away," she admitted quietly.

"Probably," Adrian agreed. "But you won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you're here," Adrian said simply. "Despite everything - despite the stalking and the manipulation and the complete disruption of your life - you're still here."

He's right again, Emma realized. I could leave. Right now. I could walk out that door and never look back.

But she wouldn't. Because despite everything, despite all her logical reservations, she felt more alive standing in Adrian's penthouse than she had in years.

"I hate that you're right," she said.

Adrian's smile was devastating. "I know."

His phone buzzed, breaking the charged moment.

"I have to take this," he said, glancing at the screen. "Make yourself at home. There's takeout menus in the kitchen drawer, order whatever you want."

He disappeared into his off-limits office, leaving Emma alone in the enormous penthouse.

She wandered back to her bedroom and sat on the impossibly soft bed, trying to process everything.

This morning I was broke and desperate, she thought. Now I'm living in a penthouse with a man who's been obsessed with me for fifteen years.

Emma lay back on the silk sheets and stared at the ceiling.

He's right about everything. I am here despite all my better judgment. I do like being wanted this desperately. And I am attracted to him, even though I know I shouldn't be.

What does that make me?

But as she thought about Adrian's golden eyes and the vulnerability in his voice when he'd said he'd been holding his breath for fifteen years, Emma realized she didn't care what it made her.

For the first time in her adult life, someone wanted her enough to move mountains.

Maybe it's time I stopped running away from that.