He Makes Me Sleep In His Penthouse

"You're not sleeping anywhere else, Scarlett. This is not a request."

I stared at Adrian Knight, heart beating so fast I could hear it.

We just came back from his mother's house. Eleanor's voice still in head. "Wear family ring at gala tomorrow, or I will know you are lying."

And now I stood in middle of his penthouse. His real home.

"Adrian, you said it was fake engagement," I whispered. "You never said I have to live here."

He took off suit jacket and threw it on black leather sofa. White shirt tight on broad shoulders. Eyes dark and possessive. Looked at me like I already belonged to him.

"My mother is not stupid, Scarlett Monroe," he said. Walked closer. "If you go back to small apartment tonight, she will find out in one hour. Her people follow everything. Do you want her to know we are fake? Do you want lose everything?"

No answer. He was right. Eleanor Knight powerful woman. Wanted proof.

Looked around penthouse. Most beautiful place ever seen. Floor shining marble. Windows floor to ceiling. Whole city lights below. Everything luxury, clean, and cold. Too cold. Not feel like home. Feel like palace owned by king.

"Where will I sleep?" I asked low voice. I am thirty, divorced, trying to be strong. But moment felt very small.

Adrian pointed down quiet hallway. "Guest room. Next to mine."

Stomach dropped. "Next to your master bedroom?"

"Yes," he said without shame. "My house. My rules. And you will be safer close to me."

Took my small bag from hand. Fingers touched mine. I pulled back quickly. He noticed, jaw tight.

"Come," he ordered.

Followed him. Guest room huge. Bigger than whole old apartment with Jason. King bed, soft lights, closet full of dresses. Bathroom marble with big bathtub.

"This is yours," he said. "For three months. Only yours. No one else enters without your permission. Even me."

Looked at him surprised. Possessive man giving me privacy?

"Thank you," I whispered.

He stared at me, eyes dark. "Don't thank me yet, Scarlett. Living with me has rules."

"What rules?"

"Rule one: No men. No ex-husband contact. Exclusive. Only mine. Rule two: You eat with me. Breakfast and dinner. My mother will ask what you eat. Rule three: If you have nightmare, you call me. Not cry alone."

I frowned. "I don't have nightmares."

"You will," he said. "First night in new place, everyone has."

He left and closed door softly. I heard his footsteps go to next room. Master bedroom door closed.

I sat on bed. Bed soft like cloud. But I could not breathe. Penthouse too quiet. Too big. Too expensive. I missed my small noisy apartment with leaking roof. At least there I knew who I was.

Phone buzzed. Unknown number.

It was Tina.

"Enjoy penthouse, bitch? He will kick you out in one week. Jason said you are cold in bed. Adrian will get bored too. You are thirty and used."

Hands shaking, I blocked number.

Second buzz. Jason.

"Scarlett, please. I know you in his penthouse. I saw stylist photos on 【entity-I*******m¦canonical_name=I*******m】. You look beautiful. Come home. I was stupid. Tina left me today for another manager. She took my money. You were only real one. Please."

Blocked him too.

Lay down, tried to sleep. But eyes wide.

At 2 AM, I had nightmare.

I dreamed Jason stood in boardroom again, laughing, tearing my clothes, saying no one wants divorced woman. Tina laughed. Whole floor laughed. I cried and no one helped.

I woke screaming.

"NO! Don't! Please!"

Sitting up, sweating, tears on face, heart pounding.

Door burst open.

Adrian Knight stood at door. No shirt, only black pajama pants, hair messy, eyes wild with worry. Broad chest, muscles. I never saw him like this, not CEO, just man worried.

"Scarlett!" He ran to bed and sat next to me. "What happened? You screamed."

"Nightmare," I whispered, crying. "About Jason. About divorce. About everyone laughing."

He did not say I told you so. He just pulled me into his chest. His chest warm, hard, safe. His arms strong around me. Smelled cedar and clean soap.

"Shh," he murmured, hand stroking my hair, possessive but gentle. "You are safe. No one laughs at you here. You are mine. I protect what is mine. No one touches you again."

I cried into his chest. He let me. For first time since divorce, I felt safe to cry.

"Adrian?" I whispered after minutes.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for not letting me sleep alone in old apartment."

His arms tightened. "You will never sleep alone while you are mine, Scarlett. Never."

We stayed like that until my tears stopped. He did not try anything more. Just held me. Protective alpha, not using me.

Finally, he stood up, tucked blanket around me like I was precious.

"Sleep now, fiancee," he said, voice low and possessive. "Tomorrow you wear my family's half million ring and become Mrs. Knight in front of Manhattan. You need beauty sleep. My mother will be watching every breath you take."

He walked to door, then turned.

"And Scarlett? Door stays unlocked. If nightmare comes again, call my name. I will hear you. I am next door. I always hear what's mine."

He left door slightly open.

I lay down, heart beating fast, but not from nightmare. From him. My ex-husband's boss who kisses me, who holds me at 2 AM, who says I belong to him.

Morning came fast. At 7 AM, knocking.

Stylist team entered with ten dresses, ten shoe boxes, makeup cases.

"Mr. Knight ordered gala dresses," Sofia said, smiling. "He said red. He said you belong to him and red is his color."

On top of dresses, black velvet box. Family ring. Five carats, sparkling like fire.

Phone buzzed from security.

"Miss Monroe, Jason Miller waiting downstairs in lobby since 6 AM with flowers, begging security to let him up. He says he will not leave until he sees his wife. He looks drunk."

Adrian's voice from hallway, cold and deadly: "He is not leaving us alone, is he, Scarlett?"

I picked up ring, hands shaking.

Tomorrow gala. Tonight ex-husband downstairs with flowers.

TO BE CONTINUED...