CHAPTER FOUR: HOUSE RULES

Aria’s POV

I sat there, frozen. Waiting.

Damian’s gray eyes didn’t leave mine. He owned the silence like he owned the company. Like he owned me.

“Rule one.” His voice was quiet. Deadly. “You inform one of us of your whereabouts. At all times.”

Tap. His finger hit the table. “If you leave this penthouse.” Tap. “We know where.” Tap. “When you will be back.” Tap. “No exceptions, Aria.”

My lungs stuttered. Not locked in. But tracked. Every move. Every breath.

I looked at Luca. He was watching me, but that Playboy smirk was gone. He gave me a tiny, almost invisible nod. This is the best you’re gonna get, sweetheart.

I opened my mouth. Closed it. I need this job, I can’t risk it.

I nodded. Once. The movement felt like a leash clicking around my neck.

Damian didn’t blink. “Rule two.”

God, there was more.

“You answer us.” His fingers stilled. “When we call. When we text. When we knock.” His eyes pinned me. “3 AM. 5 AM. Doesn’t matter.” Beat. “You. Answer. Got it.”

Luca’s knee brushed mine under the table. Accident? No. His eyes danced when I flinched.

Damian’s gaze snapped to him. “Problem?”

“None,” Luca said, easily. But he didn’t move his knee.

Noah, who had been silent since I walked in, pushed a glass of water toward me. He didn’t look at me. Didn’t speak. Just... water. Like I was a stray he felt sorry for.

My hands were shaking badly, before I picked it up.

Elias leaned forward. Finally spoke. His voice was soft, but it cut through the room. “Rule three is mine.”

A pause. Then his ice-blue eyes hit me.

“You do not step into my room.” Each word was deliberate. Carved in stone. “Not for any reason. Not if the building is on fire, I don’t share my space, understood.”

I nodded. My throat was too dry to speak.

Elias leaned back. Conversation over. For him.

I glanced at Damian. “Is that all?” My voice came out smaller than I wanted.

Damian’s lips twitched. Not a smile. “For now.”

Luca clapped his hands once, shattering the tension. “Great. Now that we’ve traumatized the new girl, who wants lasagna?”

The shift was whiplash.

Suddenly there was food. Steam. The smell of garlic and something expensive. Luca slid a plate in front of me with a wink. “I cook when I’m stressed. Don’t ask.”

I took a bite to have something to do with my hands.

Holy. Shit.

It was the best thing I’d ever tasted.

Luca caught my expression and preened. “Good, right? Tell my brothers I’m husband material.” I laughed at his comment.

“Shut up and eat, Luca,” Noah muttered, but he was fighting a smile.

Damian ignored them. He watched me take another bite. “Business tomorrow. 9 AM sharp. Elias, you’re with me. Noah, the Tokyo call, Mr….”

I decide to block out their voices and focus on my food. I finished eating quickly. I pushed my empty plate away. “I’ll help clean—”

“Don’t.” Luca stood, collecting plates. “Our housekeeper will do that”

My chest got tight. Too tight. The air suddenly cost too much.

I shoved back from the table so fast my chair screamed against marble. “I’m... gonna head to my room.”

I didn’t wait for permission. Didn’t look at any of them.

I felt four pairs of eyes on my back the whole walk down the hall.

Only when my door clicked shut did I exhale.

Shit.

The room was too big. Too quiet. Too expensive. I felt so out of place. I peeled off my clothes — jeans, sweater — until I was just in my tank and underwear. The silk sheets felt like they’d burn me. Like I didn’t deserve them.

I crawled into the center of the king bed and stared at the ceiling.

What a crazy day. I took deep breaths.

I feel I could do this, today wasn’t so bad.

You can do this, Aria. You have to.

I didn’t remember falling asleep. I just remembered the dark. And the feeling that the walls were listening.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

I bolted upright, heart slamming against my ribs. My phone. 7:03 AM.

7:03. Fuuuuccck

My alarm.

How long had it been screaming?

I threw the covers off and hit the floor running. I need to be ready by 8 AM. I can’t believe I’m going to be late on my first day.

My bare feet skidded on marble as I ripped open my dresser. What do you wear for breakfast with four men who own you?

A knock.

Three sharp raps.

My blood turned to ice.

“Aria.” Damian’s voice. Through the door. “You’re awake. Good.”

Pause.

I scrambled, yanking the sheet up to my chest. “Y-yeah. One second!”

The door opened.

I froze instantly.

Damian stepped inside.

His gray eyes found me instantly — hair a mess, sheet clutched to my chest, bare shoulders, the thin strap of my tank top visible.

For one second, nobody breathed.

His jaw locked. A muscle ticked. Something flickered across his face — surprise, maybe. Or something worse. He looked away. Fast. At the wall. At the floor. Anywhere but me.

“Sorry,” he said. The word was clipped. Rough. Not an apology. A statement of fact. Like he was inconvenienced.

Heat crawled up my neck. I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move.

Damian’s gaze came back to mine, “Study. Ten minutes.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He turned and walked out, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click.

Oh my God, that was so embarrassing. I pressed my palms to my burning cheeks. Shit I should get dressed.