Chapter 10: Inside

I could not stop seeing the photo.

Adrian’s hand around Maya’s throat. The same grip. The same cold look in his eyes. It sat behind everything I did for the rest of the afternoon.

I stayed in the bathroom longer than I needed to. The water ran hot over my shoulders while I stared at the tile wall. When I finally turned it off I wrapped a towel around myself and walked out.

Adrian was waiting in the bedroom. He had taken off his shirt. His eyes moved over me the moment I appeared.

“You took your time,” he said.

I did not answer. I let the towel drop. He crossed the room and pulled me against him. His mouth found mine. The kiss was deep and hungry. His hands slid down my back and gripped my hips.

“No more waiting,” he muttered.

I pushed him toward the bed. He sat. I climbed onto his lap and straddled him. His cock was already hard between us. I reached down, guided him, and sank onto him slowly.

He groaned. His hands tightened on my waist.

I started to move. Slow. Steady. Up and down. I kept my eyes on the wall above his head. The pale paint. The edge of the curtain. Anything but his face.

He thrust up to meet me. “Fuck, Lila… just like that.”

I gave him what he wanted. I rolled my hips in the way he used to like. I let soft sounds leave my mouth. His breathing grew heavier. His fingers dug into my skin.

“I’ve needed this,” he said against my throat. “You feel so good.”

I kept riding him. My body answered even while my mind stayed far away. The photo flashed again and again. His hand on Maya’s neck. The same hand that was now holding my hip.

He finished with a low sound and held me down on him while he came. I stayed still until his arms loosened. Then I lifted myself off and lay beside him.

He pulled me close, already half asleep, satisfied. His breathing evened out within minutes.

I waited.

When I was sure he was deep under I slipped out of bed. I went to the bathroom, cleaned myself quietly, and put on a robe. In the dressing room I opened my laptop. The proof photos sat in a folder on the screen. I left them open while I logged into the banking portal.

Another transfer. Larger this time. From the company emergency reserves into a private account that did not exist on any paper Adrian had ever seen. I typed the codes. Confirmed. Watched the numbers move.

When it was done I closed everything and went back to bed. He did not stir.

Morning light came soft through the curtains. Adrian woke first. He turned toward me with a small smile and kissed me deeply, lingering on my mouth.

“Morning,” he said. “Last night was good.”

We went downstairs. Rosa had coffee ready. Adrian sat across from me and reached for my hand.

“Let’s sign the papers today,” he said. “Get it over with. Then we can relax. Maybe even plan that weekend away.”

I kept my voice calm.

“My lawyer isn’t finished reviewing them. He said he needs a little more time.”

Adrian’s fingers tightened around his coffee cup. The smile stayed on his face, but it looked thinner.

“How much more time?”

“A few days. He wants to be thorough.”

He nodded slowly. “Alright. A few days.”

He finished his coffee, kissed the top of my head, and left for the office. The door closed with a soft click.

I waited until the house was quiet, then called Mr. Han.

“The next protective layer is ready,” he said. “I can begin freezing additional access points today. Quietly.”

“Do it,” I told him. “Start with anything connected to his personal accounts and any joint requests that come through the company.”

“Understood.”

I spent the rest of the day at Nexus, walking the floors, speaking to department heads, signing ordinary papers that meant nothing to Adrian. Every time someone called me Mrs. Adrian I felt the weight of the name and let it sit.

Evening returned. Dinner was quiet. Adrian talked about meetings and numbers. I answered when I needed to. Afterward he worked in the study. I stayed in the living room with a book I did not read.

Just before midnight my phone buzzed on the cushion beside me.

Unknown number.

I opened the message.

He is bringing Maya to the house next week while you are at the company. He plans to fuck her in your bed. Be ready.