Transfer

“Where do you think you’re going?”

The question cut through the hall like a blade.

I froze mid-step.

Slowly, I turned around.

Adrian Blackwood stood a few feet away, the man who conveniently ignored the woman in his house all night, his one hand resting casually on the back of a chair, the other holding a cup of coffee. I couldn't believe I had missed him coming down the stairs, my excitement probably had gotten the better of me.

I cleared my throat, “I’m going to work,” I said, lifting my chin with a smile. “I got the job.”

"hmm"

hmm?, that's all he could say?, this arrogant man, making my excitement seem like nothing.

"you haven't had breakfast" he reminded me like I wasn't aware of the emptyness in my stomach.

"I know that, I'll have it when I get back" I turned sharply towards the door to walk out.

"No"

What?, did he just say "no"?

I turned yet again, he was standing now, directly in front of me, his robe opening slightly, revealing his hard chest.

That familiar heat flared through my neck. I struggled to look anywhere but in front of me.

I hated how his closeness made me feel.

He took a slow sip of his coffee, eyes on my face, as if noticing my struggle, I could almost hear him smirk.

"No as in" he said putting the cup down, “you won’t be taking it.”

My fingers tightened around my bag strap, snapping me out of it, “Excuse me?”

“Mrs. Blackwood cannot work as an employee,” he said evenly. “Not in my company. Not anywhere.”

I laughed, sharp and incredulous. “You don’t get to decide that.”

His gaze darkened, not angry, not loud. Just… firm.

“I already have.”

I stepped closer, heat buzzing under my skin. “You don’t own me, Adrian.

"You rendered that statement null when you signed the contract Elera" He said, his eyes intense, his body closer to mine, I could feel the heat from his body, raw and hot.

I felt myself shrink back, he was right, I was the CEO's wife, well, at least on paper, it would make him look bad if I was just a common employee.

"I understand"

Something flickered in his eyes at that, Maybe he didn't expect me to give up so easily.

"so I just stay home doing nothing all day?"

“We go out tonight, first- eat"

He moved towards the dinning area “Sit down.”

I blinked.

“Sit. Down.”

His voice didn’t rise. Didn’t harden. It didn’t need to. The command carried weight—quiet, practiced authority that made my spine stiffen in defiance even as my feet betrayed me.

“I’m not hungry,” I said.

“You will eat.”

I scoffed. “Is that another rule?”

“It’s not a rule,” he said, pulling out a chair, I don't enjoy conversations with hungry women.

I sat.

Almost immediately, staff moved in like they’d been waiting—placing plates, pouring water, setting silverware. No one spoke. No one asked what I wanted.

The food looked exquisite. I barely touched it. I didn't want to.

"You can ignore your food all you want, Adrian said, lifting his fork, but your stomach won't, he pointed the fork at my belly.

That's when I heard the subtle grumble it made-

I felt heat creep up my face, embarrassment filling me, I hoped my face hadn't gone red.

But from the way this man looked at me, I had a feeling I was beet red.

I lowered my gaze, picked up my cutlery and ate- against my will

"Where are we going?" I asked trying to distract him and myself from the fact I was probably the color of a beetroot.

"You'll see" He stood up abruptly, It seemed Mr. Blackwood had a habit of leaving mid conversation.

"Margaret will get you ready, make sure you're done by 7pm, for now, I've got things to do"

I didn't respond, I wanted him to leave.

---

I ran to my room and picked up my phone, ready to head out to the hospital, now that Black was gone, I had to see Aunt Claire, Adrian must be really dumb if he thought I'd forget about that one statement he made, I would get my answers, about her connection with Black.

Notifications flooded my phone, calls, texts- from Milla.

She wanted us to meet at a club, the one she dragged me to two years ago, where I got drunk for the first time- I never went again.

It wasn't my favorite place in the world, but the rowdiness of the place would make us invincible, I really didn't want to be seen by any of Black's men, I would probably be dragged home.

I promised her we would meet the next day, for now, I had to go to the hospital, and get back before 7pm.

Surprisingly, I walked out of the house, without any of the guards stopping me, well until I got to the gate, where there was a black car sat prettily, it's door opened as if on its own.

"Mr Blackwood gave us orders not to let you out of the Villa alone ma'am, get in, I'll take you where you want".

My brows twitched, I couldn't even go anywhere without Black monitoring my every move, I peered into the drivers seat, I recognized the driver, the one that picked me up from my apartment that evening.

"Really?" I replied "Fine then, take me to the park" I might as well hitch a free ride, there was no use arguing with a man who was just following orders.

The tinted window finally rolled down after about 20 minutes of labored silence, we were at the park, thankfully, it was packed, but this fancy car in the middle of the park area wasn't the kind of attention I needed, I stepped out, thanked the driver, put on my shades and started walking.

Then I stopped abruptly.

He was following me.

"Excuse me, I would like to have this walk, BY MYSELF" I said, tilting my head in mock sweetness and making sure to articulate every syllable.

"I'm just following orders ma'am"

I felt trapped

I'm sure my husband wouldn't appreciate it if you got in the way of my walks to clear my head, would he?"

He stepped back, with both hands up in surrender, and leaned on the car, he didn't get in, just stood there, watching me, Fair enough.

"Thank you" I said and walked, glancing from time to time over my shoulder to see if he still watched.

He did

My heart skipped few beats.

Fortunately, I found a crowd of people, I walked in, hoping I'd get mixed up with them, as I approached nearby bushes.

You know one thing Black and his men might miss was that, this was my area, I knew most things about this park, hell I used to visit almost every evening, more importantly I know that on the other side of this bush, stood the Maiden hospital, I couldn't go there directly, I couldn't have Adrian knowing I went to see Claire, and I had a feeling this driver reported everything to him.

I winced at the small cuts and bruises on my legs, made the bush torns, I cursed them under my breath, well that didn't matter at the moment, I was through the bushes, the hospital was right in front of me, I was worth it, now I had to move fast before that buff driver would realize something was wrong.

I walked swiftly into the front desk to meet the receptionist, I smiled politely at her familiar face.

"I'm here to see my Aunt"

She gave a quick polite nod, and started typing away, few seconds later, she looked up at me apologetically.

"We'rent you informed Miss Elera?"

"hmm?"

"She was transferred yesterday-"