Chapter 5

Ryder's POV

The chime of the elevator shattered the silence of my penthouse. I didn't move from where I leaned against the marble pillar, letting the damn smirk I'd been holding back since last night finally etch itself clearly onto my lips.

I could barely focus on anything all day. I even had Dante monitor her movements in secret—making sure the girl actually went to the hospital this morning, went back to Elena's apartment to pack her things, and didn't try to bolt from our deal. And now, she had finally arrived.

The elevator doors slid open, and there she was.

The haughty girl who, for years, swore she hated my guts, was now stepping into my territory. Handing herself over into my grasp. It took a little dirty manipulation and a threat regarding her mother's hospital bills, sure, but seeing her finally swallow her ego whole and submit to my terms? Fuck, the rush was far more intoxicating than winning any hockey championship. I finally got her.

Her steps were hesitant as she dragged a large suitcase toward me. My eyes narrowed. She was still wearing the exact same scarf and sweater she had worn when she met me a few days ago, and last night. My chest rumbled with an unpleasant feeling. The exhaustion and grief over her mother had sucked all the life out of her beautiful face, making her completely neglect her appearance. I hated seeing her look this messed up and pathetic. Henry was a real piece of shit.

But when her tired amber eyes lifted to meet mine, I quickly locked those emotions away tight. I slid back on the arrogant mask she hated most.

"Let me take your luggage, Miss," Hayes stepped forward to take over the suitcase.

But Mary immediately took a step back, hugging the handle of her suitcase defensively. "No need. I don't need your service," she hissed sharply, looking between Hayes and me. "I'm not here to be waited on as a guest. Just show me where my room is."

I arched an eyebrow, staring straight at her. She was exactly like a cornered feral kitten, yet still baring its claws.

"No one is interested in stealing your suitcase here, Collins," I mocked flatly, eyeing her knuckles gripping it too hard.

"This contains my important personal belongings. I don't want anyone touching it, including you," she snapped back.

I let out a soft scoff. Beneath her haughty tone, I understood. That suitcase was the only possession she had left; it was only natural her survival instincts made her incredibly defensive.

I gave Hayes a look, signaling him to back off. The butler bowed obediently and quickly disappeared from the hallway.

I took slow steps toward Mary. Her amber eyes widened, and she instinctively took a step back.

"I told you, don't try to force me!"

I ignored her warning. Invading her personal space, my hand clamped directly over her trembling fingers. I made sure my grip was firm enough to overpower her, but careful enough not to leave a bruise, effortlessly peeling her hand off the handle.

"Stop being so damn stubborn," I said, taking full control of the luggage. "Hayes has far more important things to attend to than arguing with a stubborn girl. And I don't have the patience to wait for you to crawl slowly down the hall just because you insist on dragging this thing by yourself."

I didn't wait for her to reply, immediately pulling the suitcase and striding down the main hallway.

"Give it back, Ryder! You-" Mary's hurried footsteps echoed behind me, but I didn't slow my long strides.

My steps halted in front of the master suite. I pushed the double doors open, tossed the suitcase into a corner of the thickly carpeted room, and leaned against the doorframe.

Mary stepped inside, her jaw clenched tight as she held back her irritation. But her footsteps automatically stopped in the middle of the room. Her anger evaporated, replaced by sheer awe as her eyes swept the surroundings. I smirked, knowing the view would completely take her breath away. If the glass walls in the outer hallway earlier only displayed one side of the city, this bedroom boasted an unobstructed, 180-degree panoramic view of the glittering Chicago night skyline.

Unfortunately, that look of admiration didn't last long. Her face changed drastically the moment she registered the heavy scent of my cologne wafting sharply in the air. Her eyes widened rigidly at the black-sheeted king-size bed in the center of the room, especially when her gaze landed on my leather jacket and watch that I had carelessly tossed on the mattress earlier this afternoon.

She whipped her head to look at me, alarmed. "Wait... whose room is this?"

I looked at her with a casual smirk. "This is my room. But starting this second, it's going to be your room, too."

Mary's jaw dropped. The shock on her face instantly warped into pure panic. "You're crazy!" she yelled. "Give me my suitcase back! I am not sleeping with you!"

Mary lunged forward, trying to snatch her suitcase back. But I blocked her path effortlessly, catching her by the waist and backing her up against the wall.

Her breath hitched instantly as our noses brushed.

"Relax, Princess. I won't touch you unless you ask me to," I whispered, the warm breath leaving my lips brushing against her ear until I felt her body shiver. "But my girlfriend doesn't sleep in the guest room. Get used to it, because starting tomorrow morning, the whole campus will know you belong to me."

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Mary's POV

The heavy, masculine scent of Ryder's cologne permeated the glass-walled bedroom, making my head spin slightly. I hated the sudden heat rushing to my cheeks. It wasn't just because his nose was brushing against mine, but because of the way his arrogant hands gripped my waist, pinning me against the wall with his massive frame. My chest was pounding for no reason at all. And what pissed me off the most... from this close, I absolutely hated having to admit how incredibly handsome this bastard's jawline was.

"Don't think just because I agreed to this deal, you can do whatever you want to me," I hissed, silently cursing my voice for trembling. "We're only pretending, Ryder."

A raspy chuckle escaped his lips before he arched a challenging brow. "Pretending?" he mocked. His dark eyes roamed my face with a dismissive glint. "Then why are you acting like you've never been touched by a man? Don't tell me... that prick Henry actually never slept with you all those years you were together?"

My blood instantly boiled.

"Stop spouting nonsense! What do you know about my life?!" I snapped, desperately trying to hide the burning humiliation creeping up my neck. I shoved at his chest. "I'm setting a rule. I sleep on the sofa. You take the bed. If you cross that line, the deal is off."

The muscles in his jaw feathered right in front of my face. But surprisingly, he stepped back, freeing me from his cage.

"Do whatever the hell you want," he replied flatly. He turned toward the door, but his steps faltered for a second. "But one more thing," he threw over his shoulder, his voice cold and piercing. "How exactly do you plan to beat Scarlett and convince Henry, when your chest looks ready to explode just because a man breathes near you? If you seriously want revenge, stop trembling like a terrified little girl, Princess. That was just a warm-up."

I gasped, completely at a loss for words.

"Now clean yourself up and throw away those pathetic clothes," he added cynically, grabbing the door handle. "This room is yours now."

The door clicked shut, leaving me completely alone in the suffocating silence.

I slumped against the wall. His words were sharp and incredibly insolent, but... they hurt because he was absolutely right. I could never defeat Scarlett, who always looked flawless, if I just stood here mourning my fate in this worn-out sweater.

Biting my lip to hold back the tightness in my chest, I grabbed my suitcase handle. I dragged it past the massive bed toward the walk-in closet in the corner of the room.

However, the moment I opened the doors and the automated sensor lights flickered on, my steps rooted to the floor.

Rows of beautiful dresses, silk pajamas, and thick cashmere coats hung neatly, color-coordinated to perfection. I stepped forward like I was hypnotized, reaching out to touch the fabrics. My eyes widened. Every single cut and material... it felt perfectly identical to my taste. I flipped through the hangers in panicked disbelief.

Until my gaze landed on the glass drawers in the center of the room. My breath hitched. From the rows of luxury high heels down to the delicate lace lingerie inside the drawers, everything was the exact brand I used to wear.

How is this possible? My head spun in disbelief. How could that arrogant bastard know my exact measurements?

Even these panties... I desperately rummaged through the drawer with trembling hands to check again. Everything was brand new, yet the sizes were a hundred percent identical to my old ones.

Pure shock made my legs give out. I slumped onto the carpeted floor amidst all these things, covering my mouth tightly. Every single piece of clothing in this massive room was clearly prepared specifically for me.

Then, a terrifying realization hit me. There was no way Ryder could have bought and arranged all these hyper-specific items overnight.

Could it be... could it be that he had prepared this room, along with everything in it, long before I ever came to him begging for help?