When she saw the boldly printed figure, her stare widened. “A million dollars?” She locked stares with me. “You can’t be serious.”

  “That’s almost a hundred and seventy thousand dollars a month.”

  “So now you’re trying to buy my affection? It won’t change the reality that I hate you, Adrian.”

  “Cherry, are you repeating that for my benefit or yours?”

  “How do you think I’m going to be able to work for you when I can’t stand you? Let me remind you that nothing has ever worked between us. Why would it now?”

  “The past does not affect on our future.”

  “Our future? Those are fighting words.”

  “I’m not the same man I was back then.”

  “A tiger doesn’t change its stripes. Nothing has changed between us. It doesn’t matter how many years pass by. You’re still Cade’s brother and you always will be.”

  “Cade has nothing to do with this.”

  “He wouldn’t be happy if he knew that you’re propositioning me to live with you.”

  “He doesn’t have to know.”

  “Oh wow!” she emphasized. “I guess old habits die hard, huh?”

  “It has nothing to do with that. He has his own family to worry about. He doesn’t need to—”

  “Family?”

  “Yeah,” I rasped. “He’s married to Hayley. They have two kids.”

  She hid back a smile. “I always loved her for him. How old are his kids?”

  “Johnathan is three and…”

  She sensed my hesitation. “What?”

  “They have a little girl who just turned one.” I paused, allowing my words to sink in before I shared, “You want to know why Cade wouldn’t have a problem with me protecting you?”

  She zeroed in on me, hanging on my every word.

  “His baby girl’s name is Paige.”

  She sucked in a breath, closing her eyes. “Jesus, Adrian. This is all too much.”

  “I’m not here to hurt you, Cherry.”

  “All you’ve ever done is hurt me.”

  “I know.”

  With tears in her eyes, she peered up at me through her lashes and it broke my heart in the same way it always did. I hated seeing her cry. However, I was usually the one who was causing her tears. The times I actually allowed my mind to contemplate the past and what I did to her, were some of the darkest moments of my life.

  This wasn’t the place nor time to discuss what I did or didn’t do. For the next six months, I’d have the opportunity to make up for all the blatant lies I had to tell her.

  “I lost everything because of you.” She spoke softly. “I can’t believe you still have the audacity to sit there and act like I didn’t.”

  “I’m not pretending to be anything I’m not. I know what I did to you, and I have to live with that.”

  Neither one of us said a word for I don’t know how long. Until finally, I broke the silence.

  “Your life is in danger, Paige. If something were to happen to you…” I faltered, unable to express the rest. Changing the subject, I affirmed, “You stepping into the role of my executive assistant will keep you by my side every day.”

  “What if I said no? Would you still be playing the hero?”

  “Don’t lie to yourself, Cherry. I’d do anything for you.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.”

  “This has nothing to do with us.”

  “That’s so easy for you to say. I wasn’t the one who used you.”

  I didn’t have anyone to blame but myself for why she continued repeating that. I deserved it and more. I’d take whatever she’d spew at me as long as it kept her safe.

  Instead of insisting she was wrong, I spoke the truth. “At the end of the day, you’re one hell of an assistant. I’m damn proud of the career you’ve built for yourself. Now I need you, Cherry. And we both know I never need anyone.”

  “If I move in with you. Where exactly is that?”

  “I mostly live in and out of penthouse hotels, but I’m due downtown tomorrow. We’ll start there.”

  “And then?”

  “You’ll get a full itinerary of where I have to be for the next six months.”

  “Why six months?”

  “It’s all the time I have.”

  “For what?”

  Again, I spoke with conviction, “To divide and fucking conquer.”

  —Paige—

  I couldn’t believe I was actually considering his proposition, but what other choice did I have? As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. It was only a matter of time until my stalker made their identity known or made their move. I honestly had no clue who this person could be. I didn’t date a lot. I had no time for that. My career kept me busy.

  When this all started, it was meaningless at first. The only things sent to me were random letters or gifts. I didn’t think anything of it. There was no inclination they meant me any harm. But out of nowhere, they began sending me pictures of myself in various places. Like at an event, telling me how beautiful I looked in my dress.

  Slowly, the photos took a drastic turn. They became images of me sleeping or eating. It went from one letter a month to a couple a week. It got so bad I had to report them to the police. Once they started investigating, it led them nowhere. All I could do was wait.

  With each day that flew by, the unease in my mind grew. Excessively working was the only way I could pretend this wasn’t happening to me. The crazy part was a big part of me was relieved Adrian knew about my stalker. Although I’d never admit that to him. He didn’t deserve the peace of mind when it came to me. I didn’t want to move in with him, let alone have to work with him all hours of the day and night. But again, what other choice did I have…

  He had the financial means to find out who was stalking me. I may have hated him. However, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind he’d keep me safe. I loathed having to rely on him this way, knowing he’d used it to his advantage like he did everything with me. I had to stay strong in my defenses against him. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in this situation with Adrian.

  I. Hated. Him.

  I had to keep reminding myself of that.

  Reading my mind, he questioned, “What can I do to ease your concerns?”

  “I’ll agree to this on one condition.”

  “You’re in no place to start making demands, Cherry.”

  “From where I’m standing, I’m the one in control, Adrian.”

  He grinned, obviously amused with my feisty attitude.

  “You need to add in your contract after the six months are up, you’ll leave me alone. It’s over. We’re over. Are we clear?”

  “Only if I find your stalker.”

  “Fine. Add it to the contract. Understood?”

  His jaw tightened before he reluctantly nodded.

  “And just to make myself even more crystal clear, I won’t fuck you.”

  He scoffed. “This isn’t about sex, Paige. We go much deeper than that.”

  “Don’t use words you don’t understand.”

  No emotion spread throughout his face as if he agreed with my statement. For some reason, it made me hurt for him. Adrian had always been a paradox of contradictions. One right after the other. I played his game and I lost.

  I loved him.

  I gave him everything I could, hoping he’d love me back.

  I tried. God, did I fucking try.

  His brother was all that mattered to him. I was simply another conquest in his life. I spent years trying to forget about him. I couldn’t. He was embedded into my skin; he made sure of it.

  They say if something was yours, it’d come back to you. Those words echoed in my head as I stood there staring at him.

  Stay strong, Paige. You must stay strong.

  I wasn’t that naive nineteen-year-old girl anymore, but he had the power to make me feel like I was. Despite being almost thirty, the memories of us lay out in front of me like no time had passed between us. Adrian was my first everything.

  From my heart.

  To my soul.

  To my cherry.

  “One last condition,” I firmly declared. “Wherever we stay, I want my own room and it has to be the furthest away from you.”

  He grinned again. “Don’t trust yourself to be close to me?”

  “More like the other way around.”

  He slightly chucked, “Anything else?”

  “We’re not friends. This is simply a a necessary evil I have to fulfill in order to get this stalker out of my life, okay?”

  “Whatever you have to tell yourself, sweetheart.”

  “I’m serious, Adrian. You treat me like an EA and nothing else. I’m just another employee.”

  “Let’s see if that’s still demanding that after my meeting tomorrow.”

  “After you amend your contract, I’ll sign it.”

  “Go pack, Cherry.”

  “Where are we staying tonight?”

  “At one of my properties downtown.”

  “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?”

  He didn’t pay me any mind, adamantly restating, “Go pack, Cherry.”

  I did, trying my best to get used to his demands.

  For the next six months, I had to follow his orders. As much as I wanted to shake his effect on me, I couldn’t help but think about what I’d gotten myself into with him.

  Or by the simple fact that leaving with Adrian Drake…

  Felt so fucking right.

  Seven

  Adrian

  “Adrian Drake!” Paige shouted through my penthouse. “I’m going to hurt you! Badly!”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

  It was comforting she was finally breaking the silence between us. We were both quiet on the drive to my place. It was obvious we were lost in our own thoughts. Once we walked into one of my many residences, my housekeeper, Miss April, took over. She knew I was coming back with Paige.

  After I introduced them to each other, I headed into my office, needing to get prepared for my meeting tomorrow morning. I was already behind on looking over the logistics, I’d be up all night.

  This past week, I had been consumed with finding whatever I could on Paige to use to my advantage while having her work for me. Discovering she had a stalker wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. Good thing I worked better under pressure. No matter the circumstance, this was where I excelled. I was used to fighting for what I wanted. It came with the territory of being the best in the business.

  “Adrian!” she yelled with her feet stomping on my wooden floors. “Where are you?!”

  I chuckleed before loosening my tie, getting ready for yet another battle in such a short span of time. The sound of her determined strides echoed off the hallway walls.

  Louder and louder, they arose as she continued to scream my name, “Adrian! Answer me! Where the hell are you?!”

  Three stomps.

  Two.

  One.

  The door to my office slammed open, almost knocking the wall art to the floor. She didn’t waver, marching into my space. Each step was more determined than the last. Taking in her frenzied demeanor, I hid back a laugh. I simply leaned back into my leather chair and awaited the inevitable wrath that I knew was coming from my girl.

  “You’re just going to sit there and act all you?”

  I cocked my head to the side, arching an eyebrow.

  “You know how arrogant you are. I can’t believe you think you can do this and I’ll just roll over and agree. You have got to be kidding me, right? This is just another one of your little games, huh?”

  “You know there’s nothing little about me.”

  “Listen, asshole—”

  “Is that any way to speak to your boss?”

  “You’re not my boss yet. I haven’t signed anything.”

  “Yet you are here. Tell me, what’s the problem I need to fix now, Cherry?”

  “You know what it is. Don’t play dumb! It doesn’t suit you.”

  “As you can see, I’m busy, so get to the point.”

  “Fine! Where’s my bed?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her, amused by her dramatic behavior.

  “Don’t look at me like that. Miss April showed me to my room and there there was no bed. There’re two nightstands, a TV, an armoire, there’s even a headboard, but there’s no mattress on the bedframe.”

  I knowingly innocently shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  She glared at me.

  “Until we find out what happened to your mattress, you’re going to have to sleep in my bed with me.”

  “Your bed, huh? How convenient.” she mocked in a condescending tone I didn’t appreciate.

  “It’s the least I can do for not having the proper accommodations for my guest of honor.”

  “Adrian… I’m not stupid. I know you had the bed removed, so I’d have to sleep with you.”

  “Your accusation offends me, Paige. I don’t know where your mattress went.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Have I told you how much I don’t care for this vulgar language you’ve picked up? You never used to swear this much. Where’s my good girl, Cherry?”

  “Fuck off, Adrian.”

  “I’d much rather fuck you.”

  “You agreed to hav—”

  “The only thing I said yes to was leaving you alone after everything is said and done. It isn’t my fault you jumped to the wrong conclusion”

  “What about the part where my room was furthest away from yours?”

  “It is. The guestroom is on the far end of my penthouse and my bedroom is on the other side.”

  “You’re unbelievable.”

  “I don’t usually have guests spend the night with me.”

  “Right… Tell that to all the women who I’m sure have done the walk of shame in the morning. I’m surprised there wasn’t a woman waiting for you when we arrived.”

  “I told her to leave.”

  She winced. It was quick, but I saw it.

  “Does that bother you?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “What bothers me is the lack of respect you’re giving me.”

  “My demeanor toward you hasn’t changed.”

  “You mean treating me like I’m that dumb naive girl?”

  “You were neither.”

  “Of course I was, or I wouldn’t have let you use me.”

  “That card is getting a little old, Cherry. Are you going to be singing this same tune for the next six months?”

  “I want my own bed.”

  “For tonight, you’ll have to sleep in mine.”

  “Adrian… I’m five seconds away from—”

  “Paige, why don’t you go take a shower and cool off?” I stated ignoring her outburst.

  “Let me guess, you removed the shower curtain and the door to the bathroom?”

  Sidestepping her accusations, I simply stated, “Or you could make yourself comfortable and take a bath? I had my housekeeper buy all the girly shit you used to leave in Cade’s and my apartment.”

  She adamantly repeated, “I want my bed.”

  “What’s mine is yours.”

  “This isn’t a marriage.”

  “Well…” I rasped, leaning forward on my desk. I set my elbows on the wood, making sure to look deep into her eyes. “It’s the closest I’ll ever get to being in one.”

  —Paige—

  “I’m not going to dignify that with—”

  “With what? The fact that you once wanted to carry my last name?”

  “Considering I was never your girlfriend—”

  “You’re right. You were much more than that.”

  “Enough with the flirting and lies.”

  “Flirting is what boys do. And, sweetheart, you know I’m all man.”

  “On that note, I’m going to take a shower. My bed better be back in my room when I get out.”

  Before he could object, I turned and left.

  The nerve of that man; he truly knew no bounds. I shouldn’t have been surprised he’d try to pull a stunt like this. I was trying so damn hard to act like this didn’t change anything between us, but I couldn’t help remembering all the times I’d wake up with him carrying me from the couch in his apartment to his bedroom. Even before we started messing around.

  He liked it when I slept in his bed with him. That simple memory was enough to trigger the anxiety I felt deep in my bones about being in his home, to begin with. It wasn’t an emotion I expected in the least. I was invading his personal space in a way I hadn’t prepared for or anticipated. It felt like we were playing house, and it was too close for comfort to me.

  It didn’t help matters that he was still as charismatic and handsome as he used to be. He looked older, more refined and distinguished. Now he was wearing suits and ties, only added to his captivating allure.

  I wish I could say I wasn’t attracted to him anymore, though I’d be lying through my teeth. My body responded to his presence in the same way it used to, and I was beginning to think I’d never really hate him the way I longed to the way I should have.

  Despite still feeling this inevitable connection between us, I tried to focus on his penthouse and why I was there in the first place. Except all that did was show me how cold and empty his life might be. His penthouse may have had a killer view of downtown, but it was cold and unwelcoming.

  No personal or family photos hung on the walls.

  No intimate touches in his decorations or style.

  His furniture looked expensive and stiff, but not comfortable at all.

  It felt like a staged home where everything had its place. There was no sense of warmth or love anywhere to be found. The space was immaculate, with not even a speck of dust in the air. The further I walked around, the more I realized that the Adrian Drake I grew up with, the man I had known for a big part of my life…was gone.

  Shaking off the unease the thought triggered inside of me, I felt bad for him again. I was beyond pissed in my fluctuating emotions that seemed to change in a matter of seconds. I didn’t want to feel anything for him but hatred and anger. I was about to walk back toward the guest room. However, the sound of his shower turning on brought my attention to how close I was to his bedroom. My feet moved of their own accord. Slowly but steadily, I walked into his personal space, instantly assaulted by his intoxicating scent.