TRAPPED BY DESIRE

Signed And Done

Alana stood in front of the mirror. She had already checked her reflection three times, yet she still found herself smoothing invisible creases from her top before throwing on a denim jacket to match.

"What am I even doing?" She sighed as she grabbed her purse.

Here she was dolling herself up as though she were about to spend the day with a boyfriend instead of heading to an obnoxious stranger's house to sign away a whole month of the freedom she'd only just gotten back.

She pushed the thoughts aside, tied her hair back, and headed downstairs.

"Thirty-one days, huh," Alana muttered to herself as she climbed down the flight of stairs. "You can do this, Alana. As long as the contract terms aren't absurd."

Rosalind was in the living room, leafing through a magazine with a cup of tea beside her. She looked up the moment Alana appeared.

“Morning, sweetheart. You’re up early.”

“Morning, Aunt.” Alana kept her tone light. “I’m heading out to a friend’s place for a bit.”

Rosalind’s brows lifted in mild surprise.

“A friend? That’s new.” She didn't know her niece to be the social type. She smiled anyway, clearly pleased. “I’m glad you’re getting out more. Maybe invite this friend over sometime. I’d love to meet her.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Alana said, already moving toward the door. “See you later.”

Rosalind didn’t press. She simply waved her off with a warm smile.

“Drive safe.”

Alana slipped into the car and pulled out of the driveway, the familiar weight of recent events settling over her again as she drove.

By the time the gates of Roman’s mansion came into view, she had forced her mind clear. She needed to focus and get through this.

The kind-looking butler was already waiting when she stepped out. He greeted her warmly and led her inside.

Instead of directing her to the sitting room, he informed her that Roman was waiting in his study. He stopped in front of a door, knocked twice, and waited.

“Come in,” came the deep voice from inside.

The butler opened the door and gestured for her to enter. The harsh smell of smoke hit her the second she stepped through. She frowned at the unpleasant smell. Her eyes swept the room briefly before settling on Roman’s back as he stood by the window.

“You’re late,” he said before turning around.

His gaze skimmed over her outfit as he took a drag from his cigarette.

“You only asked me to come today. We never agreed on a time.”

Roman simply stared at her, his expression blank, then walked over and sat behind his desk. He glanced at the butler still standing by the door.

“Get her a glass of water.”

Alana opened her mouth to refuse, but the butler had already left. She sighed and took the seat opposite Roman. Her eyes flicked to the cigarette between his lips before she forced them away.

The butler returned moments later, set the glass on the table, and left without a word. Alana ignored the water completely.

Roman crushed the finished cigarette into the ashtray and pulled a black file from his drawer. He slid it across the desk.

“Here’s the contract. Read it carefully.”

Alana picked it up and opened it. It was four pages. She glanced up at him.

“Is it supposed to be this long?”

“Yes,” Roman replied. He already had another cigarette between his fingers.

She picked up a pen and started reading. By the second page her brow had lifted.

Some of the conditions felt excessive for a temporary arrangement. No romantic relationships of any kind with a third party for the full thirty-one days. Then she reached the clause requiring her to live with him for the entire duration, starting tomorrow.

She glanced at him.

“I can’t move in with you.”

“You have to, unless you don’t want this contract to work.” He blew out a puff of smoke from his lips.

“It’s not mandatory.” Alana retorted, refusing to back down.

“It is.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so, Alana.” Roman's jaw hardened.

She closed her mouth. A dull headache was already forming behind her eyes. Another stream of smoke drifted across the desk, making her nose wrinkle. It was getting harder to concentrate, and he clearly didn’t care.

“Is the smoke bothering you?” Roman asked suddenly.

She nodded, hoping he might be reasonable and thoughtful enough to put it out.

Instead he smirked wickedly. “Good.”

“Good?”

“I just found a way to punish you when you break the rules.”

Alana stared at him like he’d lost his mind, then forced her attention back to the pages.

She couldn’t take much more of the smoke. She still had one page left, but she signed anyway, the pen hovering for a second as a sudden nervousness hit her. She barely knew this man, and she was binding herself to him for a month.

Yet she pushed the feeling down and finished the signature, then slid the file back.

Roman checked it, confirming her signature, and set it aside.

“Someone will pick you up from your place at five today. Pack what you need before they arrive.”

Alana stood. “I’ll take my leave now.”

Roman tilted his head. “Who said you could leave?”

She blinked as she halted. “I thought we were done here.”

“Sit.”

The single word was enough to make her stop in her tracks, but she sat anyway.

Roman leaned back, watching her.

“Tell me, what do you think about a man who has other women in his bed while his supposed girlfriend waits outside?”

Alana frowned, the sudden shift catching her off guard. “A man like that would be disgusting,” she said, already wondering where this was going.

Roman took another drag, eyes never leaving hers.

“Then lower your expectations. Because that’s exactly what you’ll be dealing with."

"I don’t plan on changing my habits for this arrangement. Smoking included. I won’t step outside every time I want a cigarette, and I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not while we're under this contract.”

Alana’s jaw tightened. “So I’m supposed to just sit there and tolerate all of it?”

“Yes.” His voice stayed calm. “That’s part of the deal. You’ll get used to the smoke. You’ll get used to the rest. Or you won’t.”

She stared at him for a long second, then let out a short, humorless scoff.

“Then you’re going to have a very long, hard thirty-one days.”

Roman’s mouth curved, but there was no real amusement in it. “We’ll see.”

Alana stood again, this time with more force. “Enjoy your cigarettes and your rotating guest list. Just know I won't be tolerating your shit.”

She didn’t wait for a reply. She turned and walked out of the study, finally pulling in a clean breath of air once the door shut behind her.

Now the real problem waited at home. Figuring out how to tell her aunt she was leaving today.