[Elena’s POV]
My heels echoed sharply in the private elevator as it went upward to the penthouse. I clutched the small overnight bag against my chest like a shield, my heart pounding so hard I felt it in every part of me. Five million dollars. One year of my life. All of it belonging to him.
The doors slid open directly into the vast living area. Kale stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights glittering behind him like scattered diamonds. He wore a dark suit that hugged his broad shoulders, white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a glimpse of tanned skin.
The contract waited on a sleek black table. He poured himself a generous glass, the amber liquid catching the low light, but he didn’t offer me any.
“Come here,” he said, his voice low and commanding.
I walked
