HER DARKEST OBSESSION

House Rules

Chapter Three:

Bridget's POV

When we finally arrived at the mansion, I step out first, not waiting for Jayden to follow. The grandeur of the estate looms before us, every inch designed to radiate power. I know it leaves an impression—it always does. The massive front doors open into a grand foyer, all marble floors and crystal chandeliers, the kind of place that makes you feel small and insignificant. It’s exactly how I want him to feel.

I led him down the hallway, my heels clicking sharply against the polished floor, each step deliberate. Jayden is silent behind me, taking it all in. I don’t bother looking back to see his reaction, but I can feel the tension, the unspoken weight of everything unsaid between us.

We reach a room at the far end of the hall, and I pushed the door open, gesturing for him to step inside. The space is immaculate, filled with high-end furniture and luxury, yet devoid of any warmth. It’s beautiful but cold—a fitting reflection of his place here.

“This is where you’ll stay,” I say, my voice firm, leaving no room for argument. I glanced around the room briefly before turning to face him. “Everything you need will be provided for you. But don’t misunderstand what this is.”

I step closer to him, closing the space between us until he has no choice but to look at me. “You’re here on my terms. I decide when, how, and if you’re needed. Don’t get too comfortable.”

His expression flickers—maybe defiance, maybe confusion—but I don’t give him time to respond. I’ve said enough, laid down the rules. He’ll learn soon enough that here, in my world, he’s nothing more than a piece in the game I’m playing.

As we stand in the room, the weight of my authority is heavy in the air. Jayden’s eyes are on me, curious but guarded, like he’s trying to figure out his place in all this. I take a breath, steadying myself, because what I’m about to say isn’t negotiable. These rules will keep him in line and remind him that, no matter how close he gets, he is still under my control.

“Here are the rules,” I say, my voice sharp, leaving no room for interpretation. “First, drop whatever you’re doing and come to me when I call for you. No exceptions.”

Jayden nods slightly, but I can see a flicker of something in his eyes. Defiance? Curiosity? I press on before he can say anything.

“Second, you don’t leave the house without me. Ever. Third, when we’re at school, you act like nothing’s going on between us. No one can know.”

I pace a little, feeling the tension simmering between us. “Fourth, dinner is at six o’clock every night. Be there. Don’t be late.”

Jayden watches me closely, but he stays quiet. Good. He’s learning. I stop pacing and face him again. “Fifth, don’t talk to my brother. Sixth, don’t go into any locked rooms, and never—ever—come into my room without permission.”

I let those words hang in the air for a second before continuing. “Seventh, you come straight home from school. There will be a bodyguard with you, blending in. If anyone asks, make up a story.”

I step a little closer to him, narrowing the distance between us, feeling his presence like a heat I can’t avoid. “Eighth, be loyal. Ninth, do whatever I say, no questions asked. And finally,” I pause, letting the silence sink in, “I reserve the right to add or change any of the rules as I see fit.”

Jayden’s gaze is intense now, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Tomorrow,” I add, “someone from the staff will take you shopping for clothes and anything else you might need. Meet them in the dining room early to give them your list.”

I think I’ve made myself clear. I’m in control here, and I expect him to fall in line. But then, he steps closer, too close, and suddenly I’m aware of his presence in a way I wasn’t before. His nearness sends a wave of heat through me, and I hate it. I hate that he can affect me like this.

“I won’t break your rules,” he says boldly, his voice low. The room feels hazy, and I find myself focusing on the way his lips move, on the way his presence fills the space between us. “But I have one of my own.”

I blinked, trying to clear the fog in my mind. His confidence is unnerving, and the way he looks at me—like he’s seeing through all my walls—makes it hard to breathe. I try to focus on his words, but all I can think about is how close he is, how his lips look too damn tempting.

“And what’s that?” I ask, my voice betraying the irritation I feel at losing control of this moment.

Jayden tenses, his gaze hardening as he stares straight into my eyes. For a moment, he says nothing, just letting the tension build. Then his voice, firm and unwavering, cuts through the silence.

“You leave my family alone,” he says slowly, his tone daring me to argue. “And when this little arrangement is over, you never bother me again. Promise me that.”

His words hang heavy in the air, and for the first time, I feel a crack in the control I’ve always had over this situation. The coldness in his tone is a stark reminder that I’ve trapped him here, pulled him into my world without giving him a choice.

I stared back at him, the silence thick between us.