Under His Roof
1738 Words
Emma didn’t remember how she left the building.
Everything after Adrian’s words felt blurred—like she had walked out on autopilot, her body moving while her mind struggled to catch up.
You move into my house.
The sentence echoed again and again.
By the time she reached her small apartment, reality finally settled in.
This wasn’t just a contract.
This was her life now.
Her room felt smaller than ever.
Emma stood in the middle of it, looking around slowly—the narrow bed, the cluttered desk, the pile of unpaid bills. This space had always felt tight, but now it felt like something she was already leaving behind.
Her phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown Number: A car will pick you up at 6 PM. Be ready.
Emma stared at the screen.
No greeting.
No explanation.
Just a command.
She exhaled slowly.
“Of course,” she muttered.
At exactly 6 PM, a black car stopped outside her building.
Emma stepped out, her small suitcase in hand. It wasn’t much—just a few clothes, essentials, and the parts of her life she could carry.
The driver stepped out and opened the door without a word.
“Miss Carter.”
She nodded slightly and got in.
The ride was quiet.
Too quiet.
Emma sat still, her fingers lightly gripping her bag as the city passed by the window. Everything looked the same—but it didn’t feel the same.
Because she wasn’t going back.
When the car finally stopped, Emma looked up—and froze.
The house wasn’t just a house.
It was a mansion.
Tall gates, perfectly trimmed gardens, and a structure that looked like it belonged in another world entirely.
“This is… his house?” she whispered.
The driver opened the door.
“Yes, Miss Carter.”
Emma stepped out slowly, her eyes scanning everything.
This place didn’t just show wealth.
It showed power.
Inside, it was even more overwhelming.
The space was large, quiet, and perfectly designed. Everything looked expensive, untouched, controlled.
Emma hesitated near the entrance.
She didn’t know where to step.
Or what to do.
“Follow me.”
The voice came from behind her.
Emma turned.
Adrian stood there.
Like he had been waiting.
Her heartbeat quickened.
“You’re here,” he said.
“You told me to be,” she replied.
A brief silence passed.
Then he turned.
“Come.”
Emma followed him.
They walked through the house in silence.
Each step made Emma more aware of how out of place she felt.
Finally, they stopped in front of a door.
“This will be your room,” Adrian said.
Emma blinked.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
He opened the door.
Emma stepped inside—and froze again.
The room was bigger than her entire apartment.
Soft lighting, large windows, a bed that looked untouched, and everything perfectly arranged.
“This is… for me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Emma walked in slowly, placing her suitcase down.
“This is too much,” she said quietly.
“It’s necessary.”
She turned to him. “For what?”
“For the role.”
Emma crossed her arms slightly. “Right. The role.”
A pause.
Then she looked at him directly.
“What exactly are the rules?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“You will attend events with me when required.”
Emma nodded slowly.
“You will maintain the image of our relationship at all times in public.”
“And in private?” she asked.
He looked at her.
“In private, you follow the contract.”
Emma frowned slightly. “That’s not very specific.”
“It doesn’t need to be.”
She studied him carefully.
“You like control, don’t you?” she said.
Adrian didn’t react.
“I like order,” he replied.
“That sounds like the same thing.”
“Not entirely.”
Emma exhaled.
“This still feels unreal.”
“It will feel real soon enough.”
That didn’t comfort her.
A silence settled between them.
Then Emma asked quietly:
“Do people know?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widened. “Already?”
“The announcement will be made tomorrow.”
Emma’s heart skipped.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“That’s… fast.”
“It’s efficient.”
Emma shook her head slightly.
“You really don’t waste time, do you?”
“No.”
She let out a small breath.
“Of course you don’t.”
Adrian turned to leave.
“Rest,” he said.
“You’ll need it.”
Emma frowned. “For what?”
He paused at the door.
Then looked back at her.
“For what comes next.”
And just like that—
He left.
Emma stood alone in the room.
The silence felt heavier now.
She walked slowly to the window, looking out at the unfamiliar view. Everything below felt distant, like she had stepped into someone else’s life.
Her life.
But not really hers.
She wrapped her arms around herself.
“What did I just do?” she whispered.
No answer came.
Only the quiet reminder of everything she had agreed to.
And for the first time since signing the contract—
Emma realized something deeper.
This wasn’t just about pretending.
It wasn’t just about a role.
It was about stepping into Adrian Blake’s world.
A world where nothing was simple.
Nothing was accidental.
And nothing came without a price.
Emma took a slow breath.
Because tomorrow—
Everything would begin.
And she had no idea how far this would go.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD