Chapter 28

I followed Mr. Larkspur through the castle’s winding corridors, our steps echoing against the stone walls as we moved deeper into the north wing. This part of the castle was mostly uncharted territory for me. The only other time I’d come this way was during a tour with Freya, and even then, we’d been forbidden from entering these chambers—Lord Protector’s private domain. The memory made me grip my fists tighter, silently coaching myself to stay composed. Emotions had no place here; I needed to focus strictly on the business at hand.

I assumed we were headed to his study, which I’d heard was adjoined by a magnificent library. I’d caught only a fleeting glimpse of its doors before, but even that was enough to spark my curiosity. My heart quickened slightly at the prospect of finally stepping inside such a grand space.

But as we neared the study, Mr. Larkspur walked straight past its imposing doors, leaving me confused.

“Wait,” I said, pointing toward the room. “Aren’t we supposed to meet the Lord Protector in there?”

Mr. Larkspur stopped, turning his sharp gaze on me with barely concealed irritation. “The Master will see you in his private chambers,” he said flatly.

“His bedroom?” The words burst out of me before I could stop them. “Why there?”

“Don’t ask me,” he replied, his tone a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “Even I was surprised. The Master never allows anyone into his most private quarters. Consider it a privilege—and behave yourself,” he added with a pointed glance, as though I were some unruly child.

His condescending remark made my blood boil, but I swallowed the retort threatening to spill out. Instead, I forced myself to take a deep breath. There was no point in picking a fight with him, not when the real issue was the man waiting for me behind that door. His bedroom. Just the thought made my pulse spike.

“Get a grip, Thalassa,” I scolded myself silently. “You’re here to talk business. Nothing more.”

As we reached the end of the corridor, Mr. Larkspur stopped in front of a large, ornate door. He knocked twice.

“Come in,” came Hadrian’s deep voice from within.

Mr. Larkspur turned to me, stepping aside. “You’ll go in alone, Ms. Halloway,” he said curtly.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the door handle. My nerves churned, but I forced myself to inhale deeply. It’s fine. He’s not going to be waiting for you naked or anything…

I pushed the door open—and froze.

Hadrian reclined casually on a velvet sofa, dressed in nothing but a loose bathrobe. His damp hair was swept back, accentuating his sharp, masculine features. The robe hung open just enough to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of his collarbones and a broad, sculpted chest.

“Are you planning to stand there all evening?” he drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s rather inconvenient to have a conversation with someone hovering in the doorway.”

His voice snapped me out of my daze. I stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

As I approached, Hadrian shifted, leaning back as though settling in for a show. The movement caused his robe to slip further open, and I found myself struggling to keep my gaze fixed on his face. He let his eyes wander over me, slow and deliberate.

“Turn around,” he said suddenly.

I blinked. “W-what?”

“Turn. Around.” His tone left no room for argument.

Reluctantly, I obeyed, turning in place.

“I preferred the other dress,” he remarked, his voice carrying a note of disdain.

I glanced down at my outfit—fitted jeans and a white blouse, practical but polished. “Well, I had to change. The dress got torn,” I said, keeping my tone even.

Hadrian chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Did it now?”

The memory of how the dress tore flashed in my mind unbidden. I clenched my fists, refusing to let him get under my skin.

“Did you look into the Darkcrest Development?” I asked sharply, determined to steer the conversation back to business.

“I did,” he said, his tone unreadable.

“And?”

“You were right.” He rose from the sofa and began circling me, his movements slow and deliberate. “My company has already terminated the contract. Your insight saved us from a significant financial loss.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice tentative. But the way he spoke, as if dismissing the weight of my contribution, left me waiting for more.

He stopped behind me, his breath brushing against my ear. “Your heart is racing again,” he whispered.

I flinched, my pulse quickening even further.

“What do you want from me?” I snapped, turning to face him. “Why do you keep doing this?”

He chuckled softly, his eyes locking onto mine with unsettling intensity. “I told you before,” he said, his voice dropping to a near growl. “You smell irresistible.”

He leaned closer, his breath warm against my neck, and his voice laced with a casual amusement. "You smell even better when you're nervous."

I froze, a sharp gasp escaping me. My instincts screamed for me to move, but I knew better. If I made a sudden move, the predator behind me would pounce. He lingered for a moment, testing the space between us, before finally stepping back. The relief that washed over me was almost too much to bear.

"You start tomorrow. You'll stay in the castle while working for me. I want you to review every contract from the last decade, up to the most recent one, and write a comprehensive report by the end of the month. The car will be ready for you at 7:30 to take you to the office," he announced with finality, returning to his seat on the sofa.

My voice trembled as I forced out a response. "T-thank you!"

He smirked, his gaze never leaving mine. "Do your best not to make me regret this decision," he said with a pointed gesture toward the door. It was clear I was dismissed.

"You won’t regret it!" I said quickly, bowing before hurrying out of the room.

The moment the door closed behind me, I let out a silent scream of joy. I hurried back to my chamber, my thoughts racing. I couldn’t quite understand why he’d disregarded the fact that I was the daughter of his enemy and now seemed willing to protect me. I doubted it was solely because I saved his company from a financial disaster, but I chose not to dwell on that. What mattered was that I had his protection, and it was enough to leave me breathless with relief.

That night, sleep eluded me. The excitement about starting my first office job at such a prestigious company kept me awake, filling me with energy as I prepared for the day ahead. I had never thought I would be in such a position, let alone in a long-term contract, but now, the thought of staying and working there for as long as possible thrilled me.

At precisely 7:30, the car arrived at the castle's front entrance. The driver stepped out and bowed, rushing to open the door.

"Here you go, Ms. Marwood," he said with a polite smile, offering me his hand to assist me into the car.

I hesitated for a moment before correcting him, "Please, don't call me Marwood. It's not a name I’ve chosen. Call me Thalassa, instead."

"Apologies, Ms. Thalassa. You can call me Elio," he said, flashing me a warm grin.

Elio was an enigma. I had no idea if he was fully human or something else. The question never seemed to come up with Freya, and now I felt too awkward to ask Elio directly. I settled for observing him during the ride to the Monteforte Investment Bank. His behavior, however, didn’t offer much insight. He was unusually cheerful, practically vibrating with energy. With his bright eyes and ginger hair, he resembled a chipper squirrel who had overdosed on sugar. Though respectful, his incessant chatter was a little too much for the early morning.

"It’s going to be a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for your first day at work, Ms. Thalassa. I’m sure you’ll love working at the Monteforte Investment Bank. No one would ever be impolite to such a beautiful lady, especially one employed by the Lord Protector of Kessler..."

"Elio," I cut him off gently, "Thank you, but the more you say, the more nervous I get."

"My apologies, Ms. Thalassa. I’ll keep quiet," he said, his tone turning apologetic.

"Thank you, Elio," I replied, offering an awkward smile, relieved by the momentary silence.

But peace was short-lived. We soon arrived at the grand headquarters of the bank. Elio helped me out of the car, wished me a wonderful day, and then drove off, leaving me standing before the imposing building. It was time to face my first day of work. My heart hammered in my chest, and I steeled myself for what lay ahead. The beginning of a new chapter had begun.