Chapter 5 - The Master’s ChairThree weeks later.
The morning sun broke over the city, casting golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Adrien’s penthouse.
Lena lay wrapped in crisp silk sheets on the massive king-sized bed, watching the soft dust motes dance in the light. She felt a profound, overwhelming sense of warmth and security that she had never known in her entire life.
Beside her, Adrien lay awake, his arm wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. He was gently tracing small circles on her bare shoulder with his fingers.
"What time is it?" Lena murmured sleepily, turning around in his arms to face him.
"It is 10:00 a.m., liebling," Adrien whispered, kissing the tip of her nose.
Lena gasped, trying to sit up! "10:00 a.m.?! I’m supposed to be at the diner! George will fire me!"
Adrien caught her by the waist, effortlessly pulling her back down against the pillows, a rare, wicked smile playing on his handsome lips.
"George will not fire you," Adrien said smoothly.
"And why is that?" Lena raised an eyebrow.
"Because I bought the diner yesterday," Adrien stated casually, as if mentioning he had purchased a newspaper. "And I promoted George to regional manager. You no longer work at the diner, Lena. Nor do you work at the laundry."
Lena stared at him, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Adrien! You can't just buy every business I work at!"
"I can," he replied with absolute confidence. "And I did. You are officially the Executive Director of the Varelli Cultural Foundation. Your salary is five times what you made at all three of your jobs combined, and your office is on the top floor of this building."
Lena’s jaw dropped. "Executive Director? Adrien... I don't know how to run a foundation!"
"You managed three jobs, took care of an ailing grandmother, survived a syndicate shootout, and organized twenty years of encrypted mob files in two weeks," Adrien said, his eyes filled with immense pride and devotion. "You are more capable than anyone sitting on my corporate board."
Tears of pure happiness welled up in Lena’s eyes. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his.
"You really paid off Rosa's medical debt, bought my diner, and gave me a career?" she whispered.
"I told you, Lena," Adrien murmured, his hand sliding up her neck to cradle her jaw. "What is mine is protected. And you are mine."
"And what about you?" Lena teased gently, her dark eyes shining with mischief. "Are you mine?"
May you like
Adrien looked at her with an intensity that took her breath away.
"Body, soul, empire, and ledger," he promised softly. "Everything I have belongs to you."
