The heavy door to the washroom clicked shut, leaving Nyra alone in the absolute darkness of the penthouse master bedroom.
She let out a long, exhausted breath, her anger slowly giving way to the sheer weight of the day’s travel.
Groping blindly through the shadows, she pulled back the heavy duvet and crawled into the center of the massive king-sized bed, fiercely claiming her side.
When Adrian finally emerged minutes later, the faint rustle of fabric was the only warning she had before the mattress dipped significantly under his weight.
Neither of them said a word.
They lay perfectly still, separated by a wide, tense expanse of mattress, the unspoken battle of wits lingering heavily in the pitch-black room until sleep finally took over.
Hours later, the deep quiet of the night shifted.
Safe in the heavy fog of deep sleep, Nyra subconsciously sought out warmth against the chill of the minimalist room.
She rolled over, her limbs moving purely on instinct as she slid across the empty space between them.
Her arm draped over Adrian's broad chest, and she pulled herself flush against his side, burying her face into the crook of his neck while her leg hooked over his.
Adrian woke up the exact moment her warmth pressed against him. He didn't move. He lay perfectly still in the dark, his breath catching for a fraction of a second as he looked down at the top of her head.
The fierce, sharp-tongued woman who had been cursing him out hours ago was now completely defenseless, snoring softly against his shoulder.
A strange, quiet stillness settled over him. For a long time, Adrian just watched her silhouette in the dim moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains, making absolutely no effort to push her away.
When the first pale light of dawn began to creep into the room, Nyra stirred.
Her eyelashes fluttered open, her mind foggy and warm from sleep.
She blinked, realizing her face was pressed against something solid, warm, and smelling faintly of cedar and expensive cologne.
Her eyes tracked upward, freezing the exact second she realized her arms and legs were completely wrapped around Adrian like a human koala.Panic crashed through her system.
Nyra went entirely rigid, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. She looked up at his face, terrified that he was watching her, but Adrian’s eyes were tightly shut, his breathing deep, slow, and perfectly even.
He looked fast asleep.
Thank God, she thought, her face burning with pure mortification.
Moving as slowly and silently as humanly possible, Nyra began to untangle herself. She carefully lifted her leg, holding her breath as she slid it off his. She painstakingly hoisted her arm off his chest, sliding backward inch by inch until she reached the absolute edge of her side of the bed.
She threw her blanket over her head, her mind screaming in embarrassment.
What she didn’t see, however, was the subtle shift in Adrian’s expression the moment her back was turned.
His eyes opened slowly, completely clear and devoid of any sleep. He had been awake the entire time.
A tiny, fiercely amused smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched her huddled, panicked form beneath the duvet, thoroughly enjoying her silent misery.
By the time Nyra finally gathered the courage to drag herself out of bed, the penthouse was fully flooded with morning sunlight.
The power had miraculously returned, and Adrian was nowhere to be seen in the bedroom.
Seizing the opportunity, she quickly freshened up, her determination returning in full force.
"A new room," she muttered to herself, throwing on a fresh change of clothes.
"I am getting a new fucking room today."
She marched out into the long, sleek hallway, completely ready to stake her claim on any of the other doors lining the corridor.
She stopped at the very first door, grabbing the modern metal handle and twisting it.
It didn't budge.
It was locked tight.
Nyra frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion. She moved down to the next door, grabbing the handle and rattling it forcefully.
Locked. She tried the third door, then the fourth, her frustration mounting with every single metallic click of a deadbolt.
Every single guest room in the entire luxury penthouse was completely sealed shut."Are you fucking kidding me?"
she hissed, the realization hitting her like a slap in the face.She turned on her heel and stormed down the grand staircase, her footsteps echoing loudly against the polished marble.
She tracked the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee straight into the ultra-modern kitchen.
There he was.
Adrian was sitting casually at the marble island, looking incredibly sharp in a crisp white dress shirt, completely unbothered as he sipped his black coffee and scrolled through his tablet.
Nyra marched right up to the opposite side of the island, slamming her hands down onto the smooth surface.
"What the hell is the meaning of this, you fucking asshole?"
she demanded, her voice dripping with pure annoyance.
Adrian didn’t even look up from his screen. He took a slow, deliberate sip of his coffee before answering calmly, "Good morning to you too."
"Don't 'good morning' me, you absolute prick,"
Nyra snapped, leaning forward. "Why is every single bedroom door upstairs locked tight?"
Adrian finally raised his eyes, meeting her furious gaze with a look of pure, unbothered innocence.
"The penthouse security system underwent an automatic update last night during the power outage. It appears the guest wings have been temporarily sealed for safety protocols."
Nyra scoffed loudly, letting out a sharp, bitter laugh. "An automatic update? Safety protocols? You expect me to believe that load of absolute bullshit? You locked them on purpose!"
"Do you have proof?" he asked smoothly, tilting his head slightly with a faint, teasing glint in his dark eyes.
"I don't need proof to know you're being a petty asshole!"
Nyra shot back, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. "Unlock them right now. I am not spending another night in your room."
Adrian leaned back in his stool, holding her gaze as a dangerous, playful energy settled between them.
"I don't think I will. After all, you were the one who threw down a challenge last night. You said you were going to find a new room, or make me leave mine."
He paused, his lips twitching slightly. "So far, you aren't doing a very good job."
Nyra's eyes narrowed into slits as she glared at his smug face.
"Oh, you think this is funny? You think you've won?"
"I know I've won," he replied evenly.
"We'll see about that," Nyra whispered fiercely, leaning across the counter until she was just inches away from him, completely ignoring the way her heart fluttered at his sudden proximity.
"Enjoy your coffee while you can, freak, because tonight, I am going to make your life an absolute living hell in that bedroom."
Adrian didn't flinch. Instead, his dark eyes darkened with amusement, his gaze dropping to her lips for a split second before returning to her eyes. "Try your best," he murmured, his voice low and incredibly calm.
"I'm looking forward to it."
The daily battle lines were drawn the exact moment Adrian stepped out of the penthouse for his morning meetings, and Nyra wasn't about to sit around playing the victim.
Her first move to make his life a living hell required absolute tactical precision, and that meant getting her hands on the master keycard to the guest rooms.
She knew his routine perfectly;
he always left his heavy, tailored wool overcoat hanging on the mahogany coat rack near the entrance before heading down to the private garage.
Nyra waited by the top of the stairs until she heard the distinct, heavy thud of the front door closing.Perfect, she thought, a wicked smirk spreading across her face.
She practically flew down the stairs, her bare feet making zero sound against the cold marble. She approached the coat rack, her hands immediately diving into the deep silk-lined pockets of his designer jacket.
Her fingers brushed against leather, a metal pen, and finally, a sleek, unmarked black keycard.
"Looking for this, dear?"Nyra jumped a mile in the air, a sharp gasp escaping her throat as she whirled around, clutching the keycard tightly against her chest.
Standing just a few feet away was a woman in her late fifties, wearing a crisp, immaculate housekeeper’s apron over a simple grey dress. She wasn't frail or old, but her warm eyes held a sharp, terrifying confidence.
Behind her stood two younger maids in their early twenties, Maya and Lily, who were currently clutching feather dusters, standing stiffly like statues, and looking absolutely petrified.
"I—uh," Nyra stammered, her face turning bright red as she got caught red-handed.
Before Nyra could even conjure up a believable lie, the older woman let out a hearty, booming laugh that echoed through the grand foyer, shaking her head.
"Oh, don't mind me, child. I’ve known that boy since he was wetting his trousers. If you’re trying to steal from him, you better be faster than that. He left five minutes ago through the kitchen elevator."
Nyra’s jaw dropped. She froze, completely paralyzed by sheer, unadulterated shock.
What the fucking fuck? she thought, her mind short-circuiting as she stared at the woman.
This lady was wearing a servant's apron. She was clearly a maid. Yet, she was casually talking about Adrian—the terrifying, cold-blooded, untouchable billionaire Adrian—as a child who used to wet his pants.
Nyra glanced at the two younger maids, Maya and Lily, who looked like they were about to pass out from sheer terror just hearing those words aloud.
"Wait..." Nyra managed to choke out, looking down at the card in her hand.
"If he went through the kitchen... then whose coat is this?"
"That would be his backup coat from yesterday,"
a deep, smooth voice drawled from the top of the stairs.
Nyra's stomach dropped into her shoes.
She looked up slowly.
Adrian was leaning against the glass banister, fully dressed in a flawless charcoal suit, holding a steaming mug of black coffee.
He hadn't left the building at all.
Nyra braced herself, expecting Adrian to absolutely lose his mind, fire the older woman on the spot, or unleash his usual terrifying ice-cold wrath.
Instead, the older woman just turned around, placed her hands on her hips, and looked up at Adrian with a stern, heavily raised eyebrow.
"Adrian, you insufferable boy,"
she scolded loudly, her voice echoing through the pristine penthouse. "Are you locking your wife out of the rooms again? I didn't raise you to be a tyrant."
Nyra’s eyes practically popped out of her skull.
She looked from the maid to Adrian, her brain completely failing to process the scene. Is she insane? Is she trying to get killed? Nyra looked over at Maya and Lily, who had now successfully glued themselves to the wall, holding their breath, looking ready to sprint for their lives.
But the real shock wave hit Nyra when she looked back at Adrian.
The man who made ruthless CEOs cry in boardrooms didn't blink. In fact, his stoic, terrifying expression actually softened by a fraction of a millimeter.
He let out a low, defeated sigh.
"Grandma, the security system had a glitch. I am simply keeping her safe.
"Grandma?! Nyra’s mind screamed. She’s the maid! Why the hell is he calling her Grandma?!
The older woman, Mrs. Gable, scoffed loudly, waving a hand dismissively at him.
"Glitch, my foot. You used to use that same stupid excuse when you locked your brother out of the playroom. Don't lie to me."
She turned back to Nyra, completely ignoring Adrian’s glare, and gave Nyra’s shoulder a warm, reassuring pat.
"Don't you worry, sweetheart. I’m Gable. I’ve been running this boy's life since his family brought me into their home when he was just a toddler. If he gives you any more trouble, you just tell me. I’ll make sure his favorite childhood stew has an extra cup of salt in it tonight."
Adrian rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking genuinely exhausted for the first time in his life.
"Grandma, please do not encourage her. And take Maya and Lily to check the pantry. They look like they're about to faint."
"Oh, hush up," Mrs. Gable shot back playfully, completely unbothered by his authority. She snapped her fingers at the two terrified younger girls.
"Come along, girls. Let's leave the newlyweds to settle their little domestic dispute."
Nyra stood frozen to the spot, clutching the useless keycard, her eyes darting between the kitchen door where the maids had vanished and the towering man on the stairs. She was utterly speechless.
A maid had just openly insulted, scolded, and threatened to ruin the dinner of one of the most powerful men in the city—and he had just taken it like a disciplined child.
The daily battle lines were drawn, but the real confrontation exploded the exact moment Adrian walked back through the front door at seven o'clock that evening.
Nyra had finally recovered from her morning shock, and her indignation had returned in full force.
She was waiting for him right in the center of the living space, sitting cross-legged on the sleek leather sofa.
As soon as he loosened his silk tie and tossed his briefcase onto the table, she stood up, marching directly into his personal space until she was practically touching his chest.
"You think you’re so fucking clever, don't you?"
Nyra hissed, her eyes blazing with a mixture of embarrassment from the morning and pure defiance.
"Using your own childhood nanny as a psychological distraction just to make a fool out of me?"
Adrian didn't back down. He stepped even closer, his towering frame casting a long shadow over her as he looked down into her eyes with a dangerously playful glint.
"I didn't use anyone. You chose to pickpocket a coat without checking if I was still in the room. That’s just poor execution on your part."
"You absolute asshole," she breathed, her heart racing not just from anger, but from the overwhelming warmth of his proximity.
"The security system isn't glitched. I asked Maya and Lily while Mrs. Gable was in the garden. They said you manually changed the codes from your master tablet this morning."
Adrian’s lips twitched, nearly forming that rare, devastating smile. "The girls talk too much. I'll have to remind Grandma to discipline them."
"Leave them out of this!"
Nyra snapped, poking her finger sharply against his firm chest.
"This is between you and me. You want me in your room so badly? Fine. But you better sleep with one eye open tonight, Adrian, because I am going to make sure you don't get a single second of peace."
Adrian caught her finger in his hand, his grip surprisingly warm and gentle, though his eyes burned with a dark, thrilling challenge.
"I've survived deadlier threats than you, Nyra. Do your worst."
The clock struck midnight, and Nyra’s psychological warfare officially began.The master bedroom was dark, but the silence didn't last long.
The very second Adrian pulled the duvet up and closed his eyes, Nyra reached over to her nightstand and blasted a ridiculously loud, upbeat pop song from her phone at full volume.
Adrian didn't move an inch.
He lay perfectly still, his breathing even.
Five minutes passed.
Nyra grew frustrated.
She turned off the music, grabbed her heavy down pillow, and aggressively whacked him right across his face with it.
"Oops," she muttered loudly into the dark.
"My hand fucking slipped."Adrian slowly pulled the pillow off his face, tossing it to the floor.
In one blindingly fast motion, his hand shot out through the darkness, grabbing Nyra by her waist.
Before she could even let out a curse, he flipped her completely over, pinning her flat against the mattress beneath him.
The room went entirely silent, save for the sound of their ragged breathing. Adrian’s heavy weight was pressing her down into the plush sheets, his hands gripping her wrists above her head, locking her completely in place.
His face was just inches from hers, his dark eyes glittering with absolute victory in the pale moonlight.
"Is this the best you've got?" Adrian whispered, his voice low, gravelly, and incredibly close to her ear.
"Because if this is your version of making my life a living hell... I think I'm going to enjoy tonight very much."
Nyra's breath hitched, her entire body freezing as a sudden, intense heat flared between them, completely shattering whatever witty comeback she had prepared.
" TO BE CONTINUED "
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Author's note ..
Hey everyone 🖤
I still hope you liked this chapter and enjoyed their arguments...
Good bye dear readers 👋 👋 👋 👋
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