CHAPTER 4

NIKOLAS.

I sat at my desk, drumming my fingers against the surface. A file sat in front of me, and a name was

printed in bold at the top: Rainora Adderman.

Her face from the club flashed in his mind: wide eyes filled with fear, her delicate features framed by

loose waves, and the striking contrast of her innocence against the chaos she had stumbled into. She'd

looked like an angel in the lion's den. An unintentional trespasser in a world that didn't welcome

mistakes.

I opened the file, feeling like I was opening Pandora's Box.

Name: Rainora Adderman. Age: 22.

Background: Hailing from a small town called Westbridge, her father had disappeared without a trace

years ago, leaving her mother to raise her and her younger brother, Arin, who was struggling with cystic

fibrosis. Poor.

She'd only recently arrived in New York, brought here by a friend's generosity--Eunice. She was working

two jobs: one as an assistant at Conway Law and another at a coffee shop in the evenings. The note in

bold letters caught his attention.

Motivation: Financial stability. Desperate for funds owing to her brother's medical expenses. A slow,

a calculated smile spread across my face.

Desperate people could prove to be quite useful.

I didn't know why, but Rainora had been on my mind far too often these past few days. It wasn't just the

incident at Eden, it was her, her aura and innocence.

Obsession was a fault of mine, one I'd tried to regulate over the years, but Rainora Adderman had

already wormed her way into my thoughts. An idea began to form in his mind.

"Earth to Niko."

I looked up to see Wren leaning against the doorframe. My adoptive brother's easy grin was bright.

I arched a brow. "What?"

"You're late. The meeting starts in five minutes. Everyone's already waiting."

I closed the file, rising from my chair. "I didn't realize I'd hired you to keep track of my schedule."

"You didn't. You probably should. You haven't gotten another PA since you scared off poor Letitia."

Wren quipped, falling into step beside me as I exited the office. "But somebody has to remind you when

your head is stuck in the clouds or wherever it's been lately."

I smiled wryly, my brain fogging once more. "I've been...preoccupied."

"Preoccupied?" Wren replied, leaning against the wall after we got into the elevator. "Because the last

time you 'got preoccupied,' you bought an entire hotel chain just to prove a point to some rival CEO."I ignored him as we arrived on the floor and headed to the conference room. I strode inside, pushing

open the door, my mind going back to Rainora Adderman one last time as I made myself focus.

---

I sat in the back seat, the soft glow from the streetlamp casting shadows over the interior. The café was

quiet now, save for the clatter of cups and plates as Rainora wiped down tables and cleaned up for the

night.

I'd been here for all seven hours of her shift, stationed outside, pretending to work on my laptop while

keeping an eye on her. She moved with quiet diligence, her small, polite smile masking what I could only

assume was exhaustion.

It didn't escape my notice how many eyes lingered on her during the evening: patrons openly staring,

some trying to strike up conversations only to be met with her gentle but firm professionalism. She

seemed oblivious to how striking she was.

As the last customer left and locked the door, I stepped out of the car, my polished shoes clicking

softly against the pavement. Rainora's head snapped up at the sound.

The moment her eyes met mine, fear flooded her expression.

"You," she whispered, taking a step back, her hands trembling on the keys. "I didn't tell anyone—I

swear! I did exactly as you said!"

"I know," I calmly said, my hands coolly in my pockets as I let my gaze flow over her, from flushed cheeks

to a little tangled hair and a uniform glued to her figure.

She quickened her breathing, Rainora asked, "Then why are you here?"

"I have an offer to make you," I then said smoothly, gesturing to my car parked some distance away.

"Get in the car with me. We can talk in there."

Rainora hesitated, her wide eyes darting to the car and back to him. "Listen, I don't-" "Rainora," I cut in,

my voice dropping to a dangerous edge. "Don't make me force you."

Her shoulders sagged in defeat and she bit her lip, nodding reluctantly. "Fine," she said softly, clutching

her bag as she followed me.

I opened the door to the back seat, and she slid inside onto the leather interior, her body stiff and tense.

I followed, closing the door and raising the partition, sealing us off from the driver.

She turned to me, her voice wary. "What do you want?" I leaned back, studying her. "I want you to work

for me."

Rainora blinked, in shock. "Wait what?" "As my assistant," I stated.

Her suspicion was immediate. "I don't. I don't kill people if that's what you're implying."

A dark chuckle escaped me. "I don't need you to kill anyone. I need someone I can trust, someone

discreet. You've already proven yourself capable of keeping your mouth shut about. unfortunate

events."She worried her lip. "Why me?"

I leaned forward, my eyes locking with hers. "Because I don't just trust anyone. And you-" I paused, the

ghost of a smirk playing on my lips. "You're desperate. Desperate people are reliable if the incentives are

right."

Rainora stiffened. "You ran a background check on me."

"Of course," I said unapologetically. "I know about your brother's condition, your family's financial

struggles, your jobs at Conway Law, and this café. I know you need money. Badly."

Her face reddened, anger flaring in her eyes. "You had no right-"

"Maybe not, " I cut in. "I don't make offers lightly, Rainora. Let me make this clear: you'll work for me as

my PA. I'll pay you, twenty thousand dollars monthly, an amount no law firm or coffee shop could dream

of matching. You'll have a new apartment, conveniently located near my offices, and I'll cover your

brother's medical bills. The best treatment money can buy. All of it."

Rainora stared at me, shocked. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"

"I already told you," I said smoothly. "I need a PA. And I've decided it will be you."

She faltered, her brow furrowed in thought. "And if I say no?"

My smirk widened, but my voice remained soft. "Then I'll be very disappointed. And trust me, Rainora,

you don't want to disappoint me."

She glared at me, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You're a jerk."

"I am," I calmly agreed. "And I don't take no for an answer."

Rainora sighed, slumping slightly in her seat. "Fine. But if you think you can control me, you're wrong."

"We'll see about that." I pulled two documents from a leather folder beside a contract and an NDA.

"Sign these."

Rainora's eyes narrowed. "You came prepared."

"Always," I said, extending a pen to her.

She read through the papers fleetingly before signing both. Mumbling under her breath how crazy this

the whole situation was getting, I put them away with a pleased smile.

"Good," I said and told my driver to move.

The car came to a stop outside Eunice's apartment complex. Rainora turned an annoyed frown in the

direction of the door handle before turning back to me. "How do you know where I live?"

I just smiled. "Quit your jobs at Conway and the café. Be at Woods Enterprises tomorrow at nine sharp."

She stared at me for a moment then stepped out of the car silently. I watched her until she disappeared

inside, her silhouette briefly illuminated by the hallway light.

As the car pulled away, a satisfied smirk played on my lips. Rainora Adderman was mine now.