New Beginnings, Old Wounds

Sophie woke up to the soft light streaming through the high windows of Adrian's penthouse. For a brief moment, she forgot where she was. Then the events of yesterday crashed over her, the quiet, impersonal wedding, the reception filled with strangers, and her new husband's cold, distant demeanor. She was now Mrs Adrian Blackwood, bound by a contract that had little to do with love and everything to do with duty.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. If she was going to live here, she would have to find her own place within these walls. She couldn't simply be a silent guest in Adrian's life. She needed to keep her promise to herself, to remain independent, to find a purpose even in this arranged marriage.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. "Good morning, Mrs Blackwood." A young woman, neatly dressed in a tailored uniform, entered with a tray. "My name is Emily and Mr Blackwood asked me to bring you breakfast and to let you know that he'll be waiting for you in his office."

Sophie thanked her, her mind racing. The breakfast on the tray looked tempting, coffee, fresh fruit, and pancakes, but her nerves made it hard to eat. After picking at a few berries, she got up, smoothing her clothes and taking a steadying breath before heading to meet her husband.

Adrian's office was down the hall, a sleek, minimalist room lined with a floor to ceiling bookshelves and dark wood paneling. He was seated behind his desk, already deep in paperwork when she entered. He looked up, his gaze cool and assessing, but he offered a polite nod.

"Good morning, Sophie. I hope you slept well."

"Yes, thank you," she replied, doing her best to maintain a calm expression.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "I wanted to discuss a few things with you, now that we're officially married. There are certain expectations and boundaries I believe we should establish to make this arrangement as smooth as possible."

Sophie nodded, her stomach twisting. She had expected this conversation but dreaded it all the same.

"I assume you'd like to maintain a sense of privacy," he began, his tone businesslike. "I have no intention of intruding on your personal life. You are welcome to continue your work and pursue any interests you have outside of this marriage."

Sophie felt a flicker of relief but also a hint of frustration. Was that all he saw this as, a structured agreement with neatly defined terms?

"I appreciate that, Adrian," she replied, choosing her words carefully. "But I think we should also find some way to coexist comfortably. This penthouse is big enough for both of us, but it's still our shared space. We don't have to be strangers here."

He raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing at the corner of his lips. "I agree. But let's not pretend this is something it's not. I didn't enter this marriage for companionship, Sophie. This is business, and as long as we both understand that, I see no reason for any complications."

His words stung, but Sophie kept her composure. She couldn't expect anything more from him, not when she had agreed to this arrangement herself.

"Understood," she replied, her voice cool. "But if we're going to keep up the appearances, there are certain expectations for a married couple, at least in public."

"Of course." Adrian nodded, looking almost amused by her defiance. "We'll attend events together, make the occasional public appearance as a couple. "I'm not asking you to act like a devoted wife, but we will have to keep up appearances."

Sophie crossed her arms, feeling a small surge of satisfaction. "That's all I ask. If we're both clear on that, then I think we'll manage just fine."

Adrian nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Good. I'll be busy with work for most of the day, but Emily will assist you with anything you need around the penthouse. You may want to familiarize yourself with the space."

With that, he returned to his papers, effectively ending the conversation. Sophie felt a strange pang of disappointment. She had hoped to catch a glimpse of the man beneath the carefully controlled exterior, but Adrian was still a mystery.

Leaving his office, Sophie decided to explore the penthouse. She moved through the rooms, each one a testament to wealth and elegance, polished marble, understated artwork, and furniture that spoke of both style and comfort. But the place felt oddly impersonal, like a beautifully staged model home. It gave her the impression that Adrian rarely lingered here, that this penthouse was more a symbol of status than a place he truly called home.

As she wandered into the library, she paused at the sight of a grand piano in one corner. It was a sleek black instrument, polished to a mirror like shine, and she felt an inexplicable urge to play. Growing up, music had been her escape, a way to lose herself in the melodies when life became overwhelming. She hadn't touched a piano in years, but the familiarity of it tugged at something inside her.

Warily, she sat on the bench, her fingers hovering over the keys. She began to play a simple melody, the notes soft and hesitant at first. But as she continued, her confidence grew, the music filling the silence of the penthouse.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Adrian enter the room. It was only when she finished the piece and looked up that she noticed him standing by the door, watching her. For the first time, his expression softened, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"I didn't know you played," he remarked, his voice quiet.

Sophie felt a flush of embarrassment. "It's been a long time. I used to play when I was younger."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on the piano. "My mother loved music. She used to play as well."

There was a hint of something vulnerable in his tone, a crack in his otherwise impenetrable facade. Sophie felt an urge to ask more, to find out who this man truly was beneath his hardened exterior.

Sophie could see a flicker of something genuine in his eyes, something hidden beneath his controlled exterior. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, and he straightened, resuming his usual guarded stance.

"You play well," he added, his tone polite but distant once again. "It suits you."

Sophie managed a small smile. "Thank you."

An awkward silence stretched between them, filled only by the faint echoes of the melody she had played. Sophie sensed that he was about to leave, to retreat back into his own world where she could never reach him. She wasn't sure why, but a part of her didn't want him to walk away just yet.

"Adrian," she began, almost hesitantly, "is there anything you actually enjoy about this, about us?"

He regarded her thoughtfully, as if trying to decide whether her question was worth answering. Finally, he gave a faint shrug. "I enjoy that you have backbone, Sophie. This arrangement might have been born out of necessity, but I appreciate that you're not pretending otherwise."

Sophie didn't know whether to feel flattered or insulted, but she accepted it for what it was, a rare, guarded compliment from a man who seemed to keep even himself at arm's length.

"Then I suppose we both have things to appreciate," she replied, her gaze steady. "And I hope that, over time, this arrangement becomes more than just a transaction."

Adrian's face revealed nothing, but he inclined his head slightly. "Perhaps."

Without another word, he turned and left the library, leaving Sophie alone with her thoughts. She sighed, her heart weighed down by the complexity of her situation. She didn't know if she'd ever break through the walls Adrian had built around himself, but as she sat alone in the quiet of the penthouse, she found herself wishing that one day, they might both find more than just convenience in their marriage.