Chapter 2 THE GILDED CAGE

The Blake estate wasn't a house; it was a fortress.

Lily stood in the center of the massive marble foyer, clutching a single, worn duffel bag to her chest. The ceilings were impossibly high, the furniture looked too expensive to sit on, and the air was so cold it felt like a morgue.

A severe-looking older woman in a crisp gray uniform stepped forward. Her name was Mrs. Jenkins, the head housekeeper, and her smile was nowhere to be found.

"Ms. Carter," Mrs. Jenkins said, her voice clipped. "Mr. Blake has instructed me to show you to your quarters. You are to remain on the third floor unless summoned. The east wing including Mr. Blake's private study is strictly off-limits."

"I'm not a prisoner," Lily muttered, gripping her bag tighter.

"You are a contracted employee," Mrs. Jenkins corrected smoothly. "And my job is to ensure the terms are met. Follow me."

Lily was led to a beautiful, sprawling suite. It had a king-sized bed, a private bathroom with a marble tub, and a view of the city. But as the heavy oak door clicked shut behind Mrs. Jenkins, Lily felt the walls closing in on her.

She immediately reached into her pocket for her phone. She needed to hear her mother's voice. She needed to reassure her that the surgery was paid for and everything was going to be okay.

She pulled out the phone. The screen was black. Dead.

Frowning, she searched her bag for her charger. She found it, plugged it into the wall, and waited. Nothing. The screen remained black.

Panic, cold and sharp, pricked at her chest. She rushed to the door and yanked it open, nearly colliding with Adrian Blake himself.

He stood in the hallway, still wearing his dark suit, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. He looked down at her with those unreadable, icy eyes.

"My phone," Lily demanded, her voice shaking slightly. "It won't charge. Did you do something to the electricity in this room?"

Adrian took a slow sip of his drink. "No. I simply had the outlet disabled."

Lily stared at him, disbelief washing over her. "You what?"

"You don't need a phone, Lily," he said, his tone entirely devoid of emotion. "You are carrying my child. The media is ruthless, and my competitors are worse. Secrecy is paramount. You will have no contact with the outside world until the pregnancy is confirmed and the initial contract phase is complete."

"No contact?" Lily gasped, stepping closer to him, her anger overriding her fear. "My mother is in the hospital! She is having major surgery! I have to talk to her!"

"Your mother has been moved to a private, VIP wing," Adrian said calmly. "The finest doctors in the country are attending to her. Her bills are paid in full. She has been told you are on a silent retreat for work and cannot be reached. She is safe. That is what you paid for."

"You had no right!" Lily shouted, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "You can't just cut me off from my family! This is insane!"

Adrian's eyes darkened. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them until he was towering over her. The scent of expensive cologne and whiskey washed over her.

"I have every right," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low rumble. "Read the fine print of the contract you signed, Lily. For the next year, I own your time, your body, and your obedience. You are in my world now."

Lily's breath hitched. She wanted to slap him. She wanted to scream. But a small, terrified part of her remembered the zeros on her mother's medical bills. She was trapped.

Adrian stepped back, seemingly satisfied with her silence. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it to her.

"What is this?" Lily whispered.

"Your schedule," Adrian replied, turning away. "You will eat the meals prepared by my chef. You will take the prenatal vitamins provided. You will attend the fertility appointments. And according to the timeline my lawyers have drawn up..."

He paused at the end of the hallway, looking back over his shoulder. His eyes were as cold as a frozen lake.

"You have exactly one month to get pregnant. The clock is ticking."

He disappeared into the shadows of the house, leaving Lily standing in the doorway of her beautiful, luxurious prison, holding a piece of paper that dictated the rest of her life.