Kaia stepped out of the Maybach. Her heels clicked against the damp stone pavers. She tilted her head back, staring up at the towering glass facade of The Haven Estate.
Ethan walked past her. He tapped a code into the digital keypad next to the door. A soft chime sounded, and the heavy walnut door swung open automatically.
Kaia followed him inside. The foyer was massive, with ceilings soaring twenty feet high. A cascading crystal chandelier cast a warm, golden glow over the space.
A woman in a spotless uniform stood near the entrance.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Wilson. I am Mrs. Holloway," the housekeeper said, bowing her head respectfully.
Mrs. Holloway stepped forward and gently took Kaia's damp shawl. Her eyes were warm, devoid of the calculating judgment Kaia was used to from the Miranda staff.
Ethan handed the suitcase to another maid. He turned to Kaia.
"Ma'am, Mr. Wilson said you have full reign of the house. Please feel free to look around," Ethan said. He gave a brief nod and walked out, the front door clicking shut behind him.
Kaia walked forward. Her shoes sank into the thick wool rug. She stepped down into the sunken living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a staggering view of the New York skyline.
Her eyes caught something in the corner of the room. A large, illuminated architectural model sat on a custom pedestal.
Kaia walked over to it. It was a perfect, scale replica of The Haven Estate.
Ethan had walked back in holding a tablet. He saw her looking at it.
"Mr. Wilson designed the initial blueprints himself," Ethan said, tapping his screen. "He holds a dual degree in architecture from MIT."
Kaia blinked. She turned to look at Ethan. Jaxson Wilson, the ruthless Wall Street predator, was an architect?
She pointed to a specific section of the model. A beautiful glass sunroom extended out into the manicured gardens. "Did he design this part too?"
Ethan smiled. "Yes. Mr. Wilson knows you are a screenwriter and that you often work late into the night. He added the sunroom specifically for you. He said the natural light there would be perfect for your inspiration."
Kaia's heart slammed against her ribs. A hot, tight sensation bloomed in her chest.
She immediately dug her fingernails into her palms. Stop it, she told herself. It's just PR. He's building the perfect set for the perfect fake marriage.
Mrs. Holloway gestured toward the private elevator. "If you'd like to see the living quarters, ma'am?"
Kaia nodded. They rode the elevator to the second floor.
The doors slid open to a wide hallway lined with plush carpeting. At the far end stood a set of double carved wooden doors.
Mrs. Holloway pushed them open. "The master suite. Mr. Wilson's belongings are already in the dressing room."
Kaia stepped inside. The room was cavernous. A massive King-size bed dominated the center, covered in dark gray silk sheets.
Kaia walked toward the en-suite bathroom. She stopped in the doorway. The marble vanity held only one set of toiletries-men's. The air in the room was thick with the scent of cedar and mint. Jaxson's scent.
It was a purely male territory.
Kaia's breathing turned shallow. The walls suddenly felt like they were closing in on her. Her chest tightened with a sudden, overwhelming panic.
She turned around. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, rubbing her collarbones in a defensive posture.
"Are there other guest rooms on this floor?" Kaia asked. Her voice was slightly pitched.
Mrs. Holloway blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Yes, ma'am. Down the other hall. But Mr. Wilson instructed that you would be staying in the master suite."
Kaia bit the inside of her cheek. The metallic taste of blood grounded her.
"I am a very light sleeper," Kaia said, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to disturb Mr. Wilson. I'll take a guest room."
Mrs. Holloway looked distressed. "Ma'am, I really must ask Mr. Wilson before making that kind of change."
Kaia didn't want to make the woman's job harder. She forced a tight smile. "It's fine. I'll call him and tell him myself."
Mrs. Holloway looked relieved. She led Kaia down the opposite hallway and opened the door to a warm, beige-toned guest suite.
Kaia immediately told the maid to bring her suitcase inside. She started unpacking her clothes, shoving them into the empty closet.
Night fell. The house grew completely silent.
Kaia sat on the edge of the guest bed. She stared at her phone screen. Her thumb hovered over Jaxson's name in her contacts. Her stomach churned with anxiety. She had to make the call.
