THE GAME HAS BEGUN

Selene’s POV**

I stared at the man in front of me, arms crossed, trying to make sense of why he’d sought me out of all people. He looked like trouble wrapped in a finely cut suit, with eyes so intense they seemed to strip me bare, seeing through whatever defenses I still had left.

“So,” I began, clearing my throat, “are you going to tell me your name, or should I just call you ‘the guy who wants something from me’?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he inclined his head slightly, those dark eyes never leaving mine. “Adrian,” he said smoothly. “And as for why I picked you…well, you’re the closest contact I have to Callum.”

I now hated that name. “And what’s that supposed to mean? What kind of history do you have with him?”

He let out a low chuckle, shrugging in a way that felt casual yet loaded with secrets. “That’s none of your business, Selene. All you need to decide is whether you want in or not.”

I narrowed my eyes, folding my arms tighter across my chest. “I still don’t get it. Why me? Why now?”

Adrian’s smirk vanished, replaced by a hard look that cut through me. “Because you’re desperate, Selene. You have no money, no house, not even a phone. No friends. And all because you let a man dictate your life.”

I felt a hot flush of embarrassment crawl up my neck, my pride stinging from the truth of his words. But I forced a laugh, deflecting his jab. “And what makes you any different?” I shot back. “You’re just another man trying to get me to do what you want.”

He paused, a frown creasing his brow. “This isn’t about control,” he said quietly. “All I want is access to you. That’s it. I don’t care what you do beyond that, as long as you stick to my rules.”

“Rules?” I raised an eyebrow. “So there are rules already?”

Adrian’s gaze hardened again. “When you make up your mind, I’ll let you know what they are.”

He pulled a small card from his pocket, holding it between two fingers before flicking it toward me. I caught it, feeling the weight of his words as he leaned in close, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “You’re worth more than letting that bastard get away with what he did. Remember that.”

And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, card in hand, my mind spinning with questions. What did he mean? Why did he care? And more importantly, could I really trust a man like him?

The rest of the day passed in a blur. By evening, I was ready to leave the hospital. I approached the nurse at the front desk, my voice hesitant. “Excuse me, I’d like to know about my bill.”

The nurse looked up, her face softening as she recognized me. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Your husband already cleared it.”

I paused, Adrian cleared my bills?

Hus words had stuck with me, taunting me. “You’re worth more than letting that bastard get away with what he did.”

I hadn’t been able to shake his offer all day, thinking over the possibilities, the risks. It was obvious that there was kind of bad blood between him and Callum, that’s why he was hell bent on revenge. But the question is what could he want from me that only I could give?

Still, what did I really have left to lose? I had no home, no car, and certainly no family who cared enough to take me in. I had nothing but Callum’s wealth, and that had only made me more dependent on him, leaving me defenseless when he decided I was no longer worthy of his attention. I hated that I had let myself become so powerless.

I glanced down at the card Adrian had left, my fingers shaking as I picked it up. There was just a number printed on it, nothing more. One call, and I could change everything—or dig myself into an even deeper hole. But at this point, maybe falling deeper was the only way to claw my way out.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the nurse again. “Can I borrow your phone?”

She looked surprised but handed it over without question. I punched in the number, pressing the phone to my ear and listening as the line rang. It clicked, and the deep, familiar voice resonated on the other end.

“I was wondering when you’d call.”

His voice was smooth, like that a dangerous man who knew his trap has caught a prey. I bit my lip, steadying myself. “I need to know the rules,” I said, my voice more uncertain than I wanted it to be. “And what’s in it for me?”

I heard a soft chuckle on the other end. “What’s in it for you?” he repeated, sounding amused. “Let’s just say that if you agree to this, you’ll finally have a purpose again. A chance to be more than the woman who was thrown away.”

I gritted my teeth. “That’s vague, Adrian. I need more than flowery promises.”

“Fair enough.” His tone shifted, becoming all business. “You follow my lead. No questions, no second-guessing. There will be times when I’ll ask for things, favors. Your only job is to make sure you’re ready when I call.”

I swallowed, gripping the phone tightly. “So, I’m just supposed to be some…puppet for you? Isn’t that the same thing I just walked away from?”

“No,” he said firmly. “Unlike Callum, I don’t care what you do outside of what I need from you. You have freedom, Selene. I’m not interested in controlling your life—only the parts that intersect with mine.”

Freedom. The word felt strange, almost foreign. I’d been under someone else’s thumb for so long, it felt almost laughable to think I could ever have that again. But Adrian’s offer dangled in front of me like a lifeline, something to give me a reason to fight back, to reclaim a piece of myself.

“Fine,” I said, taking a steadying breath. “I’m in.”

There was a beat of silence before he responded. “Good choice. I’ll be in touch soon. And remember, Selene—don’t try to play games with me. I won’t be as forgiving as Callum.”

The line went dead, and I handed the phone back to the nurse, my mind reeling. Adrian wasn’t exactly the picture of a knight in shining armor, but maybe that’s what I needed. I didn’t want a savior. I wanted a partner in crime, someone who understood what it meant to be betrayed and still refuse to bow down.

As I walked out of the hospital, the city lights flickering around me, I realized I was already in too deep. Adrian had tossed me a lifeline, but I knew there were strings attached. What was I getting myself into? And what would it cost me?

But as I looked back at the hospital one last time, the bitterness of Callum’s betrayal still fresh in my veins, I made a silent vow. Whatever this was, I would make it worth my while. I’d stop being the woman Callum tossed aside, and for the first time in my life, I’d carve out my own path—even if it meant walking hand-in-hand with a devil like Adrian.

The game had begun. And this time, I wasn’t going to lose.