Chapter Text
The apartment door slammed shut behind her, echoing through the cramped hallway. Rey dropped her bag onto the floor, the strap fraying at the edges, and dragged her hands through her hair. The stack of envelopes on the counter hadn’t moved—piled neatly where she’d left them, unopened, ominous. She knew what they said. She didn’t need to read them.
FINAL NOTICE: RENT OVERDUE
Utility Shutoff Warning
Immediate Action Required
Her stomach twisted painfully, and she bit back the surge of panic. She’d been working double shifts at the diner, scraping together what she could, but it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. And she couldn’t…she wouldn’t ask.
Her phone buzzed on the counter, screen flashing with a name she’d learned to dread.
Kylo Ren.
She stared at it, heart thudding. He’d been calling her a lot lately—texts, voicemails, those smug little one-liners she’d come to expect from him.
Haven’t seen you around lately.
Hiding from me?
You know where to find me if you change your mind.
Running out of time, aren’t you?
The messages had started small, casual even, but lately, there was an edge to them. A knowing, taunting edge. He knew. Of course, he knew. He was best friends with Hux, and Hux was dating Rose, and Rose…well, Rose knew everything.
But she hadn’t expected to see him. Not here. Not now.
There was a knock at the door, loud and deliberate. She froze, her breath catching in her throat.
“Rey.” His voice slipped through the crack in the wood, smooth and sharp. “I know you’re in there.”
Her heart hammered painfully, but she didn’t move. She pressed herself against the counter, hands shaking. Ignore him. He’ll go away.
He didn’t.
Another knock, slower this time. “You going to make me wait?” he drawled, voice rich with amusement. “I don’t mind.”
Rey’s fists clenched, and she sucked in a breath, steeling herself before she unlocked the door and yanked it open.
He was leaning against the frame, hands in his coat pockets, eyes dark and glittering. He looked the same as always—sharp suit, black coat that hung heavy over his shoulders, hair swept back but still unruly. Kylo Ren, looking every bit the billionaire’s son that he was.
“What do you want?” she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
Kylo smiled—slow and deliberate. “I think you know.”
Rey’s jaw tightened. “I’m fine.”
“Clearly,” he replied, eyes flicking over her. His gaze lingered on her too-large sweatshirt, the frayed edges of her jeans, the way her socks didn’t match. His smile grew sharper. “You look…comfortable.”
Her cheeks burned. “I don’t need anything from you.”
His eyes darkened, and he stepped forward, boots heavy against the tile. She didn’t move, her back pressed up against the door. “I think you do.”
Rey swallowed hard, hating the way her heart thudded painfully. “Why are you here?”
Kylo’s eyes swept the room—small, cluttered, the edges of her desperation leaking into every corner. He didn’t seem surprised. If anything, he looked…pleased. “I’m here to help,” he said simply, voice smooth and measured.
She scoffed. “You? Help me?”
His smile was cruel, sharp at the edges. “I’ve been offering for years. You always say no.”
“That’s because I don’t want anything from you.”
He took another step forward, and she felt the air shift between them. He was close now—too close. She could smell him—cologne and something sharper, metallic. “Well, you don’t have much of a choice now, do you?”
Her breath hitched. “I’ll figure it out.”
Kylo’s eyes glinted, and he leaned in, his voice dropping to a murmur. “You haven’t yet.”
Rey’s fists clenched, her eyes blazing. “You’re enjoying this.”
His smile widened. “Immensely.” He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “Here’s the deal.”
She blinked. “Deal?”
He tilted his head, eyes never leaving hers. “You come work for me. Live-in. I’ll cover your rent, your debt, whatever you need.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “In exchange…you do whatever I ask.”
Rey stared at him, heart pounding. “You want me to be your maid?”
His smile didn’t falter. “You can call it that.” He leaned in again, voice dropping to a whisper. “Or you can call it survival.”
Her throat tightened, the air too thick to breathe. “And if I say no?”
Kylo straightened, shrugging with casual indifference. “Then you can keep pretending that things will get better.” He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, his fingers grazing her skin. “But we both know they won’t.”
Her breath caught, eyes locked on his. He was smug, insufferable, and she hated him—had hated him since the moment they met. But he was right. And he knew it.
“Think about it,” he murmured, voice soft and dangerous. He turned, coat sweeping around him as he walked back down the hallway. But before he disappeared, he looked over his shoulder, eyes glittering. “I’m very good at getting what I want.”
His footsteps echoed down the hallway, but Rey’s blood was boiling, rage simmering just beneath her skin. She yanked the door open, nearly stumbling into the hallway, her fists clenched. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”
Kylo stopped, turning slowly, that infuriatingly smug grin stretching across his lips. “Loving what, exactly?”
Rey stepped forward, her chin tilted defiantly, eyes blazing. “You know exactly what. You’re so hung up on me turning you down—what was it, five times?—that you’re just doing this to fuck with me.”
He laughed—an actual, genuine laugh that rumbled from his chest and echoed down the hallway. “You think I’m offering to pay your rent just to mess with you?” He tilted his head, his eyes sweeping over her. “I’m offering to help.”
“Bullshit.” Her hands were shaking, and she shoved them into her pockets to hide it. “You’re only doing this because I wouldn’t go out with you. This is just you being cruel.”
Kylo’s expression hardened, his eyes flashing with something sharp. He stepped forward, the distance between them evaporating in a single stride. “I’m not doing this to fuck with you, Rey,” he bit out, voice low and simmering with restrained tension. “I’m offering you a job. If you want to bring up past shit, that’s on you.” He leaned in, close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Besides,” he added, voice dropping to a near whisper, “we both know the only reason you turned me down was your stubbornness. That ridiculous pride of yours.”
Rey’s cheeks flushed crimson, but she didn’t look away. His gaze was unyielding, smugness pouring off him in waves. “You don’t know anything about me,” she hissed, voice trembling with barely-contained fury.
His smile widened. “I know enough.”
Her mouth snapped shut, her heart hammering painfully. She hated him—hated the way he looked at her, the way he always seemed to have the upper hand, the way he always knew exactly how to twist the knife. But more than that…she hated that he was right.
Kylo leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest, the smirk never leaving his face. “So…what exactly are you expecting in return?” she asked finally, her voice sharp and biting.
His eyes glimmered with satisfaction, and he waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, you know—the usual. Cook. Clean. Help me organize my work things for me, keep my home in order, maybe run some errands. Pretty standard stuff.”
Rey scoffed, crossing her arms tightly. “You want me as your personal servant…”
He tilted his head, a grin spreading across his lips. “Something like that.” He paused, eyes narrowing slightly as he stepped forward again, looming over her. She could feel the heat rolling off him, the tension stretching tight and suffocating. His voice dropped to something low and wicked. “Or…”
Rey blinked, her breath catching. “Or?”
His eyes sparked with something dangerous. “We could make a different arrangement.” He leaned back, spreading his arms wide, all casual confidence, like they were just discussing the weather. “Whatever amount you want.” He rolled his eyes, mouth curling at the corners. “And I’ll double it. Because I know you’re…” His voice dropped to a mocking whisper. “Stupidly humble.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
His grin was sharp and cutting. He leaned in close, voice dropping to something husky and unyielding. “One night. You and I…”
Her breath left her in a sharp gasp, and she stepped back, chest heaving with rage and something she didn’t want to name. “You—you fucking bastard,” she spat, voice shaking with fury.
But he didn’t flinch. If anything, his eyes darkened, and that smirk stretched wider. He stepped forward, crowding her against the wall. “What’s the matter? You said I was being cruel, didn’t you?” His eyes flickered down to her lips, lingering there for just a beat too long. “Thought you liked that.”
Her cheeks flushed even darker, and she clenched her fists, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. “You’re disgusting.”
“And yet…” He leaned back, arms crossed, eyes glittering with satisfaction. “Here we are.”
Rey swallowed hard, the silence stretching between them, taut and suffocating. Her mind was a blur of rage and desperation, pride warring viciously with the reality of her situation. Her eyes flickered back to the pile of envelopes stacked neatly on her counter.
Final Notice.
Rent Overdue.
Her jaw clenched, eyes snapping back to his. “Fine.”
Kylo straightened, eyes glinting with triumph. “Fine?”
She swallowed hard, voice steady. “I’ll take the job.”
He watched her, gaze sweeping over her like she was something he’d won. His smile was slow, indulgent. “Smart girl.”
She bristled, fists clenching. “I’m not doing it for you.”
Kylo leaned in, his breath brushing her cheek. “You’ll find that doesn’t matter to me.” His eyes gleamed, and she hated the way her heart thudded in response. “I’ll have my driver pick you up tomorrow morning.”
Rey’s hands shook, but she didn’t falter. “I’m not living with you.”
Kylo raised an eyebrow, his smile stretching wider. “You will. It’s part of the deal.”
Her mouth opened to argue, but he cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Non-negotiable.”
Her throat tightened, and she nodded once, sharp and final. “Fine.”
Kylo’s eyes glittered with triumph. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Rey.” He turned, his coat sweeping behind him, and disappeared down the hallway, footsteps echoing.
Rey slammed the door, chest heaving, her hands still shaking. She’d done it. She’d actually done it. And the worst part? He’d won.
But it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.