A week later, Aria Snow had adapted to the work rhythm at Prosperity Group.
Every morning at seven, she would get up to prepare breakfast for Kane Rivers, then go to the company together. In the evenings, returning to Emerald Bay, she continued to play his exclusive maid.
This life made her feel suffocated, but she had no choice.
"Take this contract to the finance department." Kane Rivers said without looking up, "Remember, deliver it personally to the CFO."
Aria Snow took the documents and was about to leave when he called her back.
"Wait." Kane Rivers looked up, his gaze roaming over her body, "Come here."
Aria Snow walked to him, and Kane Rivers suddenly stood and walked to the private storage cabinet behind his desk, taking out an exquisite box from the bottom drawer.
"What is this?" Aria Snow asked in confusion.
Kane Rivers didn't answer but opened the box, taking out a set of clothes. A white ultra-short top with material so thin it was nearly transparent, only long enough to barely cover the chest; a black body-hugging ultra-short skirt, so short one worried it would expose everything with a bend; and a pair of black lace thigh-high stockings with a pair of ten-centimeter black stilettos.
The entire ensemble looked extremely revealing and provocative, resembling a high-class prostitute's working attire.
"Put these on." Kane Rivers' voice was soft but carried undeniable authority, "The complete set."
"I..." Aria Snow blushed, "This is an office."
"There's a rest room inside." Kane Rivers pointed to a door on one side of the office, "Three minutes. I want to see you come out wearing this."
Aria Snow looked at the clothes, her heart racing. She knew what wearing them would mean, but Kane Rivers' gaze told her she had no right to refuse.
"If you're unwilling." Kane Rivers seemed to sense her hesitation, his voice becoming more dangerous, "I can have you change in the lobby. That would be more interesting, I believe."
Aria Snow tremblingly took the clothes and walked toward the rest room. She knew this was another humiliation from Kane Rivers, but she no longer had any choice.
Three minutes later, Aria Snow emerged from the rest room. The white shirt clung to her body, the semi-transparent material making her undergarments barely visible, with a neckline so low it almost revealed what shouldn't be shown.
Kane Rivers' gaze instantly became heated, but his voice remained calm: "Very good. Now go to the finance department."
"Kane Rivers, I can't go out like this." Aria Snow's voice was trembling, "People will see."
"So what?" Kane Rivers walked to her, reaching out to adjust her neckline, deliberately making the shirt even more form-fitting, "Remember, you're now my private property. However I want to display you, that's how you'll be displayed."
Aria Snow bit her lip, tears in her eyes, but ultimately took the documents and walked toward the door. She knew resistance was useless and would only make Kane Rivers more extreme.
"Aria Snow." Kane Rivers called her just as she was about to leave the office, "Remember to hold your head high and chest out, let everyone see how beautiful you are."
Aria Snow's body stiffened, but she ultimately walked out of the office.
The office area instantly fell silent, with everyone's attention focused on her. Male colleagues' gazes became heated, while female colleagues cast contemptuous looks.
Aria Snow forced herself to remain calm, holding her head high and chest out as Kane Rivers demanded, walking toward the finance department. Every step filled her with humiliation, but she had no choice.
The male colleagues in the finance department had ambiguous looks when they saw her. The CFO's gaze roamed over her body unabashedly as he received the documents.
"Miss Snow is particularly... charming today." The CFO smiled meaningfully.
Aria Snow endured the humiliation and nodded politely: "Thank you for the compliment."
On the way back to the office, Aria Snow could feel everyone's gazes following her. Some whispered, others stared at her openly.
"How was it?" Kane Rivers looked at the returning Aria Snow, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.
"Very humiliating." Aria Snow answered honestly, her voice somewhat choked.
"Humiliating?" Kane Rivers stood up and walked to her, "Aria Snow, this is just the beginning. If you want this humiliation to end, you need to learn to actively cooperate with me."
Aria Snow looked up at him, tears in her eyes: "What exactly do you want me to do?"
"That depends on your performance." Kane Rivers' hand gently caressed her cheek, "There's a cocktail party tonight. You'll accompany me. Remember, wear this outfit."
Aria Snow's heart pounded, not from sweetness but from fear. She knew Kane Rivers was doing this to completely destroy her self-respect and make her completely submit to his authority.
What terrified her was that she found herself gradually adapting to this humiliation, even beginning to anticipate his next demand in some way.
That evening, Aria Snow appeared at the cocktail party wearing the transparent shirt and a body-hugging short skirt. Her appearance immediately became the focus of the entire venue.
"Miss Snow is becoming more and more charming." A middle-aged man approached with a wine glass, his gaze shamelessly appraising her body.
"Thank you." Aria Snow responded politely, but her heart was filled with complex emotions.
Kane Rivers stood not far away, conversing with other business elites, seemingly oblivious to the situation here. But Aria Snow knew he saw everything and might even be enjoying this sense of control.
"Miss Snow, how about we chat privately?" The man moved closer, reeking of alcohol.
Just as Aria Snow didn't know how to refuse, Kane Rivers suddenly appeared beside her.
"Sorry, my woman isn't used to communicating with strangers." His voice was gentle, but his gaze was frightening.
The man immediately left tactfully.
"Thank you." Aria Snow said quietly.
"Thank me for what?" Kane Rivers leaned down to speak in her ear, "This is just the beginning."
For the next two hours, Aria Snow felt like merchandise being displayed. Kane Rivers led her through various social circles, introducing her simply as "Aria Snow," but his possessive grip on her waist made everyone understand her status.
This display filled Aria Snow with deep humiliation, but she dared not resist. More shockingly, she found herself learning to enjoy this feeling of being possessed.
After the cocktail party, Kane Rivers drove back to Emerald Bay. The two remained silent throughout the journey, the atmosphere in the car oppressively suffocating.
Upon returning home, Aria Snow headed directly for the guest room but was stopped by Kane Rivers.
"Sleep in the master bedroom tonight." His words were concise and clear.
Aria Snow's body froze: "I..."
"This isn't a request, it's an order." Kane Rivers walked to her but didn't touch her, "Starting tonight, you need to learn to be a qualified woman."
Aria Snow looked into his eyes and suddenly understood something. He was waiting for her initiative, waiting for her to make the choice herself.
"Kane Rivers." Her voice was soft, "If I actively cooperate with you, will you let my brother go?"
"That depends on your sincerity." Kane Rivers' gaze became profound, "Aria Snow, I don't want your forced submission—I want your willing cooperation."
Aria Snow closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, there were no tears, replaced by an almost desperate determination.
"I understand." She slowly walked toward Kane Rivers, "Whatever you want, I can give you."
Kane Rivers' heart clenched painfully. This Aria Snow gave him satisfaction but also deep pain.
"Aria Snow." He reached out to wipe away non-existent tears from her face, "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Aria Snow's voice was soft but every word was clear.
Kane Rivers looked at her deeply, then nodded: "I promise you."
That night, everything went smoothly.
Aria Snow cooperated well, even exceeding what a skilled sex worker might do. She had all the right reactions and made all the right moves. She didn't resist, didn't cry, and even actively responded. From any perspective, this was perfect lovemaking.
But Kane Rivers felt deeply unsatisfied.
He could sense Aria Snow's detachment, that deliberate cooperation making him feel like he was making love to a high-class prostitute. She gave him everything he wanted but not what he truly craved.
Her gaze was too calm, calm to the point of being frightening. No shame, no humiliation, no trembling from being spiritually conquered. She was like completing a transaction, using her body to fulfill a contract or secure her family's safety.
"What are you thinking about?" Kane Rivers asked in her ear.
"Nothing." Aria Snow's answer was brief, her voice also calm.
This response made Kane Rivers even more irritated. He didn't want this professional cooperation—he wanted her breakdown, her shame, her despair and dependence when she completely lost dignity before him.
But the current Aria Snow was too calm, so calm that he felt like he was the one being humiliated.
After everything ended, Aria Snow calmly got up to go to the bathroom to clean herself. No tears, no trembling, as if nothing had happened.
Kane Rivers lay in bed, watching the light from the bathroom, suddenly realizing he had fallen into a strange cycle. He had gotten her body, but this possession brought no pleasure at all.
Because Aria Snow treated it as a transaction, not conquest.
She protected her last dignity, using the most rational way to deal with his revenge. This left Kane Rivers feeling unprecedented defeat.
He wanted an Aria Snow who would completely surrender before him, not this woman who sold herself like merchandise.
And this was exactly what he least wanted.