Chapter 8
Elara's gaze burned holes through the contract. Lucien had given her until the next afternoon to give him an answer, and he hadn't said a single word after handing it over last night.
Why me? she thought, the question a nagging scratch in her mind. Why would he want to marry her of all people? Even though she knew it was purely a business transaction—a year of her life for a billion-dollar contract. It felt strange, and deeply personal. Did he have a hidden agenda?
She was supposed to respond today.
She read the document again, scrutinizing every clause, terrified she'd missed a term that would risk her life or safety. But it was exactly as she'd first understood it, a stark, unambiguous contract. She would be married to Lucien for one year, solely to secure a major business deal.
She hated to admit it, but on paper, it was simple.
But she knew Lucien. There was nothing simple or ordinary about him.
He'd laid out the rules, a list of demands that made her blood simmer:
They would live together under the same roof.
She would go wherever he wanted her to.
She wasn't allowed to leave without informing someone; she would be followed everywhere.
No interference in his private life.
Only immediate family could know the truth of the contract, and they, too, had to act along and keep silent.
She wasn't allowed into his company unless specifically asked.
There would be no intimacy of any kind.
She wasn't allowed into the master bedroom or his personal space.
Love is not a clause you're permitted to entertain; emotional involvement of any kind is strictly prohibited.
"A bunch of stupid rules," Elara muttered. He must have an impossibly high opinion of himself.
She looked at her brother, frail and fighting for survival. The doctor's words were a cold knot in her stomach: they had to transfer him to another hospital with specialized equipment they didn't have. This ridiculous contract was her only option.
What was she going to tell Noah?
Noah would be livid. "His fucking girlfriend is married to her ex," she whispered, already picturing his righteous fury. She wasn't going to tell him. But what if he saw her online, or on a billboard, or in a magazine? Argh! she screamed internally.
It's just for a year, she told herself. It will quickly come and go.
She stood up, leaned over, and placed a soft kiss on her brother's forehead. Then, she quietly stepped out of the hospital room.
Voss Holdings
She stood before Voss Holdings. She'd gone home to change into something professional: a severe black sheath dress and sensible flats. Her hair, usually tied back, flowed down her back, a cascade of dark silk.
The building was magnificent, a tower of steel and glass that pierced the sky. She wondered how he had accomplished all of this in so few years. She'd always known he was dedicated; he had always been top of his class. He would run to tell her about his academic awards, and she'd always tease him: "Our kids will be as smart as you are." He would always smile at her words, a future they both believed in. That future had ended sooner than expected.
"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Voss?" The receptionist's voice was crisp.
"Emm… no, but he knows I'm coming. It's about a personal matter."
The woman eyed her outfit, then picked up the phone. "Wait here, please."
Five minutes later, the receptionist called her name. "Miss Hart, you can go in." The woman didn't look up from her laptop screen.
Elara walked to the elevator and ascended to the top floor. Stepping out, a woman in an aggressively short gown stopped her.
"You must be Miss Hart," the woman chirped, blocking her path.
"Yes, I am. I'm sorry, can I go in?"
"Of course," she said, giving a smile that was too sweet, too plastic. Elara didn't linger to wonder who she was; she was here for Lucien.
She opened the door. Lucien was seated at his massive desk, his head still bowed over papers. He hadn't noticed her entrance. Her stomach did a backflip. He looked impossibly good in his corporate suit. Her mind flashed to the memory of playing with his hair, finding it the softest, silkiest thing on earth; he'd always drift off to sleep beneath her touch.
He finally looked up, their eyes meeting.
The unexpected intensity of his stare caused her to gasp, a sudden, panicked choke. Lucien was on his feet, walking over to hand her the bottle of water from his desk. She hesitated, shocked by his immediate, almost instinctive gesture.
She finally took the water, their hands barely brushing, their eyes still locked. She uncapped the bottle and drank deeply, her breathing evening out.
He stepped back, placing his hands in his pockets, his expression once again unreadable. "Thank you," she said softly, regaining her composure.
He walked back to his seat, slouching slightly, an unexpected hint of weariness in his posture.
"Sit," he ordered.
She sat on the chair across from him.
"I'm going to do it," she said, the words falling flat in the enormous, silent office.
"Have you gone through everything properly?" he asked, his voice low and devoid of emotion.
"Yes. I… I accept all the terms and conditions," she replied, looking down, nervously playing with her fingers.
"Whichever of your family you tell has to meet with me first," he stated. His eyes didn't leave hers. "To everyone else, we fell in love, were secretly married two years ago, and you simply decided to stay out of the media spotlight."
He leaned forward. "Anyone who breaks confidentiality," he continued, "faces legal consequences. As stated in the contract."
"I understand," she said, meeting his gaze. "When are you going to help me?"
"Give me the details," he said flatly. "My assistant will handle it."
She couldn't bring herself to thank him. The relief of her family getting help was instantly replaced by the overwhelming, heavy burden he'd just placed on her shoulders.
"Be here as early as eight tomorrow morning, so we can legally seal the deal," he finished.
"Of course," she whispered.
"You can leave." He picked up his phone, signaling the end of the conversation.
Elara walked to the door and paused for a moment, glancing back at him—her past, her mistake, her new beginning all wrapped into one man.
Elara stood and walked out of the office. They didn't exchange another word. Both of them knew their lives had just veered onto a dangerous ride.