Chapter 10
Thursday morning. Elara sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair beside her mother’s hospital bed and felt something unfamiliar settle in her chest.
Relief
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For the first time in years, she wasn’t worried about money. Wasn’t calculating how many shifts she’d need to cover next month’s payment. Wasn’t lying awake at night wondering if Victor would make good on his threats,
One million dollars sat in her bank account. Real money. Enough.to change everything.
Her mother was asleep, breathing slow and steady. The IV drip made a soft rhythmic sound. Elara watched her chest rise and fall and thought about how close they’d come to losing everything.
Not anymore.
She’d signed the contract Tuesday night. Brought it home and read through all forty–three pages twice, highlighting sections that made her stomach twist. The cohabitation clause. The PDA requirements. The five million dollar penalty for early termination.
Today she’d submit it. Make it official.
Her mother stirred, eyes fluttering open slowly.
“Hey sleepyhead.” Elara smiled and reached for the juice on the bedside table. “You’ve been out for almost two hours.”
“Two hours?” Her mother’s voice was groggy. “I only closed my eyes for a minute”
“That’s what you always say.” Elara helped her sit up, adjusting the pillows behind her back. “Here. Drink something.”
Her mother took the juice with shaky hands. “Have you seen your father?”
The question still stung, even though Elara had been expecting it.
“Yeah. I saw him.” The lie came easier now. “He’s fine. Working on some things.”
“Good. That’s good.” Her mother took a small sip. “I worry about him.”
Elara bit her tongue. Her mother didn’t know Luca had stolen her savings. Didn’t know he’d slapped her. Didn’t know he’d
called her mother’s cancer a waste of money.
Better to keep it that way.
“I need to head to work,” Elara said, standing. “But I’ll be back tomorrow.”
You work too hard, baby,”
“I’m fine, Mama Promise.” She kissed her mother’s forehead. “Get some rest.”
The subway ride to Thorne Dynamics was smooth. No delays. No crowds. She arrived at the building twenty minutes early,
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the signed contract tucked safely in her bag.
Time to face her devil in human form.
The reception desk was empty except for the usual morning assistant. Elara checked in, asked if Mr. Thorne was available.
“He’s in his office,” the woman said without looking up.
Elara took the elevator to the top floor. Her heart was doing something stupid in her chest. Beating too fast. Making her hands shake slightly as she approached his door.
She knocked once.
*Come in.”
Marcus was at his desk, reviewing something on his laptop. He didn’t look up when she entered, just kept reading
whatever had his attention.
“Good morning, Mr. Thorne.”
“Good morning, Miss Vance.”
Still so formal. Like they hadn’t agreed to spend the next two years pretending to be in love.
Elara pulled the contract from her bag and set it on his desk. “I’m done going through it. Everything looks fine.”
Marcus finally looked up. His eyes scanned her face, then dropped to the contract. He picked it up, flipping through the pages to check her signature.
*Good.”
That was it. Just good. Like she’d turned in a quarterly report instead of agreeing to marry him.
He stood from his desk and walked around it, moving toward her. Closer than necessary. Close enough that she had to tilt
her head back to maintain eye contact.
“Elara.”
It was the first time he’d called her by her first name at work. The sound of it in his voice made something twist in her
stomach.
“We have to sell this story,” he said. “People need to believe we’re in love.”
*I know.”
His hand reached out, fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. The touch was gentle. Deliberate. His thumb traced along her jaw, tilting her head slightly.
“This,” he said quietly. “We need to be comfortable with this.”
Her breath caught His hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer. Not aggressive. Just firm. Possessive in a way that
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made her heart race.
“You’ll need a makeover,” Marcus continued. “Hair, clothes, everything. People won’t believe I’m engaged to someone who dresses like a college student.”
The words hit like a slap.
Elara stepped back, his hand falling away. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“You’re unbelievable.” Anger flared hot in her chest. “Would it kill you to be nice to me? Just once?”
Marcus’s expression didn’t change. “I’m being nice.”
“You’re being an asshole.” She crossed her arms. “How are we supposed to do this if you’re always looking at me like I irritate you?”
“I don’t…..”
“Yes, you do. Every time you look at me, it’s like you’re calculating how quickly you can get me out of your sight.” Her voice was rising now. She didn’t care. “I’m about to spend two years of my life pretending to love you. The least you could do is
pretend I’m not a burden.”
Marcus stared at her. Silent. His jaw was tight, that muscle twitching the way it did when he was holding back whatever he actually wanted to say.
Finally, he turned and walked back to his desk. “Are we done?”
“No.” Elara followed him. “If I’m faithful to this contract, then you have to be faithful too.”
“I am faithful.”
“I’m not talking about the exclusivity clause.” She planted her hands on his desk, leaning forward. “I’m talking about respect. No embarrassing me. No mysterious women sneaking in and out of your penthouse. No one night stands that end up in the tabloids.”
Marcus leaned back in his chair, studying her. “You’re the one who’s desperate, Miss Vance. Not me.”
“You came to me first,” she shot back. “You’re the one who needs a wife before your birthday. You’re the one who’ll lose everything if this doesn’t work. So don’t pretend I’m the only desperate person in this room.”
Something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or respect.
He stood again, slower this time. Walked around the desk until they were face to face.
“Okay,” he said quietly. “You have my loyalty. As long as I have yours.”
Elara met his gaze. “I’m all yours.”
The words hung between them. Heavy. Loaded with implications neither of them wanted to acknowledge.
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Marcus’s eyes dropped to her mouth for just a second before returning to her face. “Good. The engagement announcement goes out Saturday. Be ready.”
“will be.”
“And Elara?”
“Yes?”
“Get the makeover. Please.” His tone softened slightly. “I need people to believe this is real.”
She wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him to go to hell. But he was right. If she showed up to events looking like his overworked assistant, people would ask questions.
“Fine.”
“Dante will arrange everything. Hair, clothes, whatever you need.”
Elara nodded and turned to leave.
“One more thing.”
She stopped at the door.
“Move your things to the penthouse by Friday. We go public Saturday.”
Her stomach dropped. Two days. She had two days before her life changed completely.
“Okay.”
She left his office and went straight to the bathroom. Locked herself in a stall and pressed her palms against her eyes.
Two years.
She could survive two years.
Even if it meant living with the man who looked at her like she was a problem he needed to solve.
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Chapter 11
Chapter 11
