Novels by Olumide Daniel

"You are late."Declan stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse, a glass of amber liquid in his hand, his silhouette dark against the glittering Manhattan skyline. He did not turn when I entered, but I felt his awareness of me like a physical touch."Traffic," I lied.The truth was I had sat in the car for fifteen minutes, trying to find the courage to come up. Trying to convince myself this was not the worst decision of my life."You are a terrible liar." He finally turned, and the sight of him stole my breath. He had loosened his tie, unbuttoned his collar, and somehow looked more dangerous in this state of casual disarray than he did in full armor. "But I appreciate the effort.""Where do you want me?" The words came out wrong, too loaded, and heat flooded my face. "To sit, I mean. Where should I sit?"That almost-smile. "Wherever you are comfortable."Nowhere in this space felt comfortable. The penthouse was massive, decorated in the same minimalist style as his offi

"You cannot be serious."I stared at the contract spread across my kitchen table, the words of clause seventeen burning into my retinas. Lily stood behind me, reading over my shoulder, her silence more terrifying than any reaction.In the event that either party is required to demonstrate marital intimacy for legal, business, or social purposes, both parties consent to physical contact including but not limited to: hand-holding, embracing, kissing, and other displays of affection as deemed necessary by Party A (Declan Westcott) to maintain the authenticity of the marriage."Hart." Lily's voice was strangled. "This says he can kiss you whenever he wants.""For appearances," I said, but my hands were shaking. "It says for business or social purposes.""And who decides what qualifies as necessary?" She grabbed the contract, flipping through pages. "This whole thing is insane. Five million dollars? A year of your life? Playing pretend wife to a man who makes wolves look cuddly?"I wanted

"You already paid for his treatment."I stood in the center of Declan's office, fury and confusion warring inside me. The room was all glass and steel, perched so high above Manhattan that the city looked like a toy below. Everything here was designed to intimidate, from the minimalist furniture to the wall of awards and accolades that screamed power with every polished surface.Declan sat behind his desk, perfectly composed in a charcoal suit that probably cost more than my car. He did not look surprised by my anger. If anything, he looked pleased."I did," he confirmed. "The hospital called you this morning, I assume?""You had no right." My hands clenched into fists. "I did not agree to anything. You cannot just throw money at my life and expect me to fall in line like some grateful puppy.""Can I not?" He stood, moving around the desk with predatory grace. "You are here, are you not?"He was right, and I hated him for it. The hospital had called at seven AM, Dr. Monroe's voice thi

"You are insane."I stepped back, breaking free from Declan's hold, but the ghost of his touch remained on my waist like a brand. Around us, bodies swayed to music I could no longer hear. All I could focus on was the man in front of me and the impossible words that had just left his mouth."Am I?" Declan tilted his head, studying me with that unnerving intensity. "You need money. I need something only you can provide. It seems perfectly logical.""You do not even know me.""I know enough." He moved closer, erasing the distance I had created. "I know you work sixty-hour weeks at Maven Fashion for poverty wages. I know you have been your brother's sole caretaker since your mother died four years ago. I know you are drowning, Hartley, and too proud to ask for help."Ice flooded my veins. "How do you know any of that?""I make it my business to know things." His voice was casual, but his eyes were anything but. "Especially when something interests me.""I am not a thing.""No." Something

The bass pounded through my chest like a second heartbeat, but I barely heard it. My phone screen glowed in the dark club, showing three missed calls from St. Catherine's Hospital and a text that made my stomach drop.Miss Sinclair, we need to discuss Ethan's treatment plan urgently. Please call as soon as possible."Hartley, you are not seriously checking work emails right now." Lily grabbed my wrist, her red nails bright against my skin. "We came here so you could forget about everything for one night. One. Night."I shoved the phone into my purse, but my hands were shaking. Forgetting was a luxury I could not afford, not when my brother was three floors up in a hospital bed, not when the bills were stacking higher than I could climb."I am here, aren't I?" I forced a smile that felt like glass cutting my face.Lily's expression softened. She pulled me closer, her voice dropping below the music. "You are allowed to breathe, Hart. The world will not end if you take five minutes for y