Chapter 1. The Deal

The knock came like a threat sharp, deliberate, and ice-cold.

Emily froze mid-step, her hand hovering inches from the doorknob as her pulse slammed hard against her ribs.

No one knew where she lived.

Not even Claire. Her best friend so who could be knocking?

The knock came again, it was harder this time, more impatient.

Her stomach twisted. Her face turned, her mind whispered “why do I feel like I know who that is. Oh No God please don’t let it be who I’m thinking.”

She really didn’t need to check. Because at this point it could only be one person and she already knew who this one person was.

Jason.

The name crawled through her like a snail. A name she doesn’t like to recall. A man who took her peace from her. The same man who she has been trying to hide from for years now. The knock came again.

Slowly, she turned the knob and opened the door with so much fear and hoping it wasn’t Jason.

He pushed in immediately, like he belonged there, like he owned the apartment, Of course it’s Jason.

Jason stepped inside, bringing tension with him. He looked the same, expensive coat, effortless charm, that dangerous kind of beauty that fooled people. With an annoying smirk on his face.

But his eyes were different. He was so angry because he has been searching for Emily for a while and to a man like Jason that’s stress, that disrespect to his ego.

He looked darker. Sharper. And Hungry.

He finally whispered moving closer to her

“Hello, baby girl.”

Emily stepped back at once. “You. you. you’re not supposed to be here.” She said with her voice shaky and trembling,

He shut the door behind him with a soft click.

“Well I missed you too.”

“I didn’t say that.” She yelled

“No, you don’t have to.” he said, his gaze roaming over her slowly, deliberately.

“But your body always tells the truth. Baby girl. You miss daddy right. Hun don’t tell me you don’t miss me. The way I kissed you, the way I make sure to remind you I’m in control, the way I make love to you. Come on Emily you do miss me I can tell.

Her skin crawled. Tears filled her eyes. Because those memories were dark and Jason was that one mistake she made in the name of an ex husband. And now after all the hiding he has finally caught up to her. And that's trouble for Emily

“Get out of my house Jason.”

Jason laughed out loud, like she’d said something very entertaining.

“Do you mean that, You always did talk tough when you were scared.”

“I’m not scared of you. Jason, what do

You want from me, you took everything, my peace, my life, you’ve done nothing but hurt me, you hit me when you feel like, you said you make love to me, well that wasn’t love, that was extreme pain. You even took all the money I made from my designs. Now that was my hard earned money, my sweat. Now tell me what have I ever done to deserve that, nothing right. Nothing.”

Emily didn’t know when tears rolled down her cheek as she talked. It felt like she had been holding a lot inside.

She continued “All I did was love you. And foolishly got married to you. You said you wanted a divorce I gave you that thinking I’d be free. But now that was even more worse than the marriage. Please Jason, why can’t you just leave me alone please.”

Emily cried like she couldn’t take it anymore. She was tired of running and hiding so she really couldn’t take it anymore.

Jason smiled and looked at her. He clapped loudly “now that what I call a short movie, whatever you just did. Well I enjoyed seeing you cry and miserable and do you really think I’m not gonna find you. That's where you’re stupid baby girl.” He laughed out again

“You think you can disappear,” he said, “and expect me not to come looking?”

“You lost that right. You lost all right to see me and talk to me. You don’t have any right anymore. I took all that after I divorced you.”

“I never had rights, Emily.” His voice dropped. “I don’t need rights, I take what I want. I always have my way.”

Her throat tightened, but she didn’t back down.

Not this time.

“You don’t get to that with me anymore. I’m not your wife anymore Jason.”

His gaze snapped back to her, something dangerous flickering in his eyes before it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by amusement.

“We’ll see.”

Her phone buzzed on the counter, the sound cutting through the room like a blade.

Emily grabbed it quickly.

Claire.

I have a way out. It’s not what you’re expecting, but it’ll protect you. Call me Emily Please.

Jason’s eyes flicked to the screen.

“I see you’re still running to her?” he murmured. “Claire always did like fixing broken things. But the question is was she really fixing anything. Hmmm time will tell.”

“She’s not the problem. She’s none of your business.”

“No,” he agreed softly. “You are my business and you’d always be.” Jason took a step closer to Emily.

Emily held her ground even as her pulse raced.

“You’ve been trying to run and hide. But here you are in front of me.”

Her jaw tightened.

“You still think someone’s going to save you from me.”

“I don’t need saving.”

His smile deepened.

“That’s your mistake.”

“I’m not here to drag you back,” he added lightly.

“Then why are you here? What exactly do you want.”

He lift his head, observing her like he own her

“Well to remind you…” His voice dropped lower. “…you don’t disappear from me.”

A chill slid down her spine.

“You don’t own me Jason. You don’t tell me what I can do and can’t.”

“No,” he said softly. “But I know you. You can run,” he added casually. “Hide. Change your life.”

He reached for the door, then glanced back at her.

“But when you feel safe, that’s when I show up.” He whistled and stepped out. Now that Jason's signature exit.

The door slammed behind him.

Emily didn’t realize she was shaking until her knees gave out. She slid down the wall, her breath uneven, her phone still clutched in her hand.

Claire’s message stared back at her.

A way out.

Emily swallowed hard and pressed the call.

“Emily?” Claire answered instantly.

“I need it,” Emily said. “Whatever it is.”

A soft pause followed before Claire spoke again.

“Okay. You remember my boss?”

Emily frowned slightly. “Ethan Reed, you mean the ruthless, playboy. Ethan Reed.”

“Yes. He needs a wife.”

Emily blinked. “Excuse me?”

“A contract marriage,” Claire clarified. “Public appearances. Clean image. No emotions.”

“That sounds insane.”

“So is your current situation.”

Emily went quiet.

“You get his name,” Claire continued. “His protection. His security.”

“And what does he get?”

Claire hesitated, just for a second.

“He takes over as the CEO of his father’s company, not just an acting CEO anymore.”

The word lingered in the air.

“And Jason?”

“He won’t come near you,” Claire said. “Not if you belong to someone like Ethan.”

Emily didn’t like that word.

Not at all.

But she exhaled slowly and said, “okay I’ll meet him. Right now I don’t have a choice. And I need to do something to get myself out of this mess.”

The call ended.

She didn’t move.

Her fingers tightened around the pillow as she pulled it closer, pressing her face into it.

“How did I get myself into this mess…” she muttered, her voice shaking.

Her chest rose and fell unevenly. Jason’s voice was still in her head. The threat. The look he gave her before he left.

A sound came through from outside

Right outside the door.

Something fell. Or… moved.

She froze.

“Oh my God…” she whispered, lifting her head slowly. “Jason…”

Her heart started racing.

“Could that be jason…..?”

Her eyes locked on the door.

“Oh my God… did he hear everything?”

She swallowed her saliva, then slowly got off the ground. Her steps were slow and careful, almost silent as she moved closer.

She tiptoed to the door.

Her hand reached the doorknob. It trembled slightly.

She hesitated… then finally she turned it.

And pulled the door open.