CHAPTER FIVE

They pulled up to a high-rise building in Tribeca. It was made of glass and steel and had modern architecture. A valet appeared immediately, and Dom tossed him the keys without looking.

"Mr. Hale," the valet said with a nod.

"Jeremy." Dom came around to open Cassie's door, offering his hand again. She was starting to notice he did that, the small courtesies that felt at odds with his reputation.

The lobby was understated luxury, all marble and subtle lighting. The few people present didn't stare, too well-trained or too disinterested to care about the disheveled woman in the engagement dress being escorted by Dominic Hale.

They took a private elevator to the top floor, silence settling between them again. Cassie caught their reflection in the mirrored walls— her makeup smudged and her hair falling out of its careful updo while he looked like he'd just stepped out of a magazine shoot.

They looked nothing like a couple, they looked like a beautiful disaster.

The elevator opened directly into Dom's penthouse, and despite everything, Cassie felt her breath hitch.

The space was open-concept and modern but it was warm, with actual books lining shelves and art on the walls that looked collected. It was nothing like what she'd expected from the party boy black sheep brother of Marcus. His brother's style was completely monochrome and I always wondered how I was going to live and survive in the boring space.

"Surprised?" Dom asked, shrugging out of his jacket and draping it over a chair.

"Yes," Cassie admitted.

"Everyone is." He moved to a bar cart that looked well-stocked. "Is whiskey okay? Or do you prefer wine?"

"Whiskey's fine."

Dom poured two glasses and handed one to Cassie. Their fingers brushed and she felt that strange current again, the awareness that this man was no stranger and also potentially her future husband.

She took a long drink, letting the burn ground her.

"Have a seat," Dom said, gesturing to a couch that looked like it cost more than a car. "Let's talk business."

Cassie sank onto the couch, her dress pooling around her, and watched as Dom took the chair across from her.

"First question," Dom said. "Are you actually considering this or are you just in shock?"

"Both," Cassie said honestly. "I think I'm in shock. But I'm also considering it."

"Why?"

"Because you're right. I want revenge and I want Marcus to see that I'm not some broken thing he can discard. And I want..." She trailed off, not sure how to finish.

"What?" Dom pressed.

"I want to matter," Cassie said quietly. "In my own right. Not as Richard Reeves's daughter or Marcus Hale's fiancée. I want to be someone who has power."

Dom's smile was slow and approving. "Now we're getting somewhere."

He leaned forward, setting his glass on the coffee table between them.

"Here's what I'm proposing," he said. "A real marriage, legal and binding, but with clear terms. We stay married for six months minimum. That's how long it takes for your father's shares to transfer under the merger contract he wrote with my family.

If you marry me instead, the contract still holds, but Marcus loses everything he was counting on."

"And you get?"

"Back into the family business. The inheritance I was cut off from, and most importantly, I get to watch Marcus realize he gave it all away for nothing."

The bitterness in Dom's voice was sharp enough to cut.

"What happened between you two?" Cassie asked.

Dom picked up his glass again, swirling the amber liquid. "Let's just say that four years ago, I had a major deal that went bad and they blamed it on my recklessness. I was cut off from the business and threatened to be disinherited entirely.

And Marcus... well, he swooped in, took over international operations, and became the golden child."

There was something about the way he said it.

"You think Marcus sabotaged you?"

"I know he did." Dom's eyes were hard. "I've spent four years trying to prove it and I'm close, so close to having evidence. But even without proof, I know my brother. He's calculated and strategic. He doesn't take risks unless the payoff is guaranteed."

"And marrying me was guaranteed payoff."

"Your father's company is very promising and the shares would give him majority control once your father retired." Dom listed each point like a prosecutor.

“Well, looks like he chose love over shares eventually.”

“Love?” He scoffed.

“Vanessa I mean… he chose her.”

"Marcus doesn't love Vanessa.” He snorted. “He probably doesn't even like her, but she served a purpose— getting you out of the way."

The words landed like ice water.

"Getting me out of the way?” Cassie repeated. "For what?"

"I don't know yet," Dom admitted. "But I will. And when I do, we'll use it."

Cassie set her glass down, her hands shaking slightly. "This is insane. You're insane. If the man sabotaged you and made it this far, why do you think he would throw it away just like that?”

“So you think he loves her?”

“Obviously,” she snapped.

“Well, then you're slow.”

“Or maybe you're just blinded by jealousy and too afraid of being the permanent failure and you're trying to find something, anything to make your brother the black sheep for one.”

“Ouch…”

Dominic's eyes met hers and held her gaze and she saw the pain flash through them but he masked it up almost immediately. Then he took a deep breath.

“Look, I know you don't trust me and you're confused right now but I need you to know that with or without you, I will prove my point, show everyone how evil Marcus is and regain my place.

But you… I am just doing you a favour and you can walk out the fucking door if you don't want it.

I don't owe you any explanation.”

Everywhere fell silent as she watched Dominic crash out and seconds after, she still had no words.

“I… I…”

“I need you to trust me, Cassie. I am not a child and I have no reason to lie to you. Are you in or out?”

Cassie looked at him, at this stranger who'd found her crying in a coat room and offered her cigarettes and revenge wrapped in a marriage proposal.

"What about after?" she asked. "After six months?"

"What about it?”

"Look, I have conditions," Cassie heard herself say.

Dom's smile was sharp. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

"I want full transparency about your plan, what you're doing to take down Marcus and all your evidence… everything. I need to be able to trust you."

"Agreed."

"And I want equal say in all business decisions once the merger goes through."

"Not a problem."

"And I want veto power over public appearances. I'm not some prop you parade around."

"Fair enough." Dom stood, moving to a desk in the corner of the room. He pulled out a legal pad and a pen. "Let's draft this properly"

"You're serious about this."

"Dead serious."