Six-month Contract

DANIEL'S POV

I watched her through the side mirror as we pulled away. A sudden pang of guilt hit me, like I’d done something wrong, but I quickly shook it off.

A few minutes later, we were out on the open road. Out of nowhere, a heavy wave of exhaustion washed over me. My body felt drained and heavy. I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes, counting down the minutes until we reached the Arena. That was the only place I could truly blow off steam and forget everything else.

"Sir?" the guard sitting next to the driver spoke up.

"What is it?" I asked, not bothering to open my eyes.

"We’re being followed."

"Then deal with it. Arrest them," I said flatly.

"Yes, sir."

A second later, I heard him radioing the security detail in the car trailing behind us.

"There’s a cab riding alongside you. That girl with the crutches from the parking lot is tailing us. Pull them over and arrest her—"

My eyes snapped open. "Wait, what?!" I shouted. "No! Don't touch her!" I yelled. I didn't realize it was her. "Call them back right now and tell them to stand down!"

"Sir, but—"

"Now!" I snapped.

The guard quickly passed on the order, and the tension in the car slowly settled down.

I took a breath and looked toward the driver. "Head straight home."

The driver glanced back at me in disbelief. "Sir? Home? You’ve never missed practice before--"

"And besides," the guard cut in, "she will find out where the Fortress is. She’s a journalist—"

"I said go home," I cut in, keeping my voice firm. "And make sure you don't lose her. I want her to keep following us."

After a few minutes, I got home, and just as I had ordered, the guards blocked Natalia’s car and brought her inside.

I paced from one end of the sitting room to the other, my patience wearing thin as I waited for them to bring her to me. When the door finally opened, two guards dragged her in by the arm, and there she was—standing right in front of me.

Fear flickered in her eyes as she stared at me. She tried to hide it, but I could see it clearly. There was something almost innocent about the way she looked at me, and for some reason, it only made me more curious.

“You knew I was following you?” Natalia asked, finally breaking the silence that had settled between us.

“I know everything I want to know, Natalia,” I replied coldly, keeping my eyes fixed on her. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”

Her expression hardened slightly. “Then why didn’t you have me arrested like you did the last reporter?”

I slowly walked around her, studying her from every angle. She remained still, though I could tell she was uncomfortable with how close I was getting. I stopped in front of her, leaning closer until our faces were almost level.

“Because you seem interesting,” I said slowly.

“What?” she scoffed, clearly caught off guard by my answer.

I straightened and gave the guards a small gesture to leave. I wanted Natalia and I to be left alone.

They turned toward the door, and a moment later, it slammed shut behind them.

Natalia flinched at the sudden bang, her shoulders jerking in surprise.

I watched her reaction closely. She was afraid. Good.

But somehow, I had a feeling she was going to be much harder to break.

“Take a seat,” I said, walking over to the bar shelf to get a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Thank you, I’m fine. I’d rather stand,” Natalia replied.

I paused for a moment, then took a slow breath. With the bottle and a glass in my hands, I walked back toward her and stopped in front of her. I studied her for a few seconds, trying to figure out what was going on behind those eyes.

Something stirred inside me when she looked at me like that. I couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was the way she refused to look away, even though I could still see the uneasiness in her expression.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked softly.

She hesitated.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the arena, rehearsing as usual?” she finally asked.

“Of course I am.” I let out a long breath, irritation creeping into my voice. “But a certain someone decided to follow me to an arena she’s been banned from entering.”

I poured myself a drink, watching the wine slowly fill the glass.

“And if I’m supposed to spend twelve hours there, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

I took a sip before turning my attention back to her.

“So, have a drink with me before I change my mind and ban you from my Fortress too.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “After all, you said you’d do anything for information about me.”

I walked over to the white sofa and dropped onto it, resting back against the cushions.

Above us, the golden crystal chandelier cast a warm glow across the room, but the atmosphere between us remained anything but warm.

Natalia followed me back into the sitting room, but there was no excitement on her face. If anything, she looked exhausted, irritated, and completely done with me.

“You know, for someone who could have been sitting in a jail cell by now, you should be a little more grateful,” I said, picking up the bottle of wine and pouring some into a glass for her.

“I don’t drink.”

She glanced at the glass, her expression hardening, then looked back at me. I kept my hand extended, a tense stillness stretching between us, before she finally snatched it, only to set it down untouched on the center table with a sharp click.

“Look, I know I followed you, and I know I shouldn’t have.” She let out a ragged, frustrated sigh. “So why am I here?” She questioned.

I began without hesitation. “You work for a sports publishing company, and you need information about me. My life, my career, my background—everything you can put into that writing article of yours.” I leaned back slightly, watching the wary shift in her eyes. “You even said you were willing to do anything to keep your job.”

“Yes?” she answered. Her impatience laced with desperation. “And?”

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” I paused, letting the weight of the moment sink in. “But it won’t be for free.”

Her brows pulled together in deep suspicion. “What’s in it for you? What do you want?”

“I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Her face went completely blank, the shock draining all color from her cheeks.

“Be my woman,” I clarified, keeping my voice low and deep. “Just for six months. And in return, you can have whatever you want.”

For an agonizing moment, she simply stared at me, searching my eyes for a sign of a joke. But I gave her none.

Desperation clawed at my chest. I needed her help. But there was no way in hell I could tell her the real reason.

“Are you insane?” she finally snapped, her voice trembling with sudden fury. “I would rather go to jail.”

She grabbed her crutches and angrily pushed herself to her feet.

Panic shot through me like lightning. I hadn't expected her to walk away so quickly.

“I can help you get back on the ice, Natalia.” I told her as she was about leaving, taking a sip of wine. The words blurted out before I could stop them. She froze. I froze too, my heart hammering against my ribs. I had no idea why I'd said it. Maybe because I knew the hollow ache of losing what you love. Maybe because I'd seen the raw passion flare in her eyes the last time I saw on my Ice rink. And the way she skated with passion when she was still famous.

Slowly, agonizingly, she turned around. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her lower lip trembling slightly, and for the first time since she walked into my house, the hostility on her face shattered into pure heartbreak.

“What did you just say?” she whispered calmly.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

“I can help you get back on the ice,” I repeated, my tone softening. “I know a really good surgeon. He might be able to help with your legs. And if you’re willing, I can train with you. I can help you get back into skating.”

She stared at me, her lips parting as vulnerable awe replaced her anger.

“I know your story, Natalia. The city may have forgotten you, but I can help them remember you again. I can help you become the skater you used to be. The best ice skater Los Angeles has ever seen.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows against my knees, pouring every ounce of earnestness into my gaze. “I’m not asking for much. Just six months.”

She searched my face, a battle between fragile hope and deep-seated fear raging behind her eyes. Then, slowly, her knees gave way and she lowered herself back onto the sofa.

“You look like you need this help more than I do,” she murmured, her voice laced with quiet realization.

I said nothing, letting the silence heavy with secrets settle between us.

She quickly wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye before looking back at me, her guard slipping back into place. “Is there something I should know before I agree to this?”

“It’s personal,” I replied without hesitation, guarded.

She studied my face, weighing her choices. Finally, she exhaled a long, defeated breath.

“Well, it seems we both need something from each other.” She straightened her shoulders, a spark of resolve returning to her posture. “So I agree. I’ll be your woman for six months, and in return, I get every single detail about you while you deal with whatever personal issues you have going on.”

I nodded, relieved.

“But there’s one more thing,” I added softly.

Her eyes narrowed instantly.

“You’ll have to bring your things here.”

She blinked, stunned. “Why?”

“Because from now on, you’ll be living with me.”

“What did you just say?!” she yelled, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“The only way people will actually believe we’re together is if we live under the same roof.” I paused, watching the shock spread across her face. “And I’ll need to pretend that I care about you. More importantly, I need to be able to protect you from whatever is coming.”

Her expression shifted from outrage to sudden, chilling dread. “What is coming?” she asked, her voice dropping to a fearful whisper.

“Don’t worry about it.”

She stared at me, clearly unsettled, but she sensed the dark line I wouldn't cross and didn't push further.

Instead, she took a shaky, deep breath to anchor herself. “Fine. But we're going to need to sign a contract.”

I nodded. "Of course."

“And if I’m staying here, I want my own room. My own space.” She raised a finger sternly. “No touching.” Another finger. “No kissing.” She raised another. “No sleeping on the same bed.”

She paused, her glare fierce, ensuring I felt every boundary. “And absolutely no catching feelings.”

“Definitely no catching feelings. You ain't my spec Natalia. I like girls who are submissive, and not stubborn.” I interrupted, the response slipping out with convincing coldness.

"Then we have a deal." Natalia responded.