Contract Becomes Real

"Pick a side," I said out loud. My voice cracked. 

Ethan was standing 5 feet away. He hadn't moved since I burst in. 

"Sarah," he said. "Let me explain." 

"Explain what?" I said. "Explain why the man I’m fake engaged to was having brunch with the man who tried to kill me?" 

"It wasn't brunch," Ethan said. "It was a meeting. And I didn't know—" 

"You didn't know what?" I cut him off. "That David was a monster? That he was going to stab me? That he was going to kill my dad?" 

Ethan flinched. "I didn't know he was going to hurt you." 

"But you knew he was shady," I said. "You knew he was trying to buy Miller Tech. You knew my dad didn't trust him. And you still met with him." 

"Because he told me your dad was selling the company," Ethan said. "He said you were going to lose everything. He said I could help." 

I laughed. It didn't sound like me. It sounded broken. 

"And you believed him," I said. "Just like that." 

"I was young," Ethan said. "I was 26. I wanted to prove myself. I thought I was doing the right thing." 

"By meeting with my ex behind my back?" 

"By trying to save your company," Ethan said. "Sarah, I swear to you, if I had known what he was going to do to you, I would have killed him myself." 

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to. 

But the photo. The contract. Clause 8B. 

"You lied to me," I said. "About the contract." 

Ethan's face fell. "I didn't lie. I forgot." 

"You forgot that you get 51% of my company if we get married?" I said. "That's a pretty big thing to forget, Ethan." 

"It's boilerplate," he said. "My lawyers put it in every merger deal. In case the merger includes marriage. It's meant to protect both parties." 

"Protect who?" I said. "Because right now it feels like it protects you." 

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. He looked exhausted. "Sarah, I never intended to use it. I never intended to marry you for real. The contract was supposed to be fake. A way to keep you safe." 

"Well it's not fake anymore," I said. "Because people think it's real. David thinks it's real. The press thinks it's real. And now I find out you could legally take my company if you wanted to." 

"I don't want it," Ethan said. "I want you." 

The word hung in my ears. 

" I want you."  

Not " I want your company”. Not " I want the deal". 

" I want you." 

I shook my head. "You don't get to say that. Not after this." 

"Then what do you want me to do?" Ethan said. "Tell me. I'll do anything." 

"Leave," I said. 

Ethan went still. 

"What?" 

"Leave," I said again. "I need to think. I need to breathe. I can't do this with you standing here looking at me like that." 

Ethan looked like I'd punched him. "Sarah, it's not safe. David said 24 hours. He could—" 

"I don't care," I said. "I'd rather face David than face you right now." 

Ethan stared at me for a long time. Then he nodded.

"Okay," he said. "I'll go. But I'm leaving the guards. Outside. And if you need me, you call. Any time. Day or night." 

I didn't answer. 

He walked to the door. Stopped. 

"Sarah," he said. "I didn't set you up. I didn't know. And I would give up Miller Tech. I would give up everything to take back that day." 

Then he was gone. 

The door clicked shut. 

And I fell apart. 

I didn't sleep. 

How could I? 

I sat on the floor of Ethan's penthouse with the contract in my lap and the photo on my phone and my dad's USB on the table. 

Page 17. Clause 8B. 

“..Party A retaining majority voting rights.”

It was legal. It was binding. 

If I married Ethan, he could take Miller Tech. 

Did he know? Did he plan it? 

The photo said yes. 

The way he looked at me said no. 

At 4 AM I gave up and went to the kitchen. Made coffee. Burned it. Made it again. 

My phone buzzed. 

Ms. Reyes. 

"Sarah, are you okay?" she said. 

"No," I said. 

"I heard about the photo," she said. "And about clause 8B. Ethan called me." 

"Of course he did," I said. 

"Sarah, listen to me," Ms. Reyes said. "I read that contract 4 times when we drafted it. Clause 8B is standard. But there's also clause 9C." 

"What?" 

"Clause 9C," she said. "If Party A breaches trust or commits fraud, Party B can void the entire agreement and retain 100% of assets." 

I frowned. "What does that mean?" 

"It means," Ms. Reyes said, "that if Ethan tries to use clause 8B against you, you can sue him and take everything. Including his company." 

My heart jumped. "Really?" 

"Really," Ms. Reyes said. "But Sarah, I don't think he would. I've known Ethan Blackwood for 10 years. He's ruthless in business. But he's not a thief." 

"Then why didn't he tell me?" I said. 

"Because he's an idiot," Ms. Reyes said. "And because he's in love with you and he's terrified you'll leave." 

I hung up and stared at the wall. 

In love with me. 

Right. 

Morning came. 

I couldn't stay in Ethan's house. Not after last night. 

So I went to my own place. The small apartment I’d been hiding in. 

It felt empty. 

I turned on the TV to drown out the silence. 

“BREAKING: DAVID BLACKHAM RELEASED ON BAIL”

On screen, David walked out of the courthouse. His arm still in a sling. Smiling at cameras. 

"I am innocent," he said. "And I will prove that Sarah Miller is unstable. That she is dangerous. That she needs help." 

The reporter: "Mr. Blackham, what about the video evidence?" 

David smiled. "Doctored. By Ethan Blackwood. Who, I might add, has been trying to take Miller Tech from me for years." 

My phone rang. 

Ethan. 

I didn't answer. 

It rang again. 

Ms. Reyes. 

I answered. "Did you see?" 

"I saw," she said. "He's out. And he's already filed a motion to freeze Miller Tech assets. Claiming you're mentally unfit to run it." 

"What?" 

"He's saying the stabbing gave you PTSD. That you're not capable of making decisions," Ms. Reyes said. "Court hearing is in 48 hours." 

"Can he do that?" 

"He can try," she said. "But we have the hospital records. The audio. The photo. We can fight it." 

"What about Ethan?" I said. I hated that I asked. 

"He's on his way to the courthouse now," Ms. Reyes said. "He's going to testify on your behalf. As your fiance." 

Fiance. 

The fake word felt real now. 

"I don't know if I can do this," I said. 

"You can," Ms. Reyes said. "Because you're Sarah Miller. And you're not letting him win." 

She was right. 

I hung up and got dressed. 

I dressed in black suit. Hair up. No makeup on.

Armor. 

If David wanted a war, he was going to get one. 

The courthouse was a circus. 

Reporters. Cameras. People shouting. 

"Ms. Miller! Did you attack Mr. Blackham?" 

"Is it true you're engaged to Ethan Blackwood?" 

"Are you crazy?" 

I kept my head down. 

Inside, David was already there. Sitting at the plaintiff's table. With Lisa next to him. 

Lisa. Smirking. 

David looked up when I walked in. 

His eyes were cold. 

"You," he mouthed. 

I sat at the defendant's table alone. 

Where was Ethan? 

The judge walked in. "This is a hearing regarding the mental competency of Sarah Miller to serve as CEO of Miller Tech." 

David's lawyer stood. "Your honor, my client is concerned for Ms. Miller's wellbeing. After the traumatic events of the past month, and her history of mental instability, we believe she should be placed under temporary guardianship." 

"Objection," Ms. Reyes said. "My client is fully capable. And we have evidence that Mr. Blackham is the one who caused her trauma." 

"Evidence that was fabricated," David's lawyer said. 

"Enough," the judge said. "I will hear testimony. Ms. Miller, do you have anyone to speak on your behalf?" 

The doors opened. 

Ethan. 

In a black suit. His hair looking perfect and face looking hard. 

He walked straight to me. Didn't look at David. 

"Yes, your honor," Ethan said. "I do." 

He sat next to me. 

Our knees touched under the table. 

He didn't look at me. 

But his hand, hidden under the table, found mine. 

And squeezed it.

"Mr. Blackwood," the judge said. "You are?" 

"Ethan Blackwood," Ethan said. "CEO of Blackwood Holdings. And Ms. Miller's fiance." 

David laughed. "Fictional fiance." 

"Real enough," Ethan said. He didn't even look at him. "Your honor, I have known Sarah Miller for over a year. I have seen her run Miller Tech through a crisis. I have seen her build a new company from nothing. She is the smartest, strongest person I know." 

"And you're engaged?" the judge said. 

"Yes," Ethan said. "And I would trust her with my life. With my company. With everything." 

David's lawyer stood. "Mr. Blackwood, isn't it true that you have a clause in your engagement contract that gives you majority control of Miller Tech if you marry Ms. Miller?" 

Ethan didn't flinch. "Yes." 

The courtroom gasped. 

"And isn't it true you met with my client in 2023 to discuss buying Miller Tech?" 

"Yes," Ethan said. 

"So you stand to gain financially from this engagement?" 

"I stand to gain Sarah," Ethan said. "And that's all I care about." 

The judge frowned. "Ms. Reyes?" 

Ms. Reyes stood. "Your honor, we have submitted evidence that Mr. Blackham attempted to murder Ms. Miller in 2023, and again last week. We have audio, video, and medical records. We request that this case be dismissed and that Mr. Blackham be remanded into custody." 

The judge looked at the files. Then at David. 

"We will review the evidence," the judge said. "Hearing adjourned. Decision in 24 hours." 

The judge hit the gavel. 

It was over. 

For now. 

We walked out. 

Ethan and I. Side by side. 

Reporters swarmed. 

"Mr. Blackwood! Did you know about clause 8B?" 

"Ms. Miller! Are you scared of Mr. Blackham?" 

Ethan put his arm around me in a protective way. 

"No comment," he said. 

We got to the car, finally alone, I let out a breath. 

"You didn't have to do that," I said. 

"Yes, I did," Ethan said. 

"Why?" 

"Because it's true," Ethan said. "Every word." 

I looked at him. "Ethan, about the photo—" 

"I know," he said. "June 1, 2023. I was an idiot. I thought I was helping. I didn't know David was going to hurt you. If I had, I would have—" 

"You would have what?" I said. 

"Killed him," Ethan said. Quietly and looking dead serious. 

I believed him. 

"So what now?" I said. 

"Now we wait 24 hours," Ethan said. "And then we end this. For good." 

"How?" 

"David wants you to pick a side," Ethan said. "So we pick. Mine." 

He turned to me. 

"Sarah, I know I messed up. I know I should have told you about the contract. About 2023. About everything. But I am not David. I have never lied to hurt you. I have only lied to protect you." 

"That's not better," I said. 

"I know," Ethan said. "But I'm trying. God, I'm trying so hard." 

He reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear. 

"I love you," he said. "Not because of Miller Tech. Not because of the contract. Because of you. Because you survived. Because you fought. Because you looked at me in that hospital and didn't see a monster." 

Tears filled my eyes. 

"Don't," I said. 

"Don't what?" 

"Don't make me believe you," I said. "Not if you're going to leave." 

"I'm not leaving," Ethan said. "Not ever again." 

He leaned in. 

And kissed me. 

Soft this time. 

Not desperate. Not angry. 

Just... real. 

I kissed him back. 

Because I was tired of being alone. Tired of being scared. Tired of pretending I didn't want this. 

When we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine. 

"The contract," he said. "We can tear it up. Right now. Clause 8B. Gone. I'll sign anything you want." 

I shook my head. "No." 

Ethan pulled back. "What?" 

"We keep it," I said. "But we change it. 50/50. Joint. Because if we're doing this, we're doing it together. For real." 

Ethan stared at me. Then he smiled. The first real smile I'd seen in days. 

"Deal," he said. 

My phone buzzed. 

Text. Unknown number. 

A video. 

Me. 

In the hospital. 

2023. 

Sedated. 

David standing over me. 

Holding a pillow. 

Caption: “Last chance to pick a side, Sarah. Or I finish what I started.”