CHAPTER 6:THE MORNING AFTER

7AM. Cole Tower.

I woke up to sunlight and... an arm around my waist.

Damian.

In MY bed.

No suit. No CEO mask. Just black t-shirt and messy hair.

My heart stopped. Rule #2 was officially shattered.

"Morning," he murmured, voice rough from sleep. His face was in my hair.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

"Checking on my wife." He pulled me closer. "Is that allowed?"

I should've pushed him away.

I didn’t.

My phone buzzed. Hospital.

"Miss Carter, Leo is awake. He’s asking for you."

I shot up. "I have to go."

"I’ll drive you." Damian was already getting up.

"You don’t have to--"

"I want to." He looked at me. "Let me."

---

Hospital.

Leo’s eyes lit up when he saw me. Then they got BIG when he saw Damian behind me.

"Whoa. Are you the billionaire?"

Damian actually smiled. A real one. "I’m Damian. You must be Leo."

"You’re married to my sister!"

"Guilty." Damian ruffled his hair. "Heard you’re a superhero. Beat cancer."

Leo grinned. "Trying to."

They talked for 20 minutes. About video games. About space.

I just watched. My fake husband being... kind.

When we left, Damian was quiet in the car.

"Thank you," I said. "For coming."

"Don’t thank me." He glanced at me. "He’s family now."

Family.

That word hit different.

---

Back at the penthouse.

Dinner was on the table. Housekeeper made it.

But Damian pushed my plate toward me. "Eat."

"Yes sir," I teased.

His eyes darkened. "Careful, Mrs. Cole."

After dinner we ended up on the couch. TV on. But neither of us watching.

His hand found mine. Laced our fingers.

"Ali," he said.

"Hmm?"

"This doesn’t feel fake anymore."

My breath caught. "I know."

He turned to me. Tucked hair behind my ear. The same way he did at the restaurant.

"Can I kiss you? For real this time. Not for cameras."

My heart was pounding. $5 million. Contract. Rules.

Screw the rules.

"Yes."

His lips met mine. Slow. Soft. Careful.

Like I might break.

Like he was afraid I’d disappear.

When we pulled back, we were both breathing hard.

"That was... not in the contract," I whispered.

Damian smiled. Crooked. Dangerous. "Good. I’m tired of contracts."

He kissed my forehead.

"Stay. With me. For real."

And for the first time, I didn’t hesitate.

"I will."

The night was quiet after that.

Damian didn’t go to his room. He stayed.

We talked for hours. About my childhood. About his parents. About the things we never put in the contract.

He told me he hasn’t laughed like this in years.

I told him I haven’t felt safe like this in years.

At 2AM, he carried me to bed. Not in a romantic way. In a "you look exhausted" way.

He pulled the blanket over me and lay next to me, fully clothed, just holding my hand.

"Sleep," he whispered. "I’ve got you."

And I did. For the first time since signing that paper, I slept without nightmares.

---

Morning came too fast.

Sunlight hit the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Damian was already awake, propped on one elbow, watching me.

"Morning, Mrs. Cole."

"Morning, Mr. Cole." I smiled. "So... what now?"

"Now?" He traced my jaw with his thumb. "Now we figure it out. Together. No contracts. No rules. Just us."

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

[Unknown]: So you really did it. You trapped him. Watch your back, Ali.

- S

Sophia.

My smile faded. Damian saw it.

"Who is it?"

"Nobody." I locked my phone.

"Ali." His voice was serious. "You can tell me anything."

"I know." I took a deep breath. "But let’s have one normal day first. Please?"

He nodded and kissed my forehead.

"Deal. One normal day."

But deep down, we both knew.

In Damian Cole’s world, normal never lasts long.

Especially with an ex like Sophia watching.

END OF CHAPTER 6