chapter 5

The law offices of Hartley, Davidson & Associates occupied three floors of a glass tower in Midtown, the kind of place where billable hours started at four figures and the coffee cost more than most people's lunch. Sophia felt underdressed in her best interview suit a black blazer and pencil skirt she'd bought at an outlet store two years ago.

Ethan's lawyer, James Hartley, was exactly what she'd expected: silver-haired, expensively suited, with the kind of smile that cost extra. He spread the contract across a mahogany conference table that could have doubled as a landing strip.

"It's quite straightforward," Hartley said, his tone suggesting this was anything but. "A six-month engagement arrangement with specific performance requirements and compensation structure."

Sophia picked up the document. Forty seven pages of legal jargon that might as well have been written in Sanskrit. "Performance requirements?"

"Public appearances, social media presence, cohabitation arrangements." Ethan leaned back in his chair, perfectly at ease. "Standard relationship protocols."

"Relationship protocols?"

"We need to be convincing," Ethan said. "That means acting like an engaged couple in public. Attending events together, sharing living space, making people believe we're madly in love."

The way he said 'madly in love' sent heat spiraling through her stomach. Focus, Sophia. This is business.

"And what exactly does 'cohabitation arrangements' mean?"

Hartley cleared his throat. "You'll be moving into Mr. Cross's penthouse for the duration of the agreement. Separate bedrooms, of course, but shared living spaces for authenticity."

"I can't leave my mother."

"Already handled," Ethan said smoothly. "The penthouse has a guest suite with full medical capabilities. Your mother will have round the clock care and access to the best doctors in the city."

Sophia blinked. "You can't just uproot her entire life."

"I can if it saves it." His voice was matter-of-fact, but there was something softer in his eyes. "She'll be more comfortable there than in your current apartment. Better equipment, better care, and no stress about medical bills."

The offer was generous too generous. "What's the catch?"

"No catch. Just logistics. We need to live together to sell this, and I'm not moving into a fourth-floor walkup with a broken elevator."

Hartley turned to a new section. "Now, regarding the compensation structure..."

Two and a half million dollars upfront, transferred to a medical trust in Elena's name. Another two and a half million upon successful completion of the six-month term. Penalties for early termination, bonuses for exceptional performance, and a non-disclosure agreement that would bankrupt her if she ever spoke about their arrangement.

"Exceptional performance?" Sophia raised an eyebrow.

Ethan's smile was wicked. "If you manage to make my ex-fiancée cry at her own engagement party, there's a bonus in it for you."

"How much of a bonus?"

"Five hundred thousand."

Sophia nearly choked. "You're willing to pay half a million dollars to make someone cry?"

"I'm willing to pay half a million dollars to watch Isabella Whitmore finally get what she deserves."

The name hit Sophia like ice water. Isabella Whitmore heiress, socialite, and the woman who'd been splashed across every society page for the past month as the future Mrs. Harrison Blackwell. The woman who'd broken her engagement to Ethan Cross five years ago when his family's empire crumbled.

"She's the one," Sophia said. It wasn't a question.

"She's the one who decided that love had a price tag, and mine wasn't high enough." Ethan's voice was controlled, but Sophia could see the anger simmering beneath the surface. "She's also the one whose new fiancé is trying to buy my company out from under me."

"So this is business and personal."

"The best revenge always is."

Hartley continued reading through the contract, covering everything from social media protocols to wardrobe requirements. There was a clothing allowance two hundred thousand dollars and a detailed schedule of events they'd need to attend together.

"The Whitmore Blackwell engagement party is in three weeks," Ethan said when they reached that section. "That's our debut as a couple."

"At your ex-fiancée's engagement party?"

"Isabella always did have a flair for drama. She personally invited me, probably hoping I'd make a scene." His smile was predatory. "I intend to give her exactly what she wants."

Sophia felt a flutter of unease. "What kind of scene?"

"The kind where I walk in with the most beautiful woman in New York on my arm and show her exactly what she gave up."

The compliment shouldn't have affected her, but it did. Heat bloomed in her cheeks as Ethan's gaze locked with hers across the table.

"There's one more section," Hartley said, interrupting the moment. "The personal conduct clause."

"Which says what?"

"No romantic entanglements with third parties during the engagement period. Exclusivity is essential for authenticity."

"So no dating other people."

"No dating, no romantic relationships, no physical intimacy with anyone except..." Hartley paused, consulting the document. "...each other, as required for maintaining the illusion."

Sophia's pulse spiked. "Required physical intimacy?"

"Hand-holding, brief kisses for photos, the occasional public display of affection," Ethan said casually. "Nothing you're not comfortable with."

Liar. They both knew that any physical contact between them would be far from comfortable. The brief touch at the restaurant had nearly undone her; six months of playing his devoted fiancée might actually kill her.

"What about private moments? When we're alone?"

"What about them?"

"The contract doesn't specify boundaries for when we're not in public."

Ethan leaned forward, his voice dropping to that intimate whisper that made her stomach flutter. "Do you want it to?"

The question hung in the air between them, loaded with implication. Did she want boundaries? Safety rails to keep her from falling too hard, too fast? Or did she want to see where this dangerous attraction might lead?

"I..." She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "I think we should keep things professional."

"Of course." But his smile suggested he didn't believe her any more than she believed herself. "Anything else you'd like to add or modify?"

Sophia scanned the contract one more time, her mind reeling with the magnitude of what she was about to sign. Six months of pretending to be in love with a man who was already under her skin. Six months of playing house with someone who could destroy her with a look. Six months of being Sophia Cross instead of the broken daughter of a disgraced man.

"There's something I need to know," she said finally.

"What's that?"

"What happens if this becomes real? What happens if one of us actually falls in love?"

The question seemed to catch Ethan off guard. For a moment, his composed mask slipped, revealing something raw and vulnerable underneath.

"It won't," he said finally.

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I don't believe in love anymore. Because Isabella taught me that every emotion has a price, and I'm not interested in paying it again." His voice was cold, final. "This is business, Sophia. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be."

The words stung more than they should have. But they also clarified something important whatever attraction existed between them, she was the only one feeling it. For Ethan, she was just another business acquisition, a tool for his revenge.

The knowledge should have made her feel better, safer. Instead, it felt like a challenge.

"Alright then." She picked up the pen Hartley offered. "Where do I sign?"

Twenty minutes later, they were standing on the sidewalk outside the law office, the contract signed and witnessed. Sophia felt like she'd just sold her soul, though admittedly for a very good price.

"Regrets?" Ethan asked, studying her face.

"Ask me in six months."

"Fair enough." He pulled out his phone. "I'm having your things moved this afternoon. My driver will pick you and your mother up at four."

"That's very efficient of you."

"I don't believe in wasting time." He stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. "Especially when I want something."

"And what is it you want, exactly?"

His smile was slow, dangerous, and absolutely devastating. "Besides revenge? I want to see what happens when Sophia Martinez stops hiding and starts living."

Before she could respond, he was walking away, leaving her standing on the sidewalk with her heart racing and her entire life turned upside down.

Her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: *Welcome to the team, fiancée. Try not to fall in love with me. - E*

Despite everything—the contract, the warnings, the certainty that this was going to end in disaster Sophia found herself smiling.

She texted back: *I'll do my best. No promises though.*

His response came immediately: *Good. I'd hate for this to be boring.*

As she walked toward the subway, Sophia realized that boring was the last thing she had to worry about.

In six months, Ethan Cross was either going to save her life or ruin it completely.

Possibly both.

And the terrifying part? She was starting to look forward to finding out which.