THE CONTRACT

By eight the next morning, Valeria's signature was on the marriage contract, it looked strangely ordinary.

A few pages of legal terms sat inside a black folder on the passenger seat as she drove toward Alejandro Valdés's headquarters. The same pages that were supposed to end one marriage were now preparing her for another.

She had barely slept, every time she closed her eyes, she saw the damaged cabinet in her father's study.

Someone had entered the house, had taken the handwritten note and Adrián already knew about the divorce.

She still did not know whether Alejandro was part of the danger or the only person powerful enough to protect her from it.

The Valdés Empire headquarters rose above the surrounding buildings, its glass walls reflecting the morning sun. Valeria had been inside some of the city's most expensive offices, but there was something different about this building.

Everything was controlled, security stood at every entrance, employees moved quickly through the lobby without lingering. Even the reception area felt designed to remind visitors that they were entering someone else's territory.

A receptionist checked Valeria's name and immediately stood, "Mr. Valdés is expecting you."

Of course he was, Valeria followed her into the private elevator.

The doors closed and she looked at her reflection in the polished metal, she was still wearing the wedding ring Adrián had given her three years ago, had forgotten to remove it.

Her fingers touched it briefly then she turned the ring inward, hiding the stone against her palm. When the elevator opened, Alejandro was waiting.

He stood beside the windows of his office, his back toward her. "You're early."

Valeria stepped inside, "I don't like wasting time."

He turned, his eyes dropped briefly to the ring on her finger. "You signed."

"Yes." Valeria replied.

Alejandro walked toward the desk. "So the arrangement begins today."

Valeria placed the contract in front of him, "It begins with one condition."

His gaze lifted. "I thought you had already agreed to the terms."

"I agreed to the marriage, I didn't agree to becoming your property."  Valeria explained.

Something almost resembling amusement crossed his face. "You won't be."

"I want access to every financial document connected to Adrián, control over my own accounts, to continue making decisions about my family's assets." Valeria added.

Alejandro paused. "Fine."

Valeria narrowed her eyes. "That's it?"

"You asked for reasonable conditions." He said 

She had expected resistance and made her more suspicious. "Why are you making this so easy?"

Alejandro leaned against the edge of his desk, "Because the contract benefits both of us."

"It benefits you more." She replied

"Perhaps." His honesty caught her off guard.

He reached for the folder and opened it, "The public announcement will be made this evening."

Valeria stiffened. "Tonight?"

"Adrián already knows about the divorce. If we wait, he'll control the story." Alejandro slid a second document toward her.

A draft announcement, Valeria read it. There was no mention of the divorce only a statement announcing her marriage to Alejandro Valdés.

The words made her stomach twist. "People will think I cheated."

“I don't care?" He replied 

She looked at him. "You really don't care what people say about you."

"I built my company while people said worse." There was something in his voice that made her wonder what he had survived before becoming this man. 

She pushed the paper back, "When do we move?"

"Today." Alejandro announced. "The contract requires you to live at the Valdés Estate."

She almost laughed. "You've already planned everything."

"I planned for the possibility that you'd accept." He explained 

"And if I hadn't?" She asked

"I would have found another way to deal with Adrián." He replied 

The answer stayed with her, there was another way then why marry her?

Before she could ask, the office door opened, a tall older man entered and stopped when he saw Valeria. "You're here."

Alejandro looked at him. "Thiago."

His uncle gave Valeria a polite nod. "Mrs. Valdés."

"Valeria is fine." She muttered

Thiago's eyes moved briefly between them, he looked as though he wanted to say something but decided against it. "The board meeting has been moved forward."

"I'll be there." Alejandro replied.

Thiago nodded and left. Valeria watched the door close. "Your family isn't happy."

Alejandro returned to the documents. "My family doesn't make my decisions."

She picked up her handbag. "Neither will I."

His eyes met hers for a moment, neither spoke then Alejandro said quietly, "I know."

The Valdés Estate was nothing like Valeria expected. The gates opened before the car reached them.

A long driveway led through perfectly maintained gardens toward a massive stone house, the building was elegant rather than flashy, with wide windows and dark wooden doors.

Valeria stepped out of the car and a housekeeper approached. "Mrs. Valdés, welcome."

The title felt strange and Valeria nodded politely. "Thank you."

Alejandro came around the other side of the vehicle. "You'll have the east wing."

She gave him a look, he walked toward the entrance and Valeria followed.

Inside, the estate was quiet, there were no family photographs on the walls, no personal decorations. Everything was beautiful, expensive and almost painfully controlled.

It reminded Valeria of Alejandro himself, perfectly arranged, impossible to read. Her luggage was carried upstairs.

She followed the housekeeper into a large bedroom overlooking the gardens. "This is yours."

Valeria looked around expecting Alejandro to remain outside. Instead, he entered and placed a small black box on the table. "What is that?"

"Your new security phone." He explained

She opened it, the device contained only a few numbers; Alejandro's, the estate security, Marina and an emergency line.

Valeria looked up. "I have my own phone."

"Your phone may not be secure." Alejandro said

Her expression hardened. "Are you saying someone is monitoring me?"

"I'm saying you shouldn't assume they aren't." He explained

That answer chilled her, she remembered the unknown message, the missing note, the security footage.

Alejandro turned toward the door. "There's one more thing."

Valeria waited. "If Adrián contacts you, don't meet him alone."

"I can handle Adrián." Valeria muttered 

He paused at the doorway. "That's not the point."

Then he left and Valeria stood alone in the room. For the first time since signing the contract, she allowed herself to breathe.

She walked to the window, from there, she could see the estate gates, two security guards stood outside.

She should have felt safe. Instead, she felt trapped, her eyes fell on the black security phone. A few minutes later, it rang.

Marina's voice came through. "Valeria, something happened."

Her stomach tightened. "What?"

"We received the first response from Adrián's lawyers." Marina explained, “They're challenging the divorce proceedings."

"On what grounds?" Valeria asked

Marina hesitated. "They're claiming some of the Laurent assets were transferred with your approval."

Valeria went still. "That's impossible."

"I know, but they have documents." Marina said

Valeria looked toward the bedroom door. Documents, forged or manipulated documents could turn everything against her.

She closed her eyes, Adrián had prepared for this, had known she might leave and now he was fighting back. "Send everything to me."

"I will." Marina replied 

The call ended, Valeria sat on the edge of the bed. She had entered Alejandro's house expecting protection.

Instead, she had walked straight into a war that had apparently started long before she understood she was part of it.

Downstairs, Alejandro stood in his private office reading a message on his phone.

Adrián has moved the remaining Laurent documents.

His expression hardened as another message appeared.

Someone else is looking for the same file.

Alejandro's eyes narrowed, he looked toward the staircase. For the first time, the situation was no longer following the plan he had made.

Someone besides Adrián was searching for Valeria's father's records and whoever it was had just moved closer to her. Alejandro put down the phone.

"Find them," he said to the man standing across the room. "Before they reach her."