The Rules

I barely slept that night.

The contract sat on my bedside table, staring at me like a warning.

Ten million dollars.

One year.

A fake marriage.

It sounded simple.

But nothing about Alexander Kane felt simple.

By seven the next morning, I was sitting across from him in a private office at Kane Enterprises.

The building was enormous.

Glass walls stretched toward the sky, while employees in expensive suits hurried through the lobby with their heads lowered.

Everyone seemed afraid of Alexander.

I understood why.

The moment I entered his office, the entire atmosphere changed.

He sat behind a large black desk, reading through a document.

He didn't look up.

"You're late."

I glanced at my phone.

"By three minutes."

"Three minutes is late."

I rolled my eyes.

"You invited me at seven. It's seven-oh-three."

His eyes finally lifted.

Cold.

Sharp.

Unamused.

I immediately regretted arguing with him.

"Sit."

I took the chair opposite him.

He pushed a second folder across the desk.

"The contract."

I opened it.

There were pages and pages of legal terms.

My eyes widened.

"This is a lot."

"You have a lawyer."

"I don't have a lawyer."

"I hired one for you."

I looked up.

"You what?"

"He'll arrive shortly."

I stared at him.

"Do you always make decisions for other people?"

"When they're inefficient at making them themselves."

I clenched my jaw.

"You're unbelievably arrogant."

"I've been called worse."

Before I could respond, the office door opened.

A tall man in a gray suit walked in.

"Miss Sophia, I'm Daniel Carter. I'll be representing you during this agreement."

I shook his hand.

"Thank you."

He sat beside me and began explaining the contract.

The first few pages were straightforward.

One year of marriage.

Ten million dollars.

Public appearances together.

No disclosure of the contract.

No romantic relationships outside the marriage.

Separate bedrooms.

No interference in Alexander's business.

Then Daniel turned the page.

"And this clause is particularly important."

I read it.

My eyebrows furrowed.

"What's this?"

Alexander remained silent.

I looked at him.

"You want me to move into your house?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because married couples live together."

"But this isn't a real marriage."

"To the public, it is."

I sighed.

Fine.

I continued reading.

Then I reached another clause.

I froze.

"No children."

Alexander's expression didn't change.

"Correct."

"That's fine."

I turned the page.

Then I saw another condition.

I looked up slowly.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"What?"

I pointed at the paper.

"You're banning me from entering your bedroom?"

"My bedroom is private."

I laughed.

"Then why would I want to enter it?"

"Good."

He leaned back.

"Then we shouldn't have a problem."

I shook my head.

This man was impossible.

I continued reading.

Then I noticed something else.

"What's this?"

Alexander's face hardened.

"Which clause?"

"Section fourteen."

He didn't answer.

I read it again.

The wife agrees not to investigate the husband's past, personal relationships, or family affairs.

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"That's not a reason."

"It's the only reason you need."

I studied his face.

There was something behind his eyes.

Something he didn't want me to see.

"What's so terrible about your past?"

His jaw tightened.

"Sign the contract, Sophia."

"No."

His eyes narrowed.

I pushed the folder away.

"I won't sign something I don't understand."

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then Alexander stood.

He walked around the desk until he was standing directly in front of me.

"You want to know the truth?"

I swallowed.

"Yes."

He leaned down slightly.

"The less you know about me, the safer you'll be."

A chill ran down my spine.

"Are you threatening me?"

"No."

He straightened.

"I'm warning you."

Before I could answer, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Something changed in his expression.

"Excuse me."

He walked toward the window and answered.

I couldn't hear the person on the other end.

But I watched Alexander's face become colder with every second.

Finally, he said,

"Don't let him leave."

He ended the call.

I stood.

"What happened?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

He walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To handle a problem."

"What problem?"

He stopped.

Then looked back at me.

"The man who destroyed your family is in my building."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

Alexander opened the door.

"You wanted to know why I chose you."

He stared directly into my eyes.

"You're about to find out."

Then he walked away.

I stood frozen in the middle of his office.

The man who destroyed my family.

My mind raced.

Who was he talking about?

And why did Alexander Kane know anything about my family?

I grabbed my phone and followed him.

But before I reached the elevator, I heard a familiar voice coming from the conference room ahead.

My blood ran cold.

It was Daniel.

My ex-fiancé.

And he wasn't alone.

Emma was with him.

I stopped walking.

Why were they here?

Then Alexander's voice echoed through the open doorway.

"Sit down."

Daniel's confident voice disappeared.

"Mr. Kane, I can explain."

Alexander's response was ice-cold.

"You'll explain everything."

I moved closer to the door.

Then I heard my own name.

"Sophia doesn't know the truth."

My heart pounded.

What truth?

I held my breath.

Alexander said quietly,

"She will."

And in that moment, I realized my broken engagement was only the beginning.

There was a secret.

And somehow, Alexander Kane was at the center of it.