Chapter 5

Sienna’s POV

Liz’s head popped in. “Sienna? Are you okay? I hope you’re not… hurt.”

She rushed to me, hands skimming over my arms and shoulders.

“I didn’t want to come in while Moe was still here—You know I would’ve torn him apart.”

I shot her a cold stare.

She faltered, then sighed. “Okay, okay, sorry. But seriously—what if we both end up in a hospital bed, huh? Who’s gonna help who then?”

And yet, her words brought the tears anyway, ugly and unstoppable.

“Three days?” I wailed. “Why does everyone think my life is a joke?”

Liz hovered, uncertain whether to pull me into her arms or cry with me. “What happened?”

“I—I’m doomed,” I breathed. “Either Moe kills me if I don’t pay, or I take a chance with… him.”

Her jaw dropped. “Wait, don’t tell me he wants to sleep with you.”

I threw my head into my hands, shaking it hard.

“No,” I screamed.

“Then who?”

I swallowed hard. "One arrogant man I bumped into while delivering food. I also saw him at The Velvet Room. And now… he wants me to pretend to be his wife for six months. Seven hundred thousand dollars.”

I've got three days to decide.

“I don’t know what to do.” I gripped Liz’s hands like a child clutching her mother.

The sound of my own crying drowned everything else.

“Maybe…?” Liz paused.

“Maybe what?”

“Seven hundred thousand, Sienna,” she said softly. You always said you’d do what it takes.”

I groaned. “Didn’t think ‘what it takes’ involved a marriage contract with a rude man."

Liz grinned. “Hot, huh?”

I buried my face in my hands again. “Hot isn’t the problem, Liz. I… I don’t even know this man. What if he’s worse than Moe? Or… or what if he uses me?” My voice cracked.

Liz's hands gripped mine tightly. “Sienna… listen. I'm worried about the payment deadline. How on earth are you going to complete the payment within 3 days? You know how dangerous Moe can be, I care about you."

I shook my head, tears spilling onto her sleeves. “But this… this is different. Pretend to be someone else for half a year?”

Liz leaned back on her heels, letting me breathe. “Look, it’s scary, yes. But..."

Liz’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced down, groaned, then met my eyes with an apologetic wince.

“Work,” she muttered. “They need me. Now.”

Of course they did.

She squeezed my hands one last time. “Stop crying, okay?”

I nodded, even though the knot in my chest tightened the moment she stood.

“Breathe,” she whispered, brushing my shoulder before slipping out the door.

When she was gone, I wiped my face. I didn’t feel ready for any of this—but life wasn’t waiting for me.

I tried to shake off the sadness, my eyes still puffy from crying.

I dragged myself to the shower, hoping the shower would relief me.

After dressing, I took a deep breath, slapped on a tired smile, and grabbed my bag.

The bright sunlight hit me like a slap as I stepped out.

After several deliveries, my next stop was W.I.

I’d delivered to W.I before—Wolfe Internationals. One of the largest companies in the country.

Cold air washed over me as I stepped inside.

I handed over most of the orders as usual. The last one was for the CEO. Odd. I never delivered directly there.

"Excuse me," I said, trying not to sound lost. "Where’s the CEO’s office?"

The man glanced at my oversized hoodie, then pointed to the elevator. “Top floor. Speak to the secretary.”

“Thank you.”

The top floor was so quiet, I thought I had gone deaf.

And there she was. The secretary.

“Good afternoon,” I said. “Delivery for the CEO.”

One eyebrow lifted. “The CEO doesn’t receive deliveries.”

“Okay. But…there’s a note.”

She exhaled and picked up the phone. “There’s a delivery here… Yes. Alright, sir.”

She hung up and stood. “Come with me. Don’t touch anything.”

She led me to a massive black door, knocked once, and walked away.

“Come in.”

I stepped inside. “Good afternoon, sir. I’m here for the delivery.”

The moment he looked up, I stopped in my tracks.

Him.

He sat on the CEO chair. The plaque confirmed it:

Kieran Wolfe

CEO, W.I

His gaze swept over the bags, then over me. “I’m surprised they let you deliver here.”

My eyes pricked as the wsais cut like a knife, but I kept my face straight.

“You can drop it,” he said.

I did and turned to leave… but hesitated.

Before I lost my nerve, I stepped back to his desk.

“Since I’m here… maybe we should discuss the contract.”

His eyes met mine, and one corner of his mouth lifted in a sharp, knowing smirk.

“Move closer.”

The words were quiet, but they pulled something in me. I approached.

I moved closer, the air between us tightening like a wire.

“The walls have ears,” he said quietly, eyes dropping for one second before lifting again.

“Same restaurant,” he continued. “Eight tonight.”

I didn’t move.

For a beat too long, I stayed caught in something electric and confusing.

Was it his cologne?

Then—

His palm struck the desk, sharp enough to make me flinch.

“Hey,” he snapped. “You can leave. Unless you plan on staring all day.”

The moment shattered.

Heat flooded my face. “Ah. Sorry.”

I backed out quickly, the door shutting behind me like a gasp of relief.

My heart thundered as I stepped into the hallway.

What the hell had just happened?

My cheeks suddenly burned, and I tapped them lightly as if that could cool them down.

What was wrong with me?

Something I didn’t understand… something that terrified me.