Chapter Four: The Papers

The guest suite was on the twenty-third floor. A bed. A desk. A window overlooking the city. Nothing else. No color. No decoration. Just clean lines and neutral tones.

I didn't care. I kicked off my shoes and lay down without pulling back the covers. Sleep came fast.

I dreamed of falling. Of Julian's face. Of Mira's smile. Of lilies.

When I woke, the sun had moved. Late afternoon. My phone was still off. I turned it on and watched the messages pile in.

Julian: seventeen texts. Cecilia: four. Mira: one.

I hope you're happy. You've ruined everything.

I deleted them all.

I sat up. My head ached. My mouth was dry. I found a bottle of water on the desk and drank it in three swallows.

A knock at the door.

"Come in."

A woman entered. Mid-thirties. Dark hair pulled back. Sharp eyes that missed nothing. She wore a black suit and carried a folder.

"Miss Voss. I'm Sloane. Mr. Kane's head of security."

"Elena."

Sloane didn't smile. "Mr. Kane asked me to check on you. The legal team is ready. He wants to know if you're available to review the paperwork."

"Now?"

"Now."

I stood. I smoothed my dress. I hadn't brought anything else to wear. I hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Lead the way."

Sloane walked me through the building. We passed offices, conference rooms, a gym. Everyone we encountered moved out of Sloane's way. She didn't acknowledge them.

The conference room was on the top floor. Adrian sat at the head of a long table. Three lawyers flanked him. Documents were spread across the surface.

I took the seat across from him. I didn't look at the lawyers. I looked at Adrian.

"This is fast," I said.

"You wanted fast."

"I didn't expect this fast."

Adrian slid a folder toward me. "Read it. Ask questions. Don't sign anything you don't understand."

I opened the folder. The prenuptial agreement was twelve pages. The marriage contract was eight. I read every word.

Separate finances. Separate residences within the shared home. Public appearances required at Adrian's discretion. Information shared freely between parties. Termination conditions outlined. Penalties for breach.

"This is thorough," I said.

"My lawyers are thorough."

I looked up. "What happens if I break the contract?"

"You forfeit everything. Access to my resources. Protection. The marriage is dissolved."

"And if you break it?"

"I don't break contracts."

I studied him. He wasn't boasting. He was stating a fact.

I returned to the document. One clause caught my attention.

"Section 7.3. 'Either party may request termination of the marriage after a period of twelve months, provided all outstanding obligations have been fulfilled.'"

"That's standard," one of the lawyers said. "A safety measure."

I looked at Adrian. "You're giving me an exit."

"I'm giving us both an exit. Neither of us knows how this will play out."

I nodded slowly. I appreciated the honesty.

I signed the documents. Adrian signed after me. The lawyers witnessed. It took less than an hour.

When it was done, the lawyers left. I sat alone with Adrian in the conference room.

"That's it," I said.

"That's it."

"I'm married."

"Legally, yes. Publicly, we'll announce tomorrow."

I leaned back in my chair. I felt strange. Not happy. Not sad. Something in between.

"I don't have a ring," I said.

Adrian reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small box and set it on the table.

"I took the liberty."

I opened it. A simple platinum band. No diamonds. No embellishments.

"It's not what you're used to," Adrian said. "But it's practical."

"It's perfect."

I slid it onto my finger. It fit.

"How did you know my size?"

"Sloane."

I looked at the ring. A stranger had bought me a wedding band. A stranger I'd married for revenge. My life had become something I didn't recognize.

"What happens now?" I asked.

"Now we go to work. You have information. I have resources. We start using both."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight."

Adrian stood. I followed him to his office. He gestured to a chair and I sat.

"Tell me everything you know about Julian's finances."

I closed my eyes. I thought back to my previous life. The documents I'd found. The accounts I'd memorized. The late nights I'd spent piecing together what Julian was hiding.

I opened my eyes and started talking.

I talked for two hours. Adrian listened without interrupting. He took notes. He asked questions only when something wasn't clear. When I finished, he set down his pen.

"That's comprehensive."

"I told you it would be."

"Some of this information isn't publicly available. Some of it isn't available at all."

I met his gaze. "I know."

"How?"

"I told you. Julian talks in his sleep."

Adrian didn't believe me. I could see it in his eyes. But he didn't push.

"Fine. We'll verify what we can. Start building a case. It'll take time."

"How much time?"

"A month. Maybe two. Depends on how quickly we can move."

"Julian will retaliate before then."

"I'm counting on it."

I frowned. "You want him to retaliate?"

"I want him to make mistakes. Angry men make mistakes. We'll be ready."

Adrian stood. He walked to the window. The city lights were starting to come on. The sky was orange and pink.

"You should eat," he said. "There's food in the kitchen. I'll have Sloane show you."

"I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat. You're no use to me if you collapse."

I wanted to argue. But he was right. I stood.

"Fine."

I walked to the door. I paused.

"Adrian."

He turned.

"Thank you. For this."

He didn't smile. But something in his expression softened. Just slightly.

"Don't thank me yet. We haven't won anything."

"We will."

He held my gaze. And for a moment—just a moment—something passed across his face. Something that looked almost like regret. Then it was gone.

"We'll see," he said.

I left the office. Sloane was waiting in the hallway.

"Kitchen's this way," Sloane said.

I followed her. I thought about the ring on my finger. The contract in the conference room. The man who was now my husband.

I had no idea what came next.

But for the first time in two lifetimes, I was ready to find out.