All Chapters of The Enemy Vow : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

E L A R AJulian Hartmann.The name alone would make my father's jaw clench. Our families had been enemies for as long as I could remember, something about my grandfather and his, a business deal that collapsed and a friendship that never recovered.I don't know.The details are fuzzy, but the hatred was very clear.If I wanted someone Father couldn't control, someone powerful enough to protect me, someone Father would hate...I know it's insane.Completely insane.But as I stared at Julian Hartmann's photo in the article, his ice-blue eyes, sharp jawline, the hint of a sardonic smile, I remembered something.A debate, from years ago.Seven years ago, when I was finishing my MBA at Columbia, he had been a guest lecturer, though I had no idea of who he was at the time.We had debated on corporate ethics and responsibility, I challenged every point he made, and he challenged right back, and for the first time in my life, someone had treated my ideas like they mattered.At the end, he sa

E L A R AI somehow made it back to the main gallery without my legs giving up on me.My heart was pounding so hard I thought everyone could hear it.But wait, he said yes.Julian Hartmann said yes.I grabbed my champagne tray with shaking hands and tried to blend back in with the other servers, but my mind was spinning.Three days.I had just three days to prepare for this, to figure out what terms I wanted, to make sure I wasn't making the biggest mistake of my life."There you are!" The catering manager appeared at my elbow, looking annoyed."Where have you been? We're short on the east side." He asked."Sorry, someone asked for directions to the restroom," I lied."Well, get moving. And take these to the VIP section."I nodded and grabbed a fresh tray, moving through the crowd like I was on autopilot mode.My mind kept replaying the conversation with Julian.The way he had looked at me with those ice blue eyes of his. The way he had remembered our debate from seven years ago."You

E L A R AI got home just after midnight, hoping everyone would be asleep.No such luck, because Mother was waiting in the living room, a glass of wine in her hand."Where were you?" she asked."I told you, dinner with a friend.""Until midnight?""We went for drinks after. I'm sorry, I should have called."She studied me with those sharp eyes that never missed anything. "You're lying."My heart jumped. "I'm not—""You are. You have that look. The same look you had when you were sixteen and sneaking out to that debate club your father didn't approve of."I'd forgotten about that. How Mother had covered for me, told Father I was at a charity event when really I was arguing about politics with people who actually listened to my opinions."Mother—""I don't want to know," she said, standing up. "Whatever you're doing, whatever this is about... I don't want to know. But be careful, Elara. Your father is already on edge about the wedding, don't give him reasons to watch you more closely."

J U L I A N"You want to do WHAT?" Rosa said, her voice getting that tone that meant I was in trouble.I should have waited to tell her.Should have had the contract signed first, made it official. But Rosa always knew when I was hiding something, and I'd rather tell her now than have her find out later."A contract marriage. One year business arrangement," I said, standing in the kitchen while she made dinner.Rosa had been my nanny since I was eight years old, when my parents left me behind to chase their bohemian dreams in Europe. She had raised me, loved me, scolded me when I needed it. She was more my mother than my actual mother had ever been.And right now, she looked ready to hit me with her wooden spoon."Business arrangement," she repeated. "With a Vance.""Yes.""Eduard's enemy's granddaughter." She said, more like confirming."Yes.""Are you out of your mind?""Possibly."She switched to Spanish, which she only did when she was really upset. I understood enough to know she

E L A R AI watched Julian walk away, my heart doing strange things in my chest.Very intelligent, interesting wife.He'd said that like he meant it, like he actually saw me as more than just a pawn in some revenge scheme against my family.I sat back down on the bench, needing a minute to process everything.Friday. I was getting married on Friday.To Julian Hartmann.My family's enemy.Oh My God!This was insane.My phone rang.Mother."Hello?""Where are you?" she asked."Central Park. I needed to get some air.""Well, come home, we have menu tasting at three and you need to be there."Menu tasting, for my wedding to Senator Blackwell. The wedding that was never going to happen."I'll be there," I said, hanging up before she could ask more questions.I had five days to get through without anyone finding out what I was planning. Five days of pretending everything was normal while secretly preparing to blow up my entire life.I could do this.I had to do this.I grabbed my bag and he