Chapter 8

The door to the mansion swung open as Ryan and Emma walked in, both smiling like they had won a gold medal. Ryan walked into the kitchen exhausted as he sighed, tossing the car keys onto the counter.

"Finally home," he said, smiling, after the long hospital trip to get Emma's hand treated.

“I'm really impressed by how you handled things today," Ryan said, his expression softening. "You handled my grandfather perfectly, thinking on your feet like that." 

Emma managed a tired smile, still rubbing her bandaged hand. “I didn’t have much of a choice, did I? Your grandfather nearly had us cornered. I had to think on my feet.” Emma let out a worry sigh, though this time her face was serious as she continued. “We can’t afford to jeopardize this plan; we need to be in our A game all the time.”

Ryan chuckled, stepping closer to her. “Well, you did more than just think. You saved us. My grandfather totally bought the story. He thinks we’re legit.” His eyes softened as he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re really good at this.”

Emma glanced down, trying to ignore the strange warmth his compliment gave her. She reminded herself that this was all just an act and she had an agenda. But Ryan’s gaze lingered on her, as if he saw something more. He cleared his throat and shifted the topic.

“Now that Grandpa has met you, we’re going to have to step things up and continue with our plan.” Ryan said, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“I mean, we’ll have to spend more time together, especially with the birthday event coming up. It’ll seem weird if we’re not living together.

“So for now we need to make everything convincing, at least for a bit. So, I think it’s time for you to go get your bags and stay here for a while.”

Emma’s eyes widened slightly. “Stay here? Full-time?”

“Yeah, for now. People would be watching—the media, friends, and families—even my grandfather can be unpredictable, so we don’t have to take chances."

Emma nodded, though a twinge of unease settled in her chest. “Alright… I’ll grab my things then.” She turned to leave but felt Ryan’s hand lightly touch her arm.

“I’ll drive you,” he said, his voice low.

“No need. It’s not far, and I think we could both use a little break after today,” she replied, forcing a small smile as she continued, “after all, I need to make proper arrangements for my brother to make sure he is fine. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Ryan hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. But be safe.”

As soon as she stepped outside, Emma felt a wave of relief. It had been tense inside Ryan’s apartment, not just because of the situation with his grandfather but because of the growing intensity between them. She needed space to breathe.

Inside the Ryan’s mansion, He casually watched Emma leave, and once the door clicked shut, he felt the weight of the day’s events press down on him. 

He needed to relax and relieve himself for the day. The whole drama of trying to make this contract marriage work has been draining, and they haven’t even gotten anywhere yet. Stress was piling up, and he needed a release.

Ryan went straight to his room, changed his dress, and headed out to his secret bar. He couldn't afford to be seen in his regular bar as his grandfather's eyes were on him. 

Ryan drove straight to a bar close by, where he knew the people would least expect him to be. Upon arrival, he went to the counter to order a drink for a start. He spotted a gorgeous woman at the bar, wearing a sexy gown; her hair was dark and long flowing down her back. He continued to steal a glance at her till their eyes finally met, and he felt an instant attraction. She sensed his restless energy and flashed a sultry smile.

Without saying a word, Ryan moved toward her. He wasn’t here to talk as usual, just wanting to satisfy his sexual urges. Ryan needed an escape from the chaos consuming his life. 

He slipped some cash into her palm. Immediately, she understood the assignment. Her gentle touch on his arm sent a spark through him. She seemed to sense his desperation as she watched him grab her ass, and before long, they slipped away to a private room, hidden from the world.

The room pulsed with heat;  their bodies entwined. Her touch sent shivers down Ryan's spine as her hands slipped under his shirt, nails grazing his skin. Her warm breath on his neck left him breathless.

Every touch, every kiss ignited something primal in him. It was rough, wild, and exactly what he needed to escape, even if just for a moment.

Meanwhile, Emma's cab stopped outside her apartment, snapping her back to reality. She'd spent the ride lost in thought, replaying the day's events. Just 24 hours ago, she wouldn't have imagined herself being so fearless and strategic.

As Emma glanced in the rearview mirror, a black sedan caught her attention. It had been tailing her. Her heart skipped a beat. Was she being paranoid, or was someone actually tracking her?

She shook off the feeling and quickly paid the driver, stepping out of the cab. She still noticed the sedan didn’t move, implying it was definitely following her. 

Emma tried to see inside, but the tinted glass blocked her view. She hurried into her apartment, locked the door, and leaned against it, trying to calm down. 

But before taking a breath down to calm her anxiety, her phone vibrated in her bag. She pulled it out, expecting it to be Ryan. But the message made her blood run cold:

“You can’t run forever, Emma. I can see you’re chilling with the big boys now. Your debt won’t disappear. Pay up, or there’ll be consequences.”

Her hands trembled as she read the text. She knew exactly who it was from—the person she had borrowed money from for Lukas’s treatment. She had thought she could buy some time, but now the threats were starting. And Ryan had no idea about any of it.

Emma's eyes widened with fear as she stared at the phone, trying to digest the information she just read about. 

Her phone beeped again with another message, sending a chill down her spine: 

"I'm closer than you think." 

She swiftly opened the curtain to the window to peek, her heart pounding. The black sedan was gone.