Chapter 6: SAND SHIFTING

My heart pounded with a mix of relief and fear as I left Jay's office. The signed contract, which would change my life completely, weighed down on me like a shroud. As I stepped down the marble steps, the cool evening air struck my skin and the door clicked shut behind me. A beautiful black automobile was waiting for me by the curb, just as Jay had promised.

With a gesture of recognition, the driver got out and opened the rear door for me. I paused, letting my gaze stray up to the tall structure behind me. I now understood what I had just consented to for the first time: a marriage in name only, but one that was far more nuanced on the inside. I slid into the car with a deep breath.

My phone buzzed in my purse as the car left Jay's office. When I pulled it out, I discovered a text message from Evelyn, my mother.

—We must speak.

I scowled. Especially with the urgency I sensed in those four simple words, my mother rarely made contact. But I really didn't want another headache after the day I'd had.

I did everything I could to calm myself as the city lights outside the window blurred. My thoughts kept returning to Jay. He helped me, but why? At best, his intentions were unclear, and his previous offer still caused some discomfort. After Ethan's treachery, I had been frantic to get my life back on track, but this was something far riskier.Jay was more than just a wealthy hero; he was a mystery.

My mind strayed to the agreement I had made. In reality, what had I gotten myself into?.. As we got closer to my apartment complex, the automobile slowed. I reflected on how dramatically my life had altered in a matter of days. My family was on the verge of financial collapse, my engagement had ended in the most embarrassing way imaginable, and now I was tied to a man I hardly knew in a business deal that felt way too intimate.

The driver offered to escort me to the door, but I declined and got out of the car. It took me a moment to reflect. The silence was like an unexpected, overwhelming presence when I walked into my apartment. Everywhere I looked was a reminder of Ethan—our life together, our aspirations for a future that suddenly seemed absurd.

I wondered how my life had devolved into such disorganized mess as I sat down on the couch and gazed out the wide windows at the metropolitan skyline. However, I experienced an unexpected sensation—a glimmer of hope—in the middle of the storm. Jay had made it apparent that this was merely a business deal, but I could see by the look in his eyes that he wasn't as immune to all of this as he claimed to be.

Once more, my phone buzzed. This time around it was my mom who called. I lifted it up with a sigh.

Mom's voice was stern yet calm as she said, "Arielle." "We must get together and speak."

"Now? Mom, I've had a long day.

"Arielle, I'm not asking. This is significant."

I sat up because of the finality in my mother's words. There was something serious wrong. There was a noticeable tightness in my mother's tone, even though she hardly ever displayed emotion.

"All right. Tomorrow AM."

"All right. I'll dispatch the driver."

I leaned back on the couch after hanging up. I had the unavoidable feeling that I was being drawn further into something much more intricate than I could have ever dreamed. I wasn't sure I was prepared for the answers, and there were a lot of unresolved questions—first Jay, then my mother.

I looked down at the contract I had earlier shoved in my purse. I took it out and looked over the official language once more. However, no matter how many times I read it, the words that were encrypted on the paper were the one that caught my attention:

"I have you now."

The thought of it made my heart race. His voice had been one of icy certainty rather than kindness. Despite how unnerving it was, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. Perhaps I couldn't stop thinking about him because he was dangerous.

I sighed, put the contract down, and stood up. I would confront my mother tomorrow. However, I needed to sleep tonight since I would need all of my power to deal with Jay Sinclair.

I realized my life was no longer mine when I slipped into bed. Not entirely. Jay had seen to that.

However, I was unaware of Jay's willingness to go to such lengths.

**********

My distressed face was softly lit by the early light that came in through my apartment's silky drapes. Too many thoughts had kept me up, so I hadn't gotten much sleep. I was tense since my mother insisted on meeting. Last night, there was a suggestion of something more than a family talk in her voice. My mother seemed to be about to say something significant, but I wasn't sure if I was prepared to hear it.

A new husband?Should I discuss the deal with her? No!

On the nightstand, my phone buzzed. My mother's estate was waiting for me when the driver came downstairs. With a sigh, I got out of bed and went to the restroom. I caught a peek of myself in the mirror as I was washing my face. The woman who was looking back at me had changed; she was tougher and more resilient, but she also carried the burden of choices that had changed my life's trajectory.

My determination had solidified by the time I was prepared. I would confront anything my mother had to tell me. I was forced to. Now there was too much on the line.

The early morning bustle of the city faded into the background of the peaceful trip to my mother's place. My thoughts turned back to Jay. There was something about him that I couldn't get rid of, even with his coldness and manipulation. I was afraid of how deeply I had been drawn into the game, even though he had told me that it was only getting started.

As it entered the lengthy driveway that led to my mother's estate, the vehicle slowed. The Vandenberg house's immaculate exterior and expansive gardens didn't help to ease my anxiety. My mother, Evelyn Vandenberg, was in the drawing room waiting for me, her keen eyes sweeping me as I walked in. Tension pervaded the atmosphere, a tempest of unsaid realities waiting to be revealed.

"Sit, Arielle," my mother ordered in a calm yet firm voice.

I sat down across from her and tried to read my mother's face. It was a mixture of adamant determination and something else, more akin to regret.

"What's happening, Mom? Why is it so urgent? With a voice that betrayed my frustration, I asked.

Her gaze wavered. "I'm concerned."

With my heart racing in my chest, I leaned forward. "About what?"

She let out a breath and gripped her chair's armrest tightly. "We have nothing, Arielle, and the family business will soon file for bankruptcy."

My throat tightened each breath. "What are you talking about?, believed that the meager amount of money our father had left us was still under control.

"It's over, sweetie. The only way we could pull ourselves out of this mess was to marry Ethan, but now that the engagement is over, we're doomed."

"Mother, I'll take care of it. I'll shield you and the company from its negative effects," I murmured, my voice breaking.

My stomach rumbled. I was unsure whether it would be best to inform her about my proposal to Jay Sinclair, but I was also curious about her reaction—would she be pleased? Or angered?

"How?" My mom inquired, crossing her hands over her bossom, confusing gracing her features.

"Don't be concerned about that mother. Let me handle this from now henceforth."

My thoughts was racing as I suddenly stood up and paced the room, but then I stopped and looked into my mother's dull, once-bright eyes. "Now, mama, I have to leave. I have things to sort out," I said as I left right away.

"Ariell-"

Without waiting to answer her summons, I closed the door and left right away.