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.With the ice melting, I gazed into the bottom of my nearly empty bourbon glass. I looked up from my glass to the window a little distance away, watching as the sun set beyond the bar. I felt so alone in my self-pity, watching life move on around me with only the faint clinking of glasses and soft chattering of voices. My life's worst day had been that one. Ethan, my fiancee— ex-fiancee, had betrayed me in the most heinous way. Memories of him with his secretary smoldering in the background, The man I'd been in love with for three years, the man I had imagined spending the rest of my life with, his tongue fighting another woman, his lies disentangled like a thread I had failed to pull sooner. I was hurt and broken like never before, I felt a sting of tears threatening to fall again but blinked them away, resolving not to cry anymore. Not for him. Not here. I felt uncomfortable; I'd adjust to my seat severally; it did nothing but make me comfortable, or maybe it was just the burde
I sat firmly in the passenger seat, my heart pounding more quickly than the engine's faint hum. Jay, the Billionaire, had offered to give me a ride. His name alone seemed to draw attention and power. It was astounding to consider that I never would have envisaged myself on this day, much less sharing a seat with him. My night had taken an unusual turn, and I noticed him out of the corner of my eye. Even though the city lights were blurring as we went by, the tension in the car was unmistakable. Jay exuded mystery partly because of his sharp features and calm manner. My mind was racing with everything that had transpired that day, including the heartache and Ethan's adultery. Why would someone like Jay Sinclair stop to help me?I couldn't get the feeling that everything in his universe had a reason, thus nothing was adding up. "Why did you stop?" I finally broke the silence, but my voice sounded forced. While his gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, I observed his fingers beco
Even when the car's tires skidded to a stop outside my apartment building, my mind continued to race. The bombshell that Jay Sinclair had just dropped had destroyed all pretense of routine in my life. A union based on contract? It was nonsensical. However, as I cast a sidelong glance at him, his expression serene, I couldn't help but feel the oppressive weight of my reality. Ethan had betrayed my affection and my confidence. My life was disintegrating. For some strange reason, Jay Sinclair had entered my life and promised me a way out, but at what price? I clenched my fingers around the passenger door handle, my knuckles becoming white from strain. I was breathing. I needed air. I pushed the door wide and whispered to myself, "I need to go." Jay remained motionless, observing my every move as I got out of the car with his eyes. The weight in his emotionless, calm voice, "I'll give you time to think, Arielle," shot a shiver down my spine. "Don't take too long, though. The timer i
I felt unprepared for the situation as I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring at the rows of clothes. How was one to dress for a meeting that had the potential to alter our whole life? Already, I had thrown half of my clothes onto the bed, and nothing fit. I ran my fingertips over a sleek black dress that hung toward the back. It was an understated, stylish outfit that I'd worn to formal occasions with Ethan. The memory turned my stomach. It wasn't about him tonight. Our history was unimportant. It had to do with the man who was holding out for me at the Saint Claire Hotel and my future. Jay Sinclair. I felt my heart race thinking about him. Ever since our first meeting, his dark, secretive eyes have followed me around. He had an alluring quality that made me wonder if I was getting into a good deal or falling victim to a scam. The breakup, Ethan, Jay Sinclair's offer—everything happened so quickly, and it all made no sense. I shook my head, pushing away the nagging misgi
JAY SINCLAIR'S POV I was standing in front of my penthouse office's tall glass windows, staring out over the vast city that extended beyond. Though the world below was bustling with life, and the lights from the skyscrapers twinkled like stars, my thoughts were far away from it all. With the Sinclair name being associated with riches, power, and influence, my empire was booming. However, when I looked out at the city, I didn't care about any of it right now. There was just one thing on my mind: Arielle. That night, I watched her from a distance rather than expecting to run into her. She had seemed almost too perfect, sitting helplessly next to her wrecked car, had been almost flawless. She held the secret to the carefully thought out plan I had created, one that would fulfill my desire for revenges as well as my commercial interests. I tightened my hands behind my back, remembering the term I detested the most. Ethan. A snarl curved my lips. The individual who had betrayed me yea