Chapter 5: The Main Twist
The Sensor
Aria's body was pressed hard against the cold metal of the stalled elevator wall. The sudden darkness, the scent of Elias's expensive cologne, and the terrifying intimacy of his movements created a suffocating intensity.
His words struck Aria with paralyzing clarity. The device wasn't just a GPS tracker; it was a physical sensor, designed to monitor her biological reactions, confirming his absolute ownership over her emotions and body.
"You're sick," she choked out, fighting against his superior strength.
He paused, a dark, predatory chuckle rumbling in his chest. "No, Aria. I'm thorough. And I need to test its functionality."
His hands left her skirt, shooting back up to the sapphire necklace—the tracker. He didn't remove it. Instead, his fingers brushed the silver pendant and then moved, slow and deliberate, back down to her exposed skin, underneath her blouse, exploring the swell of her chest.
He found her breast, his palm covering it completely. The contrast of his rough, demanding touch and the silk of her bra was electric. Aria gasped, the sound sharp in the silence.
"Track that, little device," Elias commanded, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. He began to stroke her, slowly, expertly. "Show me your fear is turning into feeling."
Aria knew she had to fight. Not just physically, but psychologically. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on her sister's face, on the $5 million reward. Don't react. Don't let him win.
The Calculated Retaliation
As his touch intensified, Aria realized his weakness: Control. He needed her surrender, her visible reaction, to validate his dominance.
She opened her eyes and looked directly at him, a flicker of defiance replacing the panic.
"The tracker works, Elias," she said, her voice trembling but steady. "It's registering my heart rate. But it's not because of you."
He froze, his fingers stilling on her skin. "Explain."
"The thought of five million dollars and my sister's freedom is far more stimulating than your touch," she challenged, pushing her hips slightly away from him.
"You can command my body, but you can't command my pleasure, Elias. Not yet. Not until I decide the price is high enough."
The possessive fire in his eyes twisted into something like shock, quickly masked by rage. He hated that she had found a gap in his control.
He grabbed her chin, his grip painful. "You think you can play games with me? I will have you begging, Aria. Before the 180 days are through, that tracker will register a symphony of pleasure just from my voice."
He pulled her closer and crushed his lips to hers one final time—a punitive, scorching kiss that was both a threat and a promise. He released her, his breathing ragged.
"Go fix your clothes," he bit out, his authority momentarily fractured. "I'll deal with your defiance later, at home."
He pressed the emergency override button, and the elevator continued its ascent to the penthouse.
The Main Twist: The Real Heir
They arrived in the penthouse. Elias stormed directly to his study, slamming the door. Aria, left shaking in the hallway, slowly adjusted her suit, the silver pendant feeling colder than ever.
She needed a glass of water. As she moved toward the kitchen, she passed a large, antique chest sitting near the staircase. A key, carelessly left on a nearby side table, glinted under the chandelier.
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. Aria's smart, ambitious nature kicked in. The contract was signed, but she needed to understand the full landscape of her golden cage.
She grabbed the key, knelt, and unlocked the heavy chest. Inside, nestled beneath layers of dust covers, was a collection of old photographs and papers—Elias's grandmother's belongings.
Aria pulled out a sealed envelope marked 'For Elias's Eyes Only - Upon Marriage.'
She hesitated only for a second, then tore it open. It was a handwritten letter from Elias's deceased grandfather, Reginald Thorne, along with a certified copy of his Final Will and Testament.
Aria's eyes scanned the document, searching for the clause that dictated the 180-day marriage.
She found it, and the world tilted.
It wasn't about Elias needing a temporary wife to secure the CEO position. It was about something far more shocking:
"Clause D: The Thorne Legacy Contingency
The entire Thorne Global trust, shares, and fortune shall be bequeathed to the First Party, Elias Thorne, only upon the successful and natural conception of an heir within the first 180 days of legal marriage. If no heir is conceived and proven by medical documentation within this timeframe, the entire estate shall pass to the Second Party of the marriage—the wife—as she has provided the necessary stability required to trigger the clause.
The Second Party (the wife) will become the sole, undisputed CEO and owner of Thorne Global."
The Devastating Realization
Aria's hand flew to her mouth, stifling a terrified cry.
Elias hadn't married her just to look good to the board. He needed her to bear his child within six months, or she would inherit his entire empire.
The contract's focus on 'Conjugal Duties' and the presence of the 'Symphony of Pleasure' tracker suddenly made terrifying, absolute sense.
He wasn't trying to scare off Victor with a fake wife. He was racing against the clock to impregnate her before the deadline, preventing her from becoming the billionaire CEO he despised.
A noise behind her made her jump. The study door was opening.
Aria frantically shoved the documents back into the chest, locking it just as Elias stepped out, shirtless, holding a fresh drink.
He stopped, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. "What were you doing near that chest?"
Aria stood, her knees weak, the truth a blazing fire in her chest. She looked at the man who was now not just her possessive husband, but her most dangerous corporate rival. She was not just trapped in a contract; she was trapped in a deadly competition to conceive a child.
"Nothing, Elias," she lied, her voice stronger than she felt. "Just admiring the architecture."
Elias walked slowly toward her, his gaze intense. He stopped inches away, reaching out to cup her neck, his thumb resting right on the silver tracking pendant.
"Good," he murmured, his eyes full of suspicion.
"Because in this house, Aria, your only focus should be your husband. And producing the next Thorne heir."
He smiled—a chilling, triumphant smile that she now understood was the smile of a desperate man racing against the clock. "Get ready. You and I have a long, productive night ahead of us. We have a timeline to meet."
The stakes are higher than ever! Elias is focused on pregnancy, and Aria knows the contract makes her the sole heir if he fails. How will Aria navigate the intimate duties while sabotaging the conception?