AMARA'S POV
I stare at the photo. Richard and Kelly. Kissing.
My mentor and my best friend.
The elevator doors close. I can't move. Can't breathe.
How long have they been doing this?
My phone rings. Gabriel Stone.
When did you take this?
This afternoon. I had my investigator follow her. His voice is cold. I need you to understand what you're up against. These people will destroy you. Will you let them?
He hangs up.
I stand in the empty lobby, rain pounding outside. Everyone I trusted has betrayed me.
Richard fired me to hire his mistress.
Marcus left because I'm complicated.
Kelly stole everything and smiled doing it.
They think I'm finished.
No.
I text Gabriel: I'll do it. But I have conditions.
Response comes instantly: Come back upstairs.
Gabriel pours whiskey. Slides a glass toward me.
You came back fast.
Don't flatter yourself. I don't touch the drink. What are your conditions?
I read from my phone. One year marriage. After green card, immediate divorce.
Agreed.
Separate bedrooms. No physical relationship.
Obviously.
I drop Titan publicly. But you give me every piece of evidence you have. When we divorce, I reopen the case with everything.
Gabriel's eyes narrow. You want me to betray my client.
You want me to betray my principles. We're both compromising.
Silence.
Agreed, he finally says. But if you leak those documents early, I'll get you disbarred.
Deal. We tell no one the truth. The marriage looks completely real.
Obviously.
And if you ever use this against me, I go to immigration authorities myself. We both go down.
Gabriel smiles. Mutually assured destruction. I like it.
He extends his hand. We have a deal, Ms. Okoye.
I shake it. His grip is warm. Electric.
We have a deal, Mr. Stone.
In public, call me Gabriel. I call you Amara. We need to look real.
Fine.
We file for marriage license tomorrow. Three-day wait. Small ceremony. Then you move into my penthouse by Saturday.
We're living together? Panic hits.
Immigration checks. You'll have your own bedroom. I'm barely home. He hands me a card with his address. Saturday morning. Nine AM.
What about your aunt?
I'll say we've been secretly dating. Professional conflicts. She'll believe it. He walks me to the door. Delete that photo I sent. Can't have evidence I investigated you.
I forward it to my email first. Cloud storage. Then delete.
Gabriel laughs. Insurance?
Richard and Kelly destroyed me. Someday I might return the favor.
Perfect for this.
I still hate you.
Feeling's mutual.
I turn to leave.
Amara?
I look back.
Welcome to the family, Gabriel says with a smirk that doesn't quite reach his eyes.
I don't respond. Just walk away.
Outside, rain soaks through my coat. I should call Sophie. Tell her what I've done.
But I can't. Not yet. This secret is too big. Too dangerous.
My phone buzzes.
Text from unknown number: Saw you leaving Stone's office. Interesting. Let's talk tomorrow. You owe me an explanation. -Richard
My blood runs cold.
Richard saw me? How? Does he know about Gabriel's proposal?
Another text comes through. Different number.
Hey Amara. It's Kelly. I heard about the firm. I'm so sorry. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you.
I stare at the message. The audacity. The lies.
She's sleeping with my former boss and she has the nerve to offer comfort?
I delete both messages without responding.
But my hands won't stop shaking.
If Richard saw me at Gabriel's office tonight, he'll ask questions. He'll dig. And if he finds out about our arrangement before we're legally married
My phone rings again. I jump.
It's a blocked number.
I answer. Hello?
Heavy breathing. Then a woman's voice I don't recognize.
Stop what you're doing. Whatever deal you made with Gabriel Stone walk away. You don't know what you're getting into. He's dangerous. More dangerous than you understand.
Who is this?
Someone trying to save your life. Gabriel destroys everything he touches. Don't become his next victim.
The line goes dead.
I stand frozen in the rain, phone pressed to my ear.
Who was that? How did they know about Gabriel and me?
And what did they mean he destroys everything he touches?
I look up at the glass tower. Forty-two floors up, Gabriel's office light is still on.
What have I just agreed to?