Chapter One
The Contract
Adrianna should have gone back to her dorm.
The library lights were already off. The campus was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you feel like you are not supposed to be there.
She was walking past the admin building when she saw light under the boardroom door.
That room was never open at night.
Never.
She told herself to keep walking.
She did not.
The door was not fully closed. Just a little open.
Voices came from inside.
Low. Serious.
"The body was removed before sunrise."
Her steps froze.
"The accident report is clean. Mechanical failure."
Her heart started beating fast.
She moved closer without thinking.
Through the small opening, she saw him.
Lucien Vale.
Standing at the head of the table like he was born there.
Black shirt. Sleeves rolled. Face calm.
Too calm.
"And the journalist?" he asked.
"He signed the settlement. His files are gone."
"And the whistleblower?"
There was silence.
"Relocated."
Lucien nodded once. "Make sure he stays quiet."
Adrianna's stomach twisted.
This was not a normal meeting.
This was not school business.
She shifted her weight.
The door creaked.
The sound was small.
But in that silent room, it was loud.
Every head turned.
Her breath stopped.
Marcus Cooper moved first. "Sir, should we get rid of her?"
Her blood ran cold.
Lucien did not look angry.
He did not look surprised.
He looked… interested.
"Leave it to me," he said.
The men slowly left the room.
One by one.
Until it was just the two of them.
Adrianna wanted to run.
She did not.
Lucien walked toward her.
Slow steps.
No rush.
When he stopped in front of her, he looked down at her like she was something he had just discovered.
"What did you hear?" he asked.
His voice was not loud.
That made it worse.
"Nothing," she said.
"Do not lie."
She lifted her chin. "You cannot scare me."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I am not trying to scare you."
He stepped closer.
She could smell his cologne.
Feel the heat from his body.
"You heard enough," he continued. "That is a problem."
"For you," she said.
"For you," he corrected.
Her heart was beating so hard she thought he could hear it.
"I will not tell anyone," she said quickly.
"You are a scholarship student," he said calmly. "Adrianna Harrison. Top of your class. Parents struggling. Father's business failing."
Her face went pale.
"You investigated me?"
"I investigate everything."
Anger pushed away her fear. "You cannot threaten me."
He did not raise his voice.
"I do not threaten. I solve problems."
She hated him in that moment.
The control. The confidence.
"You think you can ruin my life?"
"I think I can protect it."
She laughed softly. "From what?"
"From me."
Silence filled the room.
Then he walked back to the table and picked up a file.
"I need something," he said.
"I am not doing anything for you."
"You have not heard it."
She stayed quiet.
He placed the file in front of her.
"A contract."
Her chest tightened.
"You want me to sign something?"
"I want you to pretend."
She blinked. "Pretend what?"
"That you are mine."
The words hung in the air.
"I would rather lose my scholarship."
He looked at her carefully.
"Your mother works two jobs."
She froze.
"Your father is three months behind on payments."
She said nothing.
"I can fix that."
Her hands trembled.
"This is blackmail."
"This is an agreement."
"For what?"
"Three months," he said. "Public relationship. Events. Appearances. You stand beside me. You say nothing about tonight."
"And after three months?"
"You walk away."
She searched his face.
"Why me?"
"Because you are clean. You are believable. And you do not belong to my world."
The last sentence hurt.
"And if I refuse?"
He held her gaze.
"Then tomorrow, your scholarship will be reviewed."
She hated him.
She hated that he had power.
She hated that she needed what he was offering.
"You are a horrible person," she whispered.
"I know."
He handed her a pen.
"Three months," he repeated.
Her mind screamed no.
But she thought about her parents.
Her house.
The bills.
Slowly, she signed.
Lucien watched her carefully.
When she finished, he took the contract.
"Good," he said.
She looked up at him with anger in her eyes.
"This does not mean I like you."
"I do not need you to."
And that was the moment everything started.
Not love.
Not yet.
War.