Chapter 2 - THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT
The courthouse was almost empty.
Lena sat beside Julian in the back seat of a black sedan, staring through the window at Boston's frozen streets.
She still couldn't believe she was doing this.
Three hours ago, she had been scrubbing coffee from a carpet.
Now she was marrying a billionaire.
Her phone vibrated.
Mom.
Lena's heart tightened.
She answered immediately.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Are you working late again?”
“Something like that.”
Her mother's weak voice softened.
“You sound strange.”
Lena looked at Julian.
He was reviewing documents on a tablet.
“I have a job opportunity.”
“At midnight?”
“It came up suddenly.”
Her mother laughed quietly.
“That's my daughter. Always saying yes to impossible things.”
Lena swallowed.
“I'll explain tomorrow.”
“All right. Be careful.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She ended the call.
Julian looked at her.
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“She knows?”
“No.”
“You should tell her.”
“Eventually.”
He nodded.
No judgment.
That surprised her.
At 11:58, they entered the courthouse.
A lawyer was waiting.
Martin Reed.
Julian's personal attorney.
The same man who had prepared the marriage contract in less than an hour.
Martin looked at Lena.
“You understand that this agreement is legally binding?”
“Yes.”
“You have independent counsel available.”
“I don't need one.”
“You should.”
Lena looked at Julian.
“He doesn't frighten me.”
Julian's eyebrows rose.
Martin almost smiled.
“You may be the first person in Boston who can say that honestly.”
The documents were placed before her.
Lena read every page.
Her salary.
The six-hundred-thousand-dollar payment.
The duration.
The confidentiality agreement.
The separate-property clause.
The exit provision.
Then she reached the final page.
Her hand stopped.
Julian noticed.
“What?”
“This says if either party develops genuine romantic feelings, the agreement can be renegotiated.”
“Yes.”
“You added that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Julian looked away.
“Because pretending feelings don't exist doesn't make them disappear.”
Something about that answer unsettled her.
The clock showed 11:59.
The judge entered.
“Mr. Vale?”
Julian stood.
“Here.”
“Ms. Morales?”
Lena stood.
“Here.”
The ceremony was painfully short.
There were no flowers.
No family.
No music.
No promises about forever.
Only legal words.
When the judge said, “You may kiss,” Lena froze.
Julian looked at her.
“Do we have to?”
The judge smiled.
“No.”
Lena exhaled.
“Good.”
They signed.
11:59.
Then the courthouse clock changed.
Midnight.
Julian's phone rang instantly.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What happened?”
Lena watched him carefully.
A voice shouted through the phone.
Julian closed his eyes.
Then said quietly:
“I'm married.”
He ended the call.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“The trust activated.”
“And?”
“I still control the company.”
Lena smiled faintly.
“Congratulations.”
Julian didn't smile.
“There's a problem.”
“What kind?”
“My cousin Adrian filed an emergency challenge twenty minutes ago.”
“Why?”
“He claims this marriage is fraudulent.”
Lena's stomach dropped.
“But it's legal.”
“He doesn't care.”
Julian's phone rang again.
This time, Martin answered.
His expression darkened.
“Julian.”
“What?”
“The board is already calling for an emergency meeting.”
Julian looked at Lena.
“Then we have to go.”
“Where?”
“My office.”
“It's midnight.”
“Exactly.”
They returned to the tower.
The boardroom was filled with angry executives.
At the center stood Adrian Vale.
Julian's cousin.
Handsome.
Polished.
Smiling.
“Well,” Adrian said.
His gaze moved to Lena.
“You actually did it.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Say what you came to say.”
Adrian placed a folder on the table.
“Your grandfather's trust doesn't recognize sham marriages.”
“This isn't a sham.”
Adrian laughed.
“You met her tonight.”
Julian didn't respond.
Adrian turned to Lena.
“Do you know what you're married to?”
She remained silent.
“You think he wants you?”
Julian's expression hardened.
Adrian smiled.
“He doesn't even know you.”
Lena finally spoke.
“Neither do you.”
Adrian's smile disappeared.
She continued.
“But you're already trying to destroy me.”
Silence.
Julian looked at her differently.
Not as a temporary wife.
As an ally.
Adrian leaned toward the table.
“This will not last.”
Lena stood.
“Neither will your confidence.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Then he walked away.
Julian watched him leave.
“You shouldn't provoke Adrian.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
“Then maybe he should stop being so easy to provoke.”
For the first time, Julian smiled.
Only slightly.
But he smiled.
May you like
And neither of them noticed the camera hidden inside the boardroom's smoke detector.
Someone had been recording the entire meeting.
