You Have 24hrs To Marry Me

Chapter 6:The study and the secret

*11:37 PM. Kelvin’s Penthouse, London.*

The car ride home was silent.

Kelvin didn’t touch me again. He stared out the window. Jaw tight. Like my “No” at dinner cracked something in him.

Good.

The penthouse was all black marble and glass. Cold. Like him.

“Your room is there.” He pointed to a hallway. “Don’t go past the study. It’s locked.”

Of course it was.

“1 year contract, Mr. Kelvin.” I dropped my clutch on the table. “Remember? No exits. That includes locked doors.”

His eyes snapped to mine.

“Try it and find out.”

He walked away.

I waited 20 minutes.

Then I walked to the study.

---

The lock was biometric. Of course.

But Rose made a mistake at dinner. When she left, she dropped an earring. Diamond. I picked it up.

I held it to the scanner.

Click.

The door opened.

The study was dark. Files everywhere. Screens. And a wall of photos.

My blood went cold.

Kelvin. Younger. Laughing. Arm around Rose.

Another. Rose in a white dress. An engagement party?

Another. Rose screaming. Kelvin’s hand around her wrist.

I stepped closer.

*File: HALE, ROSE. TERMINATED.*

I opened it.

*Reason for Dating:* `Corporate merger. Hale Industries needed Kelvin Corp’s capital. Rose was the bridge.`

*Reason for Breakup:* `She leaked board minutes to a competitor. Tried to force a marriage to secure shares. I don’t get played, Rose. I play.`

My stomach dropped.

He didn’t love her. He used her. Like he used me.

And when she tried to flip the board? He destroyed her.

“Looking for something, wife?”

I spun.

Kelvin stood in the doorway. No suit jacket. Sleeves rolled. Watching me like I was the file.

“You locked it,” I said. “I opened it.”

“You shouldn’t have.”

“Why? Because I’ll see you’re a monster?” I held up the file. “You dated her for shares. You broke her for betrayal. Is that my future?”

He stepped inside. Closed the door.

“No.”

“Then what?”

He walked to me. Slow. Predator.

“Rose wanted power. She used s*x. She used tears. She used the board.” He stopped 1 foot from me. “You don’t.”

I didn’t step back.

“Because I have something better.” I lifted the file. “Evidence. For 1 year, I get to dig.”

His eyes dropped to my lips for half a second. Then back up.

“You think I don’t know that?”

I blinked.

“I picked you, Jenna.” His voice was low. “Not because you’re weak. Because you hate me enough to stay 365 days. And hate is louder than love in a boardroom.”

The air went thick.

“So the brother thing—”

“Was theater.” He didn’t flinch. “Michael needed money for debt. I gave it. He gave me access to you. No bullets. No blood. Just leverage.”

Rage. Pure.

“You played me.”

“Yes.” He was close now. Cedar cologne. Dark. “And you walked into my house anyway. Why?”

For Dad.

But I didn’t say it.

Because if I did, I’d be Rose.

So I did something else.

I stepped forward. Into his space.

“You want to know why?” My voice was a whisper. “Because monsters are easier to kill when you’re in their bed.”

His pupils blew wide.

For a second, neither of us breathed.

Then he grabbed my wrist. Not hard. Firm.

“Careful, Mrs. Kelvin.” His thumb pressed my pulse. “Hate is a weapon. But in this house, I make the rules.”

I yanked free.

“We’ll see.”

I walked out.

Behind me, I heard it.

His exhale. Like he’d been holding it.

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