Chapter three: The Contract
998 Words
Lily's POV
I didn't sleep.
Laid there staring at the ceiling, the contract on the nightstand. Dad's photo staring at me.
"This is business. Nothing more."
Yeah, business asks me to keep telling myself that.
I got up at three AM, took my coffee and read the whole thing again.
Clause 4.2: Public displays of affection limited to hand-holding, brief kisses on cheek or forehead, arm around waist during photographs.
Clause 7.1: Separate living quarters. No entry without permission.
Clause 12.5: Maintain the illusion of mutual affection in all public settings.
Illusion!
The whole damn thing was fake.
But destroying Julian was real, and getting Dad's name back was real, that had to be enough.
Second night,still no sleep. I called Pemberton at seven AM.
"Need to see you."
His office, an hour later. He read the contract. Didn't say anything. Just read.
Finally, put it down.
"Ironclad. His lawyers are very good."
"So I signed it."
"So you understand what you're signing." Looked at me hard. "Eighteen months locked in. No backing out. Financial penalties if you try."
"I know."
"Your father wouldn't want this."
Heat in my chest. "Dad's dead. Julian killed him. This is how I will kill Julian Black."
Silence!
"If you're doing this," He pulled out his pen. Wrote something. "Add a clause. Make Hayes give you more than money."
"Like what."
"The truth. About what really happened to your father. Hayes has resources. Information. Make him use them."
I looked at what he wrote. Specific wording for a new clause.
"Think he'll agree?"
"Find out."
I took the paper. Left.
Went home. Laptop open. I started digging.
Lucas Hayes. Orphan at sixteen. First company at twenty-two. Sold for fifty million at twenty-five.
Now worth billions.
The articles said it was ruthless. Cold. Dangerous.
Then I found her.
Alessia Bianchi.
Business partner. Girlfriend. Three years together.
She accused him of corporate theft two years back. Case dismissed. No evidence.
But his reputation got wrecked anyway.
She disappeared after. No interviews. Nothing. Just gone.
Photos told the story though. Early ones showed them together. Him smiling. Really smiling. She looked at him like he was everything.
Later photos. Court. His face is stone. Her face is full of hate.
Whatever broke between them destroyed something in both.
Closed the laptop.
Looked at Marcus's card.
Forty-eight hours are almost gone.
Made the call.
"Marcus Chen."
"Lily Bennett. I'm ready."
Pause. "Car in one hour."
Hung up.
Got dressed. Black dress. Only nice things left. Dad bought it two years ago.
I looked in the mirror. Didn't know that woman staring back.
The car came. Same driver. No talking.
Hayes Tower. Forty floors up. Big office.
Lucas at the window. Turned when I walked in.
"Miss Bennett."
"Mr. Hayes."
Marcus there too. Contract ready. Two copies.
"You've decided." Lucas said it flatly.
"Yeah. But I'm adding something."
Gave him Pemberton's note.
He read it. Face blank.
"You want me to investigate your father. Find evidence against Julian."
"Yes."
"Not part of the deal."
"It is now." Met his eyes. "You said business. Business is negotiation. I'm negotiating."
Silence. Long one.
Marcus watching. I didn't blink.
"Agreed."
That's easy.
Marcus's eyes went wide. Started typing on his tablet.
"No." Lucas grabbed a pen. Wrote at the bottom of both contracts. "Clause 15.1: Lucas Hayes agrees to provide investigative resources and legal support to uncover evidence related to Orton Bennett's corporate downfall. All findings shared with Lily Bennett."
Signed both. Pushed them to me.
"Initial every page. Sign bottom."
Picked up the pen.
My hand didn't shake this time.
Initialed. Signed.
Done.
Marcus took one copy. "Congratulations Mrs. Hayes. Effective immediately."
Mrs. Hayes?.
It sounded wrong in my head.
"Performance schedule." Marcus had another paper. "Manchester Charity Gala. Three days. Black tie. We brief you beforehand."
"Brief me on what?"
"How to act. What to say. Who matters. Who doesn't." He looked sorry about it. "Standard for these things."
"Been to galas before."
"Not as his wife." Lucas cut in. "Attention's different now. Invasive."
"I'll manage."
"I'm sure." Something in his tone. "But preparation helps."
Whatever.
"Your things." Marcus handed me a key card. "Team packs and moves everything tomorrow. You're in the penthouse by evening."
"Fast."
"We don't waste time." Lucas said.
No kidding.
Marcus left. Just us now.
I stood there. Contract signed. Married to a stranger.
No going back.
"This is weird," I said.
"Yes." Lucas went to his desk. Poured two glasses. Something amber. Handed me one. "But necessary."
I took it.
"To business," he said. Glass up.
"To mutual enemies."
His eyes flickered. Maybe respect.
Drank.
Burned. Good burn.
"Penthouse has two wings. East and west." Lucas put his glass down. "You get east. Private bedroom. Bathroom. Office. No staff without permission."
"And you?"
"West. Same setup." Look at me. "Door between locks from both sides. I don't enter yours uninvited. You don't enter mine."
"Fine."
"Good." Pulled out his phone. Typed. "The car takes you home. Pack tonight. The team gets the rest tomorrow."
Being dismissed.
Headed for the door.
"Miss Bennett."
Stopped.
"Lily. When we're alone." His voice is different. Tired maybe. "Use Lily. I'm Lucas. The formal thing is exhausting."
First real thing all day.
"Alright. Lucas."
He nodded.
Left.
Car. Home. Flat.
Packed one bag. Clothes. Dad's photos. Few things that mattered.
Rest could come later.
Bed. Last night here. Ceiling again.
Tomorrow woke up in his world. His penthouse. His life.
Playing wife to a man I didn't know.
Eighteen months of lies.
But Julian goes down. Dad's name gets cleared.
Worth it.
Had to be.
The phone buzzed.
Unknown: Congratulations on the marriage. Hope you know what you're getting into. Julian's watch
ing.
I deleted it instantly.
Let him watch, three days more and the whole city sees me with Lucas Hayes.
Julian knows I'm not done fighting,I closed my eyes.
Eighteen months more for everything to be done, I could survive anything for eighteen months.
Right?
- Writer
