Borrowed Throne

Chapter Four: The Decision

I didn't sleep.

At 2 AM, I sat at my kitchen table with cold coffee and my laptop, researching everything I could find about Damien Ashford.

There wasn't much. A few business articles about Ashford Industries. Photos from charity galas where he stood stiffly in a tuxedo, never smiling. One interview from two years ago where he talked about shipping logistics in the most boring way possible.

Nothing personal. Nothing about family, hobbies, relationships. It was like he'd erased himself from public record except for the bare minimum required for someone running a company worth billions.

The only interesting thing I found was an old social media post from three years ago—someone tagged him at an art gallery opening. The photo showed him in the background, talking to a woman with dark hair. The caption said: "Damien Ashford and girlfriend Victoria Langley at the Morgan Exhibition."

I searched for Victoria Langley. Found a few articles about her sculptures, some gallery shows, and then... nothing. Her social media accounts were deleted, her website was down, and there were no recent articles. It was like she'd vanished.

Had she been the one he tried with? The one who "ended badly"?

My phone rang. David, again.

"It's two in the morning," I answered.

"I couldn't sleep. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Did you meet with whoever you met with?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"And I'm thinking about it."

"Elena." His voice was serious. "Whatever this is, if you have any doubts—any at all—walk away. Money isn't worth your safety."

"What if it's worth my sanity? What if it means I can finally stop drowning?"

He was quiet for a moment. "Is it legal?"

"Yes."

"Is it dangerous?"

"I don't think so."

"Then why do you sound scared?"

Because I was scared. Terrified, actually. Not of Damien hurting me physically, but of what this arrangement might do to me. How do you pretend to love someone for a year and not have it change you? How do you live in someone's home, sleep down the hall from them, touch them in public, and keep your heart completely separate?

"I'm not scared," I lied. "I'm just being careful."

"Good. Be careful. And Elena?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever you decide, I've got your back. Always."

After he hung up, I made a list. Pros and cons, like this was a normal decision.

PROS:

$5 million total

All debts paid

Business saved

Security for the first time in years

It's only one year

CONS:

Living with a stranger

Lying to everyone I know

$10 million penalty if I tell anyone

Pretending to love someone

What if I can't pull it off?

What if I can?

That last one bothered me most. What if I was too good at pretending? What if the lines blurred?

At 6 AM, I called Montgomery.

"Miss Voss," he answered immediately. "Have you reached a decision?"

"I need to know something first."

"Go ahead."

"What happened to Victoria Langley?"

Silence. Then: "I'm not at liberty to discuss Mr. Ashford's previous relationships."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer you're going to get. If you have questions about Victoria, ask Mr. Ashford."

"I did. He wouldn't talk about her."

"Then perhaps you should respect that." Montgomery's voice was firm. "Miss Voss, you're asking me to violate my client's privacy while deciding whether to accept an arrangement that requires absolute discretion. Do you see the irony?"

He had a point.

"Fine," I said. "Where do I sign?"