Contracted by the billionaire

chapter 9

Vivenne's Pov

I met my father at a small restaurant in midtown the next afternoon. Roman sat beside me at the table. Nathaniel arrived alone, looking older than I remembered. His shoulders slumped as he sat down. No Margaret. No Clarissa. Just him.

“Vivienne,” he said quietly. “I’m glad you agreed to see me.”

I kept my voice even. “I need the truth. About the switch. Why did you let it happen.”

He rubbed his hands together. “Your mother convinced me it was best for the family. Clarissa was stronger, she said. More suited to the Steele match and the public life. You were quieter. I looked away because it was easier. I regret that every day now.”

Roman stayed silent but his hand rested on my knee under the table. Solid. Supportive.

“You knew about the forgeries?” I asked.

Nathaniel nodded. “I signed some papers without reading them fully. Margaret handled everything. When you found that file from your grandmother, I should have stepped up. Instead I stayed quiet. I’m ashamed.”

I leaned forward. “In my other life, you never admitted this. You let them bury me after the accident. Tell me about Victor Crane. How deep does it go?”

“He helped hide the money. Loans, investments that weren’t real. Part of it was to keep the estate looking solvent while they shifted assets to Clarissa’s side. I didn’t know about the murder attempt until yesterday. When I heard, I cut contact with Margaret. I’m done looking away.”

Roman spoke up. “Will you testify at the hearing? Support the original documents?”

“Yes,” my father said. “I’ll sign whatever Iris needs. You deserve the inheritance, Vivienne. And the contract. I won’t fight you.”

The words lifted some weight off me. Not all of it, but enough. We talked about details for twenty minutes. He gave names of other people involved in the cover-up. I wrote them down for Iris. When he stood to leave, he paused.

“I love you, daughter. I know it doesn’t fix much. But I’m sorry.”

I nodded. “Prove it in court.”

He left. Roman paid the bill and we walked out to the car. “That went better than expected,” he said.

“He’s weak but honest today,” I replied. “One less enemy.”

Back at the penthouse, Delia waited with Carter. They had laptops open. “We dug up more on Sable,” Delia said. “She’s spreading rumors online. Calling you unstable and gold-digging. I traced a few posts back to her.”

Carter grinned. “I already had our PR guy draft a response. Clean and factual. Highlights the court filing without drama.”

I sat down. “Good. Let her dig her hole. Clarissa will use her to test the waters.”

Roman’s phone rang. He answered, then put it on speaker. Iris. “Victor Crane tried to move funds this morning. We blocked it. Police want to question him about the financial links to the hit on Vivienne. Griffin rolled on him partially.”

“Progress,” I said. “What about Margaret?”

“Still silent publicly. But she met with two judges this morning. We’re watching.”

We ended the call. Roman pulled me aside into his office. “You handled your father well. No emotion overload.”

“I can’t afford to,” I told him. “Too much at stake. In my first life, emotions got me killed. I went soft with Clarissa.”

He closed the door. “You’re not soft now. You’re sharp. I like it.”

His hands went to my waist. The kiss from yesterday repeated, slower this time. His mouth claimed mine with that possessive steadiness. I wrapped my arms around his neck. The slow burn felt hotter. When we broke apart, his eyes locked on mine.

“No one else gets this close,” he said. “Contract or not.”

“I won’t step aside again,” I whispered. “Not for anyone.”

We rejoined the others. Delia raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Carter ordered food. We ate and planned the next moves. Freeze more accounts. Prepare my statement for court. Roman’s team would handle the media if Sable pushed harder.

My phone buzzed. Clarissa. I answered on speaker again.

“Vivienne, stop this madness. Father met you? He’s confused. Come home. We can talk like sisters.”

I laughed once. “Like the last time? When you smiled and then called your killer?”

She paused. “You’re delusional. That accident was random. I’m worried about you.”

Roman cut in. “Hang up, Vivienne. She’s recording this probably.”

I ended the call. “She’s scared. Good.”

Later that evening, Diana came by again. She looked at me differently. “I spoke with Nathaniel. He confirmed some details. I don’t approve of the mess, but the contract stands. Roman chooses you. I won’t interfere.”

“Thank you,” I said simply.

She nodded and left. Small win.

Roman and I walked to the balcony after dark. City noise hummed below. “You’re sleeping in my room tonight,” he said. “Not for anything rushed. Just closer. I want you safe.”

I agreed. We lay down fully clothed at first. His arm around me felt right. Possessive but not crushing. “Tell me one more thing from your memories,” he asked quietly.

“In the future, you attended my funeral. You looked troubled but stayed distant. I watched from somewhere else, angry that no one fought for me.”

He tightened his hold. “Not this time. I fight now. For you. For us.”

I turned to face him. “The rebirth part still sounds crazy to you?”

“Less every day,” he admitted. “Your details are too exact. And the way you see people now. It fits.”

We kissed again. Deeper. The enemies-to-lovers shift felt real. Forced proximity in this penthouse sped it up, but the slow burn kept it steady. I fell asleep against his chest.

Morning came with news. Carter knocked. “Victor Crane was arrested overnight. Financial fraud charges. Iris says it strengthens our case big time.”

I dressed quickly. Roman stood by the window, already on a call with his lawyers. He ended it and looked at me. “Hearing in eight days. We’re ready.”

Delia arrived with more clothes and coffee. “Sable tried to leak fake medical records about you. Blocked it. Girl, you’re winning.”

I smiled. “Not yet. But closer.”

We worked all day. Nathaniel sent documents over email. Supportive ones. Margaret stayed quiet, which worried me more. Clarissa would strike soon.

Roman found me in the evening. “Whatever comes, you’re not alone. I don’t waver.”

“I know,” I said. His hand in mine grounded me.