THE BILLIONARE UNWANTED BRIDE

CHAPTER FOUR

“THE RULES OF THE CONTRACT”

Elena stared at her signature.

For a moment, she wondered if she had actually done it.

Then Adrian reached across the desk, took the contract, and closed the folder. The sound was strangely final.

Six months. That was all.

Six months of pretending.

Six months of living inside Adrian Vale's carefully controlled world. Six months to uncover the truth about her family.

And then she would walk away. At least, that was the plan. "You're sure?" Adrian asked.

Elena looked up.

"You sound surprised." "I am."

"Why?"

"Because most people would have walked away." "I'm not most people."

A faint smile touched his lips. "I've noticed."

Elena narrowed her eyes.

"Don't look so pleased with yourself." "I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm thinking."

"About?"

"How difficult you're going to make the next six months." She crossed her arms.

"Good. At least we're both prepared." Adrian stood.

"Come with me." "Where?"

"Home."

Elena blinked. "Your home?" "Our home."

She stared at him.

"We're starting this immediately?" "Your protection starts immediately." "I haven't even packed."

"I'll send someone." "No."

Adrian paused. "No?"

"I'm not having your employees pack my underwear." For the first time, he laughed.

It was quiet and brief, but completely genuine. Elena froze.

She had never heard that sound from him before. Adrian noticed her expression.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were staring."

"I wasn't." "You were."

She turned away. "Let's just go."

Adrian's home wasn't really a home.

It was a private estate hidden behind enormous gates, surrounded by trees and enough security to make Elena feel as though she had entered a different country.

The house itself was breathtaking. Glass.

Stone.

Warm lighting.

Expensive furniture that looked like nobody had ever sat on it. Elena stepped through the entrance and looked around.

"Do you actually live here?" Adrian removed his coat. "Yes."

"Alone?"

"Mostly."

"That explains a lot." He glanced at her. "What does?"

"You have the personality of someone who talks to furniture." His expression remained serious.

Then his lips moved slightly.

"You're going to regret saying that." "Maybe."

A housekeeper approached them.

"Mr. Vale." Adrian nodded. "This is Elena."

The woman smiled politely. "Welcome home, Ms. Hart." Elena hesitated.

"Thank you."

Adrian looked at her. "Your room is upstairs." "My room?"

"Yes."

"Separate rooms?"

"That was one of your conditions." She relaxed.

"Good."

He turned toward the stairs.

"Your belongings will arrive shortly." Elena followed him.

Then stopped. "Wait."

Adrian turned.

"There's something else." "What?"

"No cameras in my room." "Agreed."

"No tracking devices." "Agreed."

"No one goes through my belongings."

"Agreed."

"And no one enters my room without knocking." Adrian stared at her.

"Anything else?"

She thought for a moment. "Yes."

"What?"

"I don't cook." His eyebrow rose.

"What does that have to do with the contract?" "It means you're responsible for feeding me."

A pause.

Then Adrian said, "Noted."

Elena smiled. "Good."

That evening, they sat across from each other at an enormous dining table. There were twelve chairs.

Two were occupied. Elena looked around. "This is ridiculous."

Adrian looked up from his plate. "What?"

"This table." "It's a table."

"It's designed for twelve people."

"Sometimes there are twelve people."

"When?"

"Events."

"Do you have friends?" He looked at her.

"No."

Elena smiled. "I knew it."

"I have business associates." "That's not the same thing." "No."

She took a sip of water.

"Do you ever do anything normal?" "Define normal."

"Watch movies. Eat street food. Go somewhere without security." "No."

"That's sad."

"It's efficient."

"Your entire life is efficient." Adrian leaned back.

"Efficiency keeps people alive."

The lightness disappeared from Elena's expression. "You really believe that?"

"I know it."

There was something behind his words. Something she couldn't reach.

Before she could ask, his phone rang. He looked at the screen.

His expression hardened.

He stood and walked toward the window. Elena tried not to listen.

She failed.

"What do you mean the documents are gone?" A pause.

"Who had access?" Another pause. "Find out."

His voice was colder now. "Tonight."

He ended the call. Elena watched him. "What happened?" "Nothing."

"You're a terrible liar." He turned.

"You should get used to hearing that answer." "No."

"No?"

"I'm not spending six months married to a man who says 'nothing' every time something goes wrong."

Adrian stared at her.

"Some things don't concern you." "Then don't marry me."

Silence.

He walked toward her. "You're right."

Elena blinked.

"What?"

"You deserve to know."

He sat across from her again.

"The financial records connected to your father's case disappeared from my company archives this afternoon."

Her stomach tightened. "Someone stole them?" "Yes."

"Why now?"

"Because someone knows we're investigating." Elena looked down.

"So they're afraid." "Exactly."

"And what are they afraid we'll find?" Adrian's eyes met hers.

"The truth."

The next morning, Elena woke to the sound of rain against the windows. For a few seconds, she forgot where she was.

Then she remembered. The contract.

The mansion. Adrian.

She got dressed and went downstairs. She found him in the kitchen.

Not his office.

Not surrounded by assistants. Just Adrian.

Making coffee.

She stopped at the doorway. "You make coffee?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Sometimes."

"You actually know how?" "Elena."

"I'm surprised." "Why?"

"Because you seem like the kind of man who has someone do everything for him." "I usually do."

"Then why are you doing it yourself?" He looked at the cup in his hand.

"Because I prefer it this way."

Something about his answer made her curious. "How do you take it?"

"Black."

"Of course."

He glanced at her. "What does that mean?" "Nothing."

"You've started using that word too." She smiled.

Adrian poured another cup. "Here."

She took it.

Their fingers touched.

Neither pulled away immediately.

Elena looked up.

Adrian was already watching her. The moment stretched.

Then Elena stepped back.

"We need to establish something." His expression changed.

"What?"

"This marriage is an arrangement." "I know."

"We're not falling in love." His eyes remained on hers. "That's the plan."

"Good."

"Good."

Neither of them sounded convinced.

That afternoon, Adrian took Elena to Vale International.

The moment they entered the lobby together, conversations stopped. People stared.

Some whispered.

Elena leaned closer.

"Do they always stare like this?" "Not at me."

"Why not?"

"They know better." She smiled.

"Then they're going to love me." Adrian looked down at her.

"I'm beginning to think they should be afraid." "Of me?"

"Possibly."

They reached the elevator. The doors opened.

A woman stood inside. Elegant.

Beautiful. Confident.

She looked at Adrian. Then at Elena.

Her expression changed instantly. "Adrian."

He nodded. "Victoria."

Victoria's gaze dropped to Elena's hand. There was no ring yet.

But she looked at Elena as if she had already understood everything. "Who's she?"

Adrian's voice was calm. "My future wife."

Elena felt Victoria's stare sharpen. "Future wife?"

"Yes."

Victoria smiled.

But there was nothing warm about it. "Congratulations."

She stepped out.

As the elevator doors closed, Elena looked at Adrian. "Who was that?"

"Someone from my past." "How romantic."

"It's not."

"She seemed thrilled." "She isn't."

Elena studied him.

"You really have a lot of secrets." "You have no idea."

That evening, Elena stood in front of the mirror in her room. A small box sat on the dresser.

She opened it. Inside was a ring. Simple.

Elegant. Expensive.

There was a note beneath it.

For appearances.

Elena picked up the ring. For appearances.

That was all it meant.

She slipped it onto her finger. It fit perfectly.

Too perfectly.

A knock came at the door. She turned.

Adrian stood outside.

"You didn't have to knock." "I remember your rules." She looked at the ring. "Your assistant left this."

"I know."

She held up her hand. "It fits."

"I had your size." Her eyes narrowed. "How?"

"I had it measured." "When?"

"Yesterday." "That's unsettling." "Probably."

She looked at him.

"Why do I feel like you're always ten steps ahead?" "Because I usually am."

"And what happens when someone catches up?" Adrian's expression became serious.

"They usually regret it." Elena stepped closer.

"Are you warning me again?" "No."

"Then what are you doing?"

His eyes dropped briefly to the ring on her finger. "Trying to remind myself this is only a contract."

Elena's heartbeat changed. "Isn't it?"

Adrian looked at her.

For several seconds, neither spoke. Then he stepped back.

"Goodnight, Elena." He walked away.

She closed the door.

Her fingers touched the ring. It was only a contract.

She repeated the words silently. Again.

And again.

But somewhere deep inside, she knew something had already begun to change.

Later that night, Elena couldn't sleep. She walked downstairs for water.

As she passed Adrian's study, she noticed the door was slightly open. Light spilled into the hallway.

She heard voices.

Adrian was speaking to someone. "She can't know yet."

Elena stopped.

Another voice answered.

"I told you this would happen." Adrian's voice hardened.

"She wasn't supposed to find the photograph." Elena's heart pounded.

The other person spoke again.

"If she learns what her father really did—" Adrian interrupted.

"Her father didn't do it." Silence.

Then the other voice said something Elena couldn't hear. Adrian answered quietly.

"I'll protect her."

Elena stepped backward. The floor creaked.

The voices stopped. The study door opened. Adrian stood there.

Their eyes met. Neither spoke.

Finally, Adrian asked,

"How long have you been standing there?" Elena looked at him.

"Long enough." His face went pale.

"What did you hear?" She stared at him.

"That my father wasn't responsible." Adrian said nothing.

"And that you're protecting me." Still nothing.

Elena stepped closer.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Adrian looked at her for a long moment. Then he said quietly,

"Something you aren't ready to hear." Her voice trembled.

"Try me."

Before Adrian could answer, his phone rang. He looked at the screen.

One message.

His expression changed instantly. He showed it to Elena.

A photograph. Their photograph.

Taken that afternoon. Outside Vale International. Beneath it were four words:

WE'RE WATCHING YOU BOTH.

Elena's blood ran cold. Adrian locked the phone.

"This is why you needed protection." S

he looked at him.

"No."

Her voice was steady now.

"This is why we need the truth." Adrian stared at her.

For the first time, he didn't argue.

And somewhere beyond the walls of the mansion, someone was already preparing to make sure neither of them got close enough to find it.