Chapter 6
1099 Words
CHAPTER 6
LORENZO ROMANO
Lorenzo disliked negotiations that took longer than necessary.
Valentine Harper had somehow turned a simple contract into a document thick enough to qualify as light reading.
He sat at his desk while his lawyer placed the revised agreement in front of him.
“Her conditions are reasonable,” the lawyer said.
Lorenzo scanned the pages.
Independent finances.
Freedom of movement.
Privacy.
No interference with her career.
No physical obligation.
No involvement in her personal relationships.
A clean exit after twelve months.
Valentine had been thorough.
Almost annoyingly so.
“Add one more.”
His lawyer waited.
“She doesn't leave the country without informing me.”
“That's all?”
“For now.”
The lawyer nodded and began making the amendment.
Lorenzo looked toward the window.
He had expected Valentine to fight him.
What he hadn't expected was how seriously she took the word freedom.
Most people saw the Romano name and adjusted their behavior accordingly.
Valentine saw it and became more stubborn.
His phone buzzed.
A message from his security chief.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
Lorenzo opened it.
One of the men connected to his family's rival organization had been asking questions about Harper Group.
His expression hardened.
So they'd noticed.
That had happened sooner than expected.
“Send me everything.”
His security chief replied almost immediately.
Lorenzo locked the phone.
His lawyer looked up.
“Something wrong?”
“Nothing that concerns the contract.”
That was technically true.
For now.
An hour later, Valentine walked into his office again.
She carried no handbag this time.
Just her phone and an expression that suggested she'd spent the morning preparing to argue.
Lorenzo gestured toward the chair.
“Your revised agreement.”
She sat and picked up the document.
Her eyes moved across the pages.
Then stopped.
Her head lifted.
“You added a condition.”
“Yes.”
“I'm not allowed to leave the country without informing you.”
“Correct.”
Her eyebrows climbed.
“Why?”
“Because we're going to be married.”
“That answer is becoming your favorite excuse.”
“It's not an excuse.”
“Then explain.”
Lorenzo leaned back.
He could have told her about the man asking questions.
He didn't.
Not yet.
“You're entering my world. Your movements may attract attention.”
Valentine studied him.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
“A warning?”
“Yes.”
She looked back at the page.
“How dangerous is your world?”
Lorenzo didn't answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
Valentine slowly put the contract down.
“You know, most people mention this part before proposing marriage.”
“Most people aren't me.”
“Unfortunately, I've noticed.”
His mouth almost curved.
Almost.
She pointed at the document.
“If I agree to this, I want something in return.”
“Go ahead.”
“You tell me when I'm in danger.”
Lorenzo's attention sharpened.
Valentine continued.
“I don't need every secret your family has ever buried. But if something directly affects me, I get to know.”
“That isn't how my world works.”
“Then we're going to have a problem.”
He studied her.
She wasn't joking.
Valentine Harper wanted information because she wanted control.
Lorenzo understood that.
He didn't particularly like it.
But he understood.
“Agreed.”
She blinked.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You're making this suspiciously easy.”
“You wanted boundaries.”
“I didn't expect you to respect them.”
“Perhaps you should stop assuming the worst about me.”
Valentine gave him a look.
“You proposed marriage to a woman you'd never spoken to.”
“Fair.”
That earned him the smallest smile.
It disappeared when she returned to the contract.
“Another condition.”
Lorenzo waited.
“My father doesn't get to know every detail.”
“Agreed.”
“My mother either.”
“Agreed.”
“My friends don't need to know it's a contract.”
“Agreed.”
She lowered the document.
“Why do I feel like I'm winning?”
“Because you are.”
Valentine's eyes narrowed.
That answer clearly bothered her.
Lorenzo understood why.
She wanted him to fight.
Perhaps she needed him to.
Instead, he had given her room to choose.
She signed her initials beside the amended clause.
Then she slid the agreement across the desk.
“Your turn.”
Lorenzo picked up the pen.
Before signing, he looked at her.
“Once this is done, you move into my residence.”
Valentine immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“You knew that was part of the arrangement.”
“I knew we would live together eventually. I didn't know you meant immediately.”
“Why does the timing matter?”
“Because I'm not moving into the home of a man I barely know tomorrow.”
“Next week.”
“That's not better.”
“Two weeks.”
She stared at him.
“You negotiate like a hostage negotiator.”
“You negotiate like you're trying to bankrupt my patience.”
“Then we're both developing useful skills.”
Lorenzo signed.
Valentine looked at his signature.
Something about seeing it there made the arrangement feel much more real.
No more discussions.
No more hypothetical possibilities.
This was happening.
She picked up the pen.
“Two weeks.”
“Ten days.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Excuse me?”
“You'll need time to prepare.”
“And you just shortened it?”
“Yes.”
“You're impossible.”
“Ten days, Valentine.”
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then signed.
The moment she put the pen down, Lorenzo closed the folder.
“It's done.”
Valentine looked at the contract.
Then at him.
Neither spoke.
A strange, uncomfortable thought entered her mind.
She was going to marry this man.
Not someday.
Not in some vague future.
Soon.
She pushed her chair back.
“I need to go.”
Lorenzo nodded.
At the door, she stopped.
“Lorenzo?”
“Yes?”
“If you ever use this contract to control me, I'll make your life miserable.”
He looked at her calmly.
“I believe you.”
Valentine left.
Lorenzo watched the door close.
His lawyer gathered the documents.
“Do you think she'll adapt?”
Lorenzo glanced at the signed agreement.
“No.”
His lawyer paused.
Lorenzo's gaze returned to the closed door.
“That's what makes this interesting.”
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