Episode 2:THE RULES
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Marlow barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the photograph.
Her photograph.
Taken months before Ellis Cole had ever spoken to her.
By morning, the question was still burning inside her.
Why me?
She stood in front of the mirror, buttoning the last button of the cream blouse Ellis's assistant had delivered before sunrise.
The clothes were expensive.
Too expensive.
Everything about this arrangement felt too expensive.
Her phone buzzed.
ELLIS COLE: Car downstairs. 8:00 a.m. Don't be late.
Marlow stared at the message.
Not even a good morning.
She typed a response.
MARLOW: I have a question.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Nothing.
“Of course,” she muttered.
She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.
A black sedan waited outside.
The driver opened the door.
“Ms. Hart.”
Marlow climbed inside.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped outside a towering glass building bearing the name COLE HOLDINGS.
She had expected Ellis's mansion.
Instead, he had brought her to his company.
When she stepped into the private elevator, she found him waiting inside.
Ellis looked immaculate in a charcoal suit.
He glanced at her.
“You're late.”
“I'm two minutes early.”
His eyes moved to the watch on his wrist.
“Then you're exactly where you should be.”
Marlow rolled her eyes.
“Charming.”
The elevator doors closed.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Marlow turned toward him.
“You were watching me.”
Ellis's expression remained unreadable.
“I told you I researched you.”
“No. Research means looking at someone's résumé. You had a photograph of me.”
“You're asking questions that aren't relevant to the contract.”
“They're relevant to me.”
The elevator stopped.
Ellis stepped out.
“Marlow.”
She followed.
“Don't use that tone with me.”
He stopped walking.
“What tone?”
“The one that makes everything sound like an order.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You're going to have to get used to it.”
“I'm your wife for thirty days, Ellis. Not your employee.”
Something flickered across his face.
“Exactly.”
He opened the door to his office.
“Which brings us to the rules.”
Marlow walked inside.
A contract lay on his desk.
“This is the final agreement,” Ellis said.
“I already signed one.”
“This contains the details.”
He pushed the document toward her.
Marlow began reading.
Rule One: No disclosure of the marriage arrangement.
Fine.
Rule Two: No romantic involvement outside the marriage.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Seriously?”
“You'll be photographed constantly.”
“I'm not planning to date anyone during the thirty days.”
“Good.”
She continued.
Rule Three: Public displays of affection when necessary.
Marlow looked up.
“What counts as necessary?”
“Whatever convinces people we're married.”
“Define convincing.”
Ellis leaned back in his chair.
“A kiss, if required.”
Her cheeks warmed.
“You're very comfortable saying that.”
“It's business.”
“Right.”
She looked back at the contract.
Then she reached the final rule.
Her eyes stopped.
Rule Four: You will not develop feelings for me.
Marlow blinked.
Then laughed.
“You can't be serious.”
“I am.”
“You put that in a legal contract?”
“Yes.”
“You think people can control their feelings because they're written on paper?”
Ellis's expression hardened.
“I think people can control their behavior.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
His voice became quieter.
“That is why the rule exists.”
For a moment, something about his expression made her curious.
Then the elevator bell sounded from outside.
Ellis stood.
“My mother is downstairs.”
Marlow's smile disappeared.
“Your mother?”
“You're meeting her.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“You didn't mention a mother.”
“You didn't ask.”
Marlow stared at him.
“This is ridiculous.”
“This marriage has to look real from every angle.”
“And if she doesn't like me?”
“She doesn't have to like you.”
“Then what does she have to do?”
Ellis looked directly at her.
“Believe you're in love with me.”
---
Twenty minutes later, Marlow sat across from Evelyn Cole.
The older woman studied her over a cup of tea.
Not once did she smile.
“So,” Evelyn said slowly, “you're the woman my son suddenly decided to marry.”
Marlow forced a polite smile.
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Where did you meet?”
Marlow froze.
She looked at Ellis.
He didn't help.
“We met through—”
“Work,” Ellis interrupted.
Marlow turned toward him.
Work?
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
“You work at Cole Holdings?”
“No.”
“Then why did he say work?”
Ellis's jaw tightened.
Marlow understood immediately.
His mother was testing them.
She reached across the table and placed her hand over Ellis's.
His eyes dropped to their hands.
“Ellis helped me when I was having a difficult time,” Marlow said.
Evelyn looked at their joined hands.
“And you fell in love?”
Marlow's heart pounded.
“Yes.”
The word came out too quickly.
Evelyn leaned closer.
“How much do you love him?”
Marlow swallowed.
Before she could answer, Ellis squeezed her hand.
Not hard.
Just enough to warn her.
“Enough to marry him,” she said.
Silence.
Then Evelyn smiled.
It wasn't warm.
It was knowing.
“I hope so.”
She stood.
“I've seen many women try to enter this family.”
Marlow's stomach tightened.
“None lasted.”
Evelyn looked directly at her.
“Let's see how long you do.”
She walked away.
Marlow waited until she disappeared.
Then she pulled her hand from Ellis's.
“What the hell was that?”
“You did well.”
“I almost died.”
“You didn't.”
“She hates me.”
“She hates everyone.”
“Comforting.”
Ellis almost smiled.
Almost.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Cole.”
His expression changed.
Marlow watched the billionaire's face become cold.
“What happened?”
A pause.
“Send it to me.”
He ended the call.
“What is it?” she asked.
Ellis turned his phone toward her.
A news article filled the screen.
ELLIS COLE SECRETLY MARRIES MYSTERY WOMAN?
Marlow's stomach dropped.
Below the headline was a blurry photograph of them leaving the building.
Someone had already seen them.
And the article had only been online for three minutes.
Ellis looked at her.
“Your first public appearance is tonight.”
Marlow stared at him.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
His expression darkened.
“The Cole Foundation Gala.”
She felt her stomach twist.
“Who's going to be there?”
Ellis held her gaze.
“Everyone.”
He paused.
“Including the woman who was supposed to become my wife.”
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