TITLE:RUNAWAY BRIDE

Chapter 3: CAGED WITH THE DEVIL

The car stopped in front of a tall glass building.

No church. No police. Just Alex Smith’s company headquarters.

"Get out," he said.

I followed him, barefoot and shivering. The security guards bowed as we passed. No one asked questions.

Alex led me to a private elevator. No buttons. It went straight to the penthouse floor.

The doors opened to a huge office. Floor to ceiling windows. The whole city below us.

He finally turned to face me. He took off his tuxedo jacket and draped it over my shoulders. It was warm. It smelled like him.

"You’re in danger," Alex said. "Your fiancé won’t stop until he finds you."

I hugged the jacket tighter. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because I hate him," Alex said simply. "And because I can use you."

My heart sank. "Use me?"

He walked to his desk and picked up a document.

"A marriage contract," he said. "Marry me. For 6 months. In public, we’re the perfect couple. In private, we don’t touch each other."

I stared at him. "You’re crazy."

"Maybe," Alex shrugged. "But with my name, he can’t touch you. And after 6 months, I give you 10 million dollars and a divorce. Clean break."

10 million.

That was enough to disappear. To start over.

"Why me?" I whispered.

Alex’s eyes darkened. "Because you ran. And I like things that run... until I catch them."

He held out a pen.

"So, Runaway Bride. What’s it gonna be? Prison with your fiancé... or a cage with the devil?"

The pen felt heavy in my hand.

Outside, the rain was still falling.