Curves,claws and contracts

Enemy Territory

Cole Penthouse. Day 1 of hell.

Amara’s suitcases were in the guest wing. Three rooms away from his. That was the rule.

Rule she broke at 7am when she walked into his office without knocking.

"What is this?" She threw a newspaper on his desk. *COLE BRIDE: GOLD DIGGER OR HOMEWRECKER?*

Damian didn’t look up from his laptop. "PR handled it."

"Handled it? They’re calling me a schemer!"

"And they’re calling me a predator." He closed the laptop. "Welcome to my world."

"I don’t want your world. I want my life back."

"Then act like my wife." He stood. 6'3 of tailored suit and irritation. "We have a charity gala tonight. Smile. Don’t bite anyone."

"I’m a lawyer, not a poodle."

"Try both."

The gala was worse.

Reporters. Whispers. "Is that her?" "She’s bigger than the photos." "He could do better."

Amara’s smile hurt. Damian’s hand was on her lower back. The touch burned through her dress. Rule 2: No touching.

She elbowed him. He didn’t flinch.

Then she saw him. Victor Hale. Damian’s business rival. The man who’d bought the judge in her last case.

He was staring at them with wine in his hand and malice in his eyes.

"Well, well," Victor said, coming over. "The happy couple. Contract looks good on you, Damian."

Amara froze. "What did you say?"

Victor’s smile was slow. "Oh, didn’t he tell you? I know about the contract, Ms. Johnson. I know everything."

Damian stepped in front of her. Instant. Protective. "Don’t."

"Don’t what? Warn her?" Victor sipped his wine. "She deserves to know she married a liar. Ask him about the clause in section 4."

"What clause?" Amara turned to Damian.

"Nothing," Damian said through his teeth. "We’re leaving."

But Victor was already walking away. "See you in court, Mrs. Cole."

The car ride home was silent. Until it wasn’t.

"What clause?" Amara demanded the second the doors closed.

Damian poured whiskey. "There’s a penalty. If either of us breaks the contract early, we pay 50 million."

"50 MILLION? You didn’t tell me that!"

"You didn’t ask!"

"I didn’t know I had to ask if you were going to bankrupt me!"

He slammed the glass down. "I’m trying to save both of us!"

"By lying?"

"By surviving!" He was yelling now. "You think I wanted this? You think I like having you in my house, in my business, looking at me like I’m the villain?"

"You ARE the villain!"

"Then why did you sign?"

"Because you left me no choice!"

The words hung between them. Heavy. True.

Amara turned and ran to her room. Locked the door.

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.

_Section 4 is the least of your problems. I have proof the case was rigged. And I’ll release it unless you both do exactly what I say. Starting tomorrow. -V_

Amara’s blood went cold.

Down the hall, Damian got the same text.

They were being played. Both of them.

And the only way out was to trust the one person they hated most.

The enemy.