THE NIGHT
992 Words
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_Day 9. 9:10 PM. Penthouse._
Lily stared at Damian’s hand.
"We stop pretending," he’d said.
Her heart was hammering. Day 8 of 90.
And he wanted to make it real. For the board. For the court. For them?
"You’re serious," Lily whispered.
Damian nodded. "I am. I don’t want to lie tomorrow. I don’t want to fake it in front of 12 people who want to tear us apart."
He dropped his hand. "But Lily, if you say no, I respect that. We’ll find another way."
Lily looked at him. Tired. No tie. Hair messy from running his hands through it all day.
This wasn’t the CEO who gave her a contract.
This was the man who stood at a podium and called her his wife to 200 reporters.
"Okay," she said.
Damian’s eyes widened. "Okay?"
"Okay." Lily took his hand. "But no contract terms tonight. No rules. Just... us."
Damian exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for 8 days. "Just us."
---
_Day 9. 9:30 PM. Bedroom._
It was different than the first night.
That was business. Cold sheets. Distance.
This was... quiet.
Damian didn’t touch her right away. He just looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Lily stepped closer. "I’m sure."
He kissed her.
Slow. Like he was asking permission with every second.
Lily kissed back.
And the 8 days of fighting, and Sophia, and Eleanor, and the board all fell away.
There were no cameras. No lawyers. No folder with photos.
Just Lily. And Damian.
When it was over, they lay there. The city lights through the windows.
Damian’s arm around her.
Lily’s head on his chest.
"I don’t want to go to the board meeting tomorrow," Damian murmured into her hair.
"Me neither," Lily said. "I want to stay here."
"You can." Damian kissed her forehead. "We can quit. Run away. Let them have the company."
Lily laughed. "And do what? Sell tacos?"
"Only if you’re the CEO of tacos."
Lily smiled. Then it faded. "Damian. Tomorrow they’re going to ask if our marriage is real."
Damian pulled her closer. "Then we tell them the truth."
"What’s the truth?"
"That I signed a contract with a stranger 8 days ago." He traced patterns on her back. "And I fell in love with her anyway."
Lily went still. "You... what?"
Damian went quiet.
Shit. He hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
"Lily, I—"
"Don’t," Lily said. "Don’t say it if you don’t mean it."
"I mean it." Damian turned her to face him. "I think I started falling for you the day you threw coffee at my lawyer. I just didn’t want to admit it because then this whole thing would be real."
Lily’s eyes filled. "You’re not allowed to say things like that and then send me back to my apartment in 82 days."
"Who said anything about 82 days?" Damian wiped a tear from her cheek. "I want to rip up the contract, Lily."
Lily stared. "You can’t. The board—"
"To hell with the board." Damian kissed her. "I want you. Not the contract. Not the PR. You."
Lily cried then. Not pretty tears. Messy ones.
Because 8 days ago she thought this was about money.
And now...
"I love you too," she whispered. "I think I did since the press conference."
Damian held her like he’d never let go.
Outside, the city kept moving.
Inside, Day 9 started with the truth.
---
_Day 9. 5:00 AM._
Lily woke up alone.
Panic shot through her until she heard the shower.
Damian was in there. Singing. Badly.
She smiled.
Her phone buzzed.
_Mia: OMG ARE YOU OKAY I SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE_
_Mia: ALSO ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH HIM BECAUSE YOU SOUND IN LOVE_
Lily typed back: _Maybe._
Damian came out, towel around his waist. Hair wet.
"You’re up."
"Board meeting in 4 hours." Lily sat up. "We should prep."
Damian sat on the bed next to her. "We already did."
He gestured to her. To him. To the bed.
"Proof."
Lily blushed. "Damian."
"What? It’s legal evidence." He grinned. "Also I’m starving. Tacos?"
"At 5 AM?"
"CEO privilege."
---
_Day 9. 8:45 AM. Hart Tower._
The boardroom was packed.
Eleanor at the head. Smiling.
Sophia in the back. Sunglasses.
12 board members. Lawyers.
And Damian and Lily, holding hands.
Whitaker cleared his throat. "This emergency meeting is to determine the validity of Mr. Hart’s marriage to Miss Carter. Per company bylaws, a contract marriage does not qualify for spousal shares or CEO stability clauses."
Eleanor slid a folder forward. "Evidence. Marriage contract. 90 days. No emotional ties."
Damian didn’t let go of Lily’s hand. "That was 8 days ago."
"And now?" Whitaker asked.
Damian looked at Lily. Then at the board.
"Now it’s real."
Sophia laughed. "Please. You slept together once for PR."
Damian turned. "No."
He pulled Lily in front of him.
"We’re in love. And we spent last night proving it. So if you want to void my marriage, you’ll have to void every marriage in this building that started in a bedroom."
The room went silent.
Eleanor’s smile cracked.
Lily stepped forward. "I’m not here for money. I’m not here for shares. I’m here because I choose him. And he chooses me. Contract or not."
Whitaker looked at the other board members.
Then he sighed. "Motion to recognize Mrs. Hart as legal spouse with full rights."
"All in favor?"
9 hands.
"Opposed?"
3 hands.
"Motion passes." Whitaker looked at Eleanor. "Mrs. Hart stays."
Eleanor stood up so fast her chair fell. "This isn’t over."
"No," Damian said. "It’s not. Because next we’re talking about who forged my signature."
He looked right at Sophia.
Sophia stood. "I don’t know what you’re—"
"Security," Damian said. "Escort Ms. Monroe out. She’s being charged with forgery and fraud."
Sophia’s face went white. "You can’t—"
"I can." Damian smiled. "I’m the CEO."
---
_TO BE CONTINUED.....
- Writer
