That Wasn’t in the Contract
The drive back from the hospital was quieter than any journey Sofia and Lucien had taken together. Henri’s words had followed them into the car, especially his claim that Mateo had once believed Lucien could become the man capable of ending the corruption inside Vantari. Sofia stared through the window at Monaco’s lights while Lucien drove with the same controlled focus he had shown on their first night together. Finally, she asked whether he understood what had happened between them since the contract began, and Lucien said he understood only that every rule they had created seemed determined to become impossible.
Sofia turned toward him and reminded him that Clause Eight existed for a reason. It had been designed to prevent emotional involvement, physical in
