Married to my Enemy

Chapter 4

Turbulence

The leather seat on the private jet was softer than my bed at home, which was infuriating, because I wanted to be annoyed at everything.

Instead, I was sipping champagne and trying not to notice how effortlessly Liam wore that charcoal three-piece suit, like he’d been born in it.

Unfortunately, he was also looking at me like he knew I was noticing.

“So,” I said, setting my glass down with a deliberate clink, “where exactly are we going? Or am I supposed to just wake up somewhere and hope it’s not the middle of the ocean?”

“Hawaii,” he said smoothly.

I blinked. “You’re joking.”

“No. A week at a luxury resort. Private villa. Ocean view.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Sounds romantic. Which means I don’t believe you.”

---

He leaned back, steepling his fingers. “We’re attending a private business summit. I need a wife for the optics.”

“And by ‘wife’ you mean a human prop.”

“An intelligent, attractive human prop who can handle herself in a room full of sharks.”

I arched a brow. “You married me for a PR stunt?”

“Partially.” His gaze didn’t waver. “And partially because I don’t trust anyone else to play the part convincingly.”

There it was again—that infuriating hint that this marriage wasn’t just about convenience.

---

I sat back, crossing my legs. “So this summit. What’s the game?”

He gave me the kind of slow smile that made me want to throw my champagne in his face just to wipe it off. “High-profile investors. Political figures. Competitors. And a few people who would happily see me bankrupt—or dead.”

“Well,” I said brightly, “I can see why you thought bringing your new bride was a great idea. Who doesn’t want a plus-one at a death trap?”

“You’ll be safe,” he said, almost gently.

Almost.

---

The flight stretched on. We traded barbs, each one sharper than the last, until turbulence rattled the cabin and the seatbelt sign flicked on.

“You nervous?” he asked.

“About the plane or about being your fake wife for a week?”

“Yes.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not scared of turbulence.”

He studied me for a long moment, like he was filing away that piece of information for later.

---

By the time we landed on the island, the sun was setting in a blaze of orange and gold over the ocean. The resort was… obscene. White sand, infinity pools, staff in crisp uniforms who bowed as we passed.

The villa was worse—two floors of glass and marble, private pool, and a bed big enough to qualify as a zip code.

I dropped my bag. “This is ridiculous.”

“It’s necessary,” Liam said, setting his suitcase down. “We’ll have to make an appearance at the welcome dinner in an hour.”

I groaned. “And I thought the wedding was exhausting.”

He smirked. “Welcome to round two, Mrs. Kane.”