Page 115 of The Contract

No name.

No signature.

But I can hear Adrian’s voice saying it, dripping with smug satisfaction.

My fingers tremble, the photographs crinkling in my grip.

He’s not just threatening me.

He’s reminding me.

Reminding me of what he did—what he allowed to happen.

The bargain he made, including me in the price without telling me.

He wants me to relive it.

To feel small. Helpless.

Like I did that night.

My pulse thunders in my ears, and I clutch the envelope tighter, my breath suddenly too shallow, my skin crawling.

How did this get here? How did he get this here?

A chill rakes down my spine. I rub my arms, a sick feeling settling in my gut as I glance around the room, half-expecting to find him lurking in the shadows.

The Hamptons felt like a shield, a bubble of safety where Adrian’s reach couldn’t touch me. But this? This is different. This is an invasion. A threat. A message, clear as day.

I grab my phone with shaking fingers and dial Lucian’s number.

Fuck.

No answer. Again.

“Lucian,” I rush, my voice uneven. “I don’t know where you are, but I need you to call me back. This—this is getting worse.” I exhale sharply, gripping the phone tighter. “Call me, please.”

I hang up, pressing my palm to my forehead, willing myself to stay calm, to breathe.

I’m still on my own for this.

I can do this. I’m trying to convince myself more than anything. But I can’t solve every problem today. I still have time before Thursday.

I can figure this out. Lucian will call me back by then, and we’ll figure something out together.

Damien just secured the merger, but there is no ink on the contracts yet. Things could still turn to shit, and if Adrian gets what he wants, that’s exactly what will happen.

The clock on the wall reads three forty-five.

I don’t have time for this right now.

I fold the note and tuck it back inside the envelope, carrying it to my dresser and shoving it into the bottom drawer.

Later. I’ll deal with it later.

For now, I need to focus.

I check on the cheesecake, running my fingers lightly over the smooth surface before adding the final drizzle of salted caramel. The dark chocolate espresso filling is rich, the crust perfectly crisp, the scent curling around me like a warm embrace.

---