Page 166 of The Contract

I don’t look back to confirm Adrian is there. But at least I know he’s not stupid enough to push anything with a witness present.

“Yes. Fine, thank you,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “Wolfe Industries, please.”

He nods and opens the door for me.

The moment I slide into the back seat, I exhale a shuddering breath, my body sagging against the cool leather.

Reaching for a tissue from the console, I blot at my lip, pulling it away to see a small trace of blood.

Shit.

I dig into my back pocket for my phone, needing to use the camera to check the damage—but it’s gone.

A new kind of dread unfurls in my stomach, and my hands start shaking as the adrenaline begins to crash.

It must have fallen out when I ran from Adrian.

I have no way to call Damien. No way to call Lucian.

Swallowing hard, I force myself to breathe. I just need to get to Wolfe Industries. Once I’m there—once I’m with Damien—I’ll be fine.

But as I glance out the window, my blood runs cold.

Adrian is still there, standing on the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, watching me.

I don’t look away. I won’t show him that he’s won anything in this.

Instead, I lift my chin, every line of my body screaming defiance as the car pulls away, putting distance between us.

But I know this isn’t over.

I just hope I can get to Damien before it’s too late.

The day started out fucking perfect.

I lean back in my chair, rereading the last text Elena sent me, letting the words sink in like a slow burn.

"It's a date."

My thumb taps against the side of my phone as I look at her reply.

Tonight. Dinner at the penthouse. Just the two of us.

I smirk, running a hand through my hair, my body thrumming with something I haven’t felt in a long time: anticipation.

The end of our contract is looming, only days away, but for the first time since this arrangement started, I know exactly what I want.

I want her.

Not as a business arrangement. Not as a pretend fiancée. But as mine.

I don’t give a fuck about the terms we started with. I don’t care about the lines we agreed to keep in place because every single one of them has blurred into nothing.

Elena belongs with me.

Tonight, I’ll tell her.

Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe I should be careful, ease into it, play it safe.

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