Page 26 of The Contract

He nods at one of his girls—another wearing the signature red ensemble, signaling she’s meeting her new contract today.

They’re all beautiful, pampered, and perfectly poised for the billionaires they’re contracted to.

The women set the terms of the contract, and God help the person who tries to break it.

Lucian came up hard, and he won’t hesitate to spill blood over the safety of his enterprise.

I peek inside the envelope, seeing printed papers I’ll look at later. “My contract is clear? No physical needs. Only public appearances? Big fucking bonus at the end.”

“Hey, who are you talking to here?”

Lucian holds his hands out in mock offense. “The contract is perfect. I’ve got my top girl for you. Background checks on your CEO cleared. Your romantic backstory is in that envelope. She’ll handle the rest.”

We pause at his door, his hand gripping the matte-gold handle.

“She’ll treat you so nice, you’ll never want to let her go.”

He winks at me, pulling the handle and holding the door open wide.

“It’s two weeks, and trust me, I will let her go.”

I turn from Lucian to the woman in red before me—and instantly swallow my words.

Fuck me sideways.

It’s her.

It’sTrouble.

My heart surges in my chest like a stampede of galloping horses, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

Long brown hair with the perfect amount of wave and bounce.

A figure that makes my cock twitch.

And hazel eyes that look just as surprised as I feel right now.

I see it—the flicker of recognition.

The way she hesitates, just for a second.

But then—nothing.

She smooths her expression into polite indifference.

Poised. Professional.

Like she doesn’t fucking know me.

Like she didn’t have my cock down her throat last night.

Like she wasn’t in my bed, moaning my name, looking at me with those same hazel eyes that are now pretending I’m just another client.

Lucian, oblivious, gestures to her like this isn’t a fucking disaster.

“Damien, meet Elena Moreau. Your fiancée.”

His voice.

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