Page 12 of The Hockey Contract

Sienna followed, her steps hesitant, as though she was already second-guessing her decision to come. I found myself hoping she wouldn't change her mind, and the realization surprised me. When had I become so invested in this plan working out?

Perhaps when I'd seen the fierce determination in her eyes as she defended her bakery. Or maybe when I'd recognized in her the same drive and passion I felt on the ice.

Chapter 5: Sienna

I stood outside Jax's waterfront mansion, fighting the urge to turn around and run back to the comfortable familiarity of my bakery. What was I doing here? Considering a fake marriage to a man I barely knew? Had I completely lost my mind?

Before I could change my mind, I rang the doorbell. To my surprise, Jax himself answered rather than some butler or housekeeper. He was dressed casually in dark jeans and a simple gray t-shirt that somehow looked expensive despite its plainness.

"Hi," I said, immediately feeling awkward.

"Hi," he echoed, stepping back. "Come in."

I stepped into the foyer, trying not to gawk at my surroundings. The place was enormous—all sleek lines, glass, and metal, with a stunning view of the water through floor-to-ceiling windows. It was beautiful in the way high-end furniture showrooms are beautiful: perfect, pristine, and completely impersonal. There were no family photos, no mementos, nothing that suggested someone actually lived here rather than just existed within the space.

"Leo and Olivia are already here," Jax said, leading me deeper into the house. "They have some documents they want to discuss."

I followed him into a living room where two people were waiting. I recognized Leo from his visit to my bakery—mid-thirties, with an easy smile and a slightly rumpled appearance despite his expensive suit. The woman beside him was striking—tall, immaculately dressed in a tailored pantsuit, with sharp features and an assessing gaze that made me immediately conscious of my simple sundress and cardigan.

"Sienna, welcome," Leo said, standing to greet me. "Thank you for coming."

"This is Olivia, my endorsement manager," Jax introduced. "Olivia, this is Sienna Williams."

"Lovely to meet you," Olivia said, her smile professional. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Likewise," I replied, though in truth, I knew nothing about her.

"Please, sit," Leo gestured to the couch. "Can we get you anything? Water? Coffee?"

"I'm fine, thank you." I perched on the edge of the couch, feeling immediately out of my element. This felt like a business meeting, not a discussion about marriage—fake or otherwise.

Leo opened a folder on the coffee table. "So, Jax has explained the basic premise of our proposal?"

"A temporary marriage to help his image and secure an endorsement deal," I confirmed. "In exchange for paying off my bakery debt."

"Exactly," Leo nodded. "What we're proposing is a three-month arrangement. You and Jax would legally marry, you'd move in here to maintain appearances, and you'd accompany him to certain public events as his wife. After the Perfect Home Furnishings deal is secured, you'd divorce amicably, citing the classic 'grew apart' reason."

Olivia took over seamlessly. "We'd need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement, of course. The terms of the arrangement would remain strictly confidential."

"And in return?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Jax will pay off your bakery debt immediately," Leo confirmed. "The full hundred and fifty thousand."

I tried to process the reality of what they were suggesting. Live here, in this sterile mansion? With Jax? Pretend to be in love with a man whose coldness had earned him the nickname "Ice Man"?

During the contract discussion, I became increasingly aware of Jax's intense gaze. While Olivia detailed the terms, I noticed him watching my face, his focus occasionally dropping to my lips as I spoke, in a way that felt strangely intimate. The scrutiny made my skin warm, though I tried to ignore it.

"I'd want my own lawyer to review any contracts before signing," I finally said, surprising them with my business acumen. I might be a baker, but I wasn't naive.

"Of course," Leo agreed. "That's completely reasonable."

"And I have conditions of my own," I added, sitting straighter. "I need to maintain my baking schedule. The bakery stays open, and I continue working there."

Olivia frowned slightly. "That complicates things. As Jax's wife, people might expect—"

"The bakery is non-negotiable," I interrupted firmly. "It's my livelihood and my passion. I'm not giving it up, even temporarily."

"We can work with that," Jax spoke for the first time since introductions. "We'll craft a narrative that includes your dedication to your family business. It could actually enhance the image we're creating."

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