THE CONTRACTUAL HEARTBEAT

l

no windows

m the world they rule. I sit on butter-soft leather, legs crossed, hands folded so tightly in my lap that my knuckles ache. Across f

since we shook

ntation. Maybe I passed out, and this is some AI-generated coma illusion. But the

ée of a man who could buy the entir

k out," he says, w

kno

ne would sink you. At best, six mon

I cut in, sharp

. Cold steel. Whatever metaph

t the sense you'r

I realize I've been lured

goes back to his tablet

re at

soul. His posture is military-perfect. His suit looks like it costs more than

this whole thing up the second

won

? You don'

re. You're a fighter. And

ke he's stati

back, the car sl

hing out of a sci-fi film. His building is the tal

by the sheer size of everything. The marble floors of the lobby gleam like mirrors. The walls pulse with slow, ambi

building. I

Thorn is

evator. The moment the do

"You always keep

out turning. "Nois

su

thouse. Doors slide open. I s

eiling windows that stretch so high, the stars feel close enough to touch. But there's no

a home. It'

is now authorized. Facial scan, voiceprint, retina ass

oft, androgynous voice.

thing just scan

ucas says, li

I trail after him, glancing at m

on't bel

be your roo

-in closet. An en suite bathroom that looks like it was

u'll meet with Adrienne, my publicist, and Patrick, our legal ad

an I start this fake f

he sooner t

n agreed to th

time, something like irri

hook m

ss. That doesn't mean I'm ready to waltz into

et," he says smoothly. "

room. "I

iefed on every appearance. You'll attend the annual Thorn Gal

e? That wasn't par

t of the

ask, thinking back to

tes. "Off

hy

se I s

n could drive a monk

ou ever tried s

N

ours

f member outside your door if you need anything. You have until

he turns and disap

the middle of the most ex

n't

e my eyes, I see headlines. Paparazzi photos. My face beside Lucas's.

te it. A

round me like armor, and scroll through

l intimacy, thank God, but plenty of "suggestive body language" for press optics. And the million-

ought of e

blet and stare

Making a point. Instead, I'm being swallowed

I don't wan

rifying in i

arrives

ilettos sharp enough to murder with. She arrives

she's even sat down. "Tattooed rebel is great for

'm not shav

an into the street-artist-turned-philant

eeth. "I ha

Let's just make sure it f

. Media training. Photo

tly at the head of the table, drinkin

insane,"

my life,"

inally explored

rawn to the art wing a space with canvases, robotic painting

blank screen, f

still make

me

aint my way t

toward my room, I paus

d by a bio

it, but I press my p

ss d

ld wal

whisper into th

ou hiding,

I arrived, I realize I don't

nt t