FORTUNE SECRET WITH THE BILLIONAIRE'S

tub the size of a small pool, and the bed was covered in approximately seven thousand dollars worth of Egyptian cotton. Oliver had checked her in u

the phone

y, thinking about contracts and consequences and the fact that in roughly twelv

e she was a puzzle to solve.

mien had told her to burn it, but she couldn't quite bring herself to destroy something

mber: *Car will pick you up at 9 AM. Bring

doll being dressed for

d this. She'd proposed to him. This was her

was a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and an earpiece who introduced herself as

through clouds. Janet led her through a private entrance and up to the forty-fifth flo

said, gesturing down a hallwa

ressed in yesterday's jeans and a borrowed hotel

rply dressed in a charcoal suit, hair still slightly disheveled like he'd been running his hands through it, jaw tight w

ssive table and tried not

keted his phone, and turn

think I w

He moved to the table and pulled out a folder thick with documents.

eems ex

word. Ask questions. My lawyer will be here in ten minutes to witness s

es as needed, no extramarital affairs, no unauthorized media contact, complete confidentiality about the contractual nature of the marriage. In exchange: housing, securit

ance clauses, what would happen if either party

, the contract extends automatically and

ee service and was pouring two cups. "If that happens, we'

birth

, which wasn't how she liked it, but

out security. How often they'd need to be seen together in public,at least three times per week. Sleeping arrangements;separate bedrooms but oc

ources, private investigators, and access to any information that might help her case, but

igate anyone connected to

my company while doing i

ther has connectio

ainst the table, arms crossed. "I'm giving you

nking, no public scandals. Her social media would be monitored. Her friends woul

gilded cage

resources, protection, and a very generous settlement a

enemies com

want to hurt me might see you as an opportunity. That's why you'll have a bodyguar

s roma

s flat, matter-of-fact. "You wanted a deal. This is

int shadows under his eyes. He'd been up all night too, having this drawn up, making

?" she asked. "The real reason

ghtened. "That'

year of my life. I

d, it destroyed my family. My mother drank herself to death. My sister hasn't spoken to me in five years because she blames me for not stopping him." His voice was carefully co

makes you

ate, something lasting." He turned to face her. "The Chen family won't do business with someone they see as dam

ing to escape our

s expression-recognition,

o be someone she wasn't, of living in a stranger's house and playing by his rules. Twelve m

pty apartment, her stolen inheritance, he

the pen. "Wh

e slightly. "You're n

u change

N

clear, bold letters. Scarlett Marie Hayes, soon to be Scarlett Wolfe. "I'm not afraid of h

e named Richard, and a man in an expensive suit appeared within minutes. The lawyer:thin, fifties, eyes

ourthouse at two. I've arranged for a judge, witnesses, and complete me

o wh

ging by the door that she hadn't

elegant, expensive. Shoes. Jewelry. Even undergarm

my size,

thoro

contro

deny it. "Does

, this stranger she was about to marr

Then we go back to the mansion, and you'll meet the staff and see your rooms. Tonight,

t's

ave three hours to change your mind, Scarlett. After we say 'I do,

irk. Victoria's hands pushing her father down t

rets,"

judge who looked bored. The ceremony took seven minutes. Damien's hand was warm and steady whe

the bride,"

he looked up at Damien, who was looking at

he murmured.

ned down an

the moment his mouth touched hers, something electric sparked between them. His hand came up

enough for her to taste coffee and s

red at e

s..." sh

said firmly.

was still on her face, thumb brushing he

roat. "Congratulations.

d met yesterday. A man who'd j

e best or worst de

e who'd seen everything and was impressed by nothing. She handed them each a statement to memorize, s

hard and fast, couldn't wait to start your lives together. Very rom

for what?" Dami

ething." Patricia's smile was sharp. "And ap

me felt foreign in

ally turned back on was exploding with calls and texts. Victoria. Elena. Marcus. Numbers

shit. You married DAMIEN WOLFE

omach drop: This is

showed him Victoria's text, and his jaw tightened. "Block her

ng to make

g that presumably blocked Victoria's number. "You

last

s. Chen:no relation to Oliver was a severe woman in her sixties who looked at Scarlett like she was a particularly worrying stain. The ch

drivers, assistants. At least twenty people w

elming," she mu

d her upstairs to the se

ng area, walk-in closet, bathroom with that tub she was starting to think was a billionai

artment," Damien said. "They'll be here tonig

are you

door she'd assumed was a closet. "We'll keep it locked

eal marriage. They were roommate

the family,read it. David Chen is traditional, his wife Susan is shrewd, and their d

pres

sed this,

u don't have a real wife. Y

. "I'll send someone up to hel

lett was alone in

le than the hotel's and looked at her hand. The platinum

t. She'd act

st had to

self as Maya. She had an eye for styling and no patience for modesty, stripping Scarlett d

ry was simple but clearly expensive. Her hair was swept up, her makeup was perfect,

Maya said with satisfactio

Damien's business partner's

he saw her, something flickered across his face. Apprecia

said, and it sounded li

me," she replied

ut his ar

"Y

avid Chen, early sixties, shrewd eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses; his wife Susan, elegant in emerald silk with a smile that didn't

ds. "And this must be the new Mrs. Wolfe. W

dded, though her tone suggested ot

of her back, warm through the thin fabric of her

is David, Susan, and Lily Chen. David and I have been working o

skepticism. "You met at a charity event yesterday a

d, channeling every ounce of confidence she d

amien, I had expected you to follow more traditional courtship pr

was traditional, according to Patricia's notes. He valued family, propriety, and car

mother is in poor health, and she's been asking to see me settled. When I met Scarlett, I knew she w

about a grandmother, but the mention of family duty and

lightly. "Your grandmother is

carlett, and his expression was so convincingly affectionate that her breath caugh

ent felt foreign and

n the table. His fingers were warm, strong, and when they curled around

ng approvingly. "Tell me, Scarlett, what

as a trap. She

rief color her voice. "He would have loved Damien. They were similar

is time her sympathy seemed genuine. "How did

, and the lie came surprisingly easily. "Then I quite literally stumbled into him. He caught me, looked at me like he could see straight through all

lectricity up her arm. "She was wearing a white dress and looked like s

e hours later?" Lily's sk

ew I'd found someone extraordinary. Someone who understood that life is short

pulsive,"

ssing. "Though I imagine the media attention must be overwhelmin

nted to know if she'd

learned that the alternative:living small, playing it safe, letting f

experienced loss recently. That either makes

honestly. "But I'm cho

ect, maybe, or at least interest. "Damien, yo

ips, mutual acquaintances. Scarlett played her part perfectly, laughing at appropriate moments, asking intelligent questions a

the meal with narrow eyes, and Scarle

ontract details and Susan had excused herself

murmured, her voice too l

eart kicked.

or protection or whatever you're running from. I've seen this before in my parents' circle

won't

" Lily traced the rim of her wine glass. "I slept with him once, you know. About two years ago. He was thorough, attentive, and c

ealousy, which was absurd. She had no

een difficult," s

lationships as transactions." Lily looked at her directly. "So if this is a transaction, fine. But don't fool yourself into thinki

's hand found hers under the table, s

n the conversation? David was just telling

lk and performance. By the time they left, Scarlett's

he first few minutes, staring out t

ight," he finally

ou. So w

spoke

a questi

did sh

nst it. They were married now, even if it wa

re emotionally unavailable and would break my heart." Sh

o. Once. It m

ng mean some

tended. Damien turned to look at her, and in the

means something." He paused. "And keeping my word means something. I promised you twelve months, r

you don't ha

impli

just trying to under

r promises. That's all

his door. He came around to her side, offered his hand, and helped her out with th

ht, though Mrs. Chen appeared from nowhere to ask if they needed anythin

to her room,

aid again. "David liked you.

s? Whether your business

r-of-fact. "Though I'll admit, you're more natural at this than

I did stumble into you. You

" The admission seemed to surprise him as much

nconve

nsaction. But you're..." He trailed off, jaw

is own door, but s

ilable too right now. My heart is full of rage and grief and revenge. There's no room for anything else."

oss his face:relief, or

. "That makes t

icked off the painful heels, unzipped the dress, and stood in he

lett Hayes, murdered man's daughter. Scarlett someone-she

*Enjoy your victory while it lasts. You're not Mr

ad found h

shaking. Victoria wasn't going to let this go. Neither was Elena. Th

tigate harder. Find proof before

ther's death. Police reports, news articles, autopsy results. The official story was accidental f

d movement in Damien's room. Footsteps, the sou

llway was empty, but she could hear voices from dow

her room. This was

been good at sta

the foyer, Damien stood with a woman Scarlett didn't recognize. Thirties, stunning in a wa

re," Damien was saying, hi

ling me." The woman's voice was sharp with fu

ve been done f

many secrets." Vivienne stepped closer, her hand on his chest. "And now you're bringing

ve.

did, everything you covered up, every dollar that shouldn't exist. If you think some sudden marr

hat had Damien's father done

n said, but his voice ha

to give me what I want,the board seat you promised me, the shares you stole, the apology you owe me for destroying my

s a long

out it," Damie

rned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Damien? Your new wife is p

licking on the marble

tight with tension. Then he looked up, direct

now," he said. "I

ug

her heart pounding. Damien watched h

id you hear

d a few feet away fr

ée. The one

lackmail

es

about you." Scarlett crossed her arms. "What di

r arrangement. You get to investigate you

s marriage. Not when she j

andle V

e it sounded like

ons. That's not t

ed closer, searching his face. "Something your fa

arl

use, wearing your ring, playing your devoted wife. T

e. Then his shoulders sagged slightl

ice was flat, emotionless. "I was twenty-two. I spent the next two years liquidating everything we had to pay back what he stole. But there were offshore accounts I couldn't trace, mo

dn't keep t

and willing to do anything for a payday. Including helping a man steal from his partners." His eyes were cold. "So no, I di

she wants

nd. "The irony is that she's right. I am my father's son. I built this company using skills I learned

illionaire, was actually the son of an embezzler.

more similar th

ng to do about Vi

't kno

ually have do

rom money my father stole. It won't destroy the company,I paid back the debts with interest but it will destro

ne week to fi

W

mies now." Scarlett squared her shoulders. "Besides, I'm good at findin

n't your

y problem. If the Chen deal falls th

siness legitimacy, I don't need a wife. You'd get a se

contingent on his suc

she said firmly. "

he could see him calculating, weighing

Vivienne has," he said finally. "And then we figure

o we d

arp and dangerous. "We outmaneuver her. And

ying. Instead, Scarlett fe

ot safety, not comfort but po

e start?"

, you should sleep

rried strangers with secrets and enemies, and somewher

ed when I proposed to you

id you

ion, like you said. Not..." Sh

me. I thought you would ha

tartin

fingers brushing her cheek. The gesture was gentle, almost tender,

"I'm glad you're not simple either. T

leaving her standing in the foyer with he

an who could be gentle one moment and ruthless the next. A man who wa

here was no g

ped into bed, and lay staring at the cei

e real work

ey'd start f

a stranger. She'd entered a world she didn't understand. She'd made herself a

ossibly, she was

be Damien Wolfe was the kind o

nd of woman who didn't

ienne thought they could destroy her, they

carlett W

tt Wolfe d