Chapter 1 - The Contract
I stared at Nathan as the vibrant city lights reflected in his dark, suddenly serious eyes.
He slowly silenced his ringing phone and slipped it back into the pocket of his tailored suit jacket.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly in the cool evening breeze.
Nathan looked away from me for the first time all night, staring out over the dark water of the Chicago River.
"I am officially engaged to be married next month," he stated, his voice completely devoid of any emotion.
The words hit me like a physical blow to the chest, forcing all the air out of my lungs.
I took a terrified step backward, feeling incredibly stupid for ever believing a billionaire could want someone like me.
"You let me open up to you, and you are getting married?" I whispered, hot tears springing to my eyes.
"It is not a real relationship, Maya, it is a legally binding corporate merger designed to save my company."
He reached out to touch my arm, but I forcefully swerved away from his grasp.
"Do not touch me," I snapped, turning on my heel and running toward the busy downtown streets.
I ignored him calling my name, desperate to disappear into the crowd and hide my completely broken heart.
I cried the entire train ride back to my small apartment, vowing to hand in my resignation first thing tomorrow morning.
The next day, I walked into Northstar Technologies with a printed resignation letter gripped tightly in my sweating hand.
Before I could even reach my desk, my manager intercepted me with a tight, nervous smile.
"Pack your things, Maya, you have just been permanently promoted to the executive suite," he announced loudly.
I froze, completely confused by the sudden, inexplicable change in my career trajectory.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt like a terrifying march to my own execution.
When the silver doors finally opened, Nathan was not the person waiting to greet me.
Instead, a stunningly beautiful woman in a flawless white designer suit stood perfectly still in the center of the lobby.
May you like
She smiled at me, a cold, calculated expression that did not reach her piercing blue eyes.
"Hello, Maya, I am Victoria Sterling, Nathan’s fiancée, and I am the one who personally requested your transfer."
