MARRIAGE UNDER CONTRACT

The web tightens

Samantha’s POV

I had no idea how much more time I could keep the fragments of my existence intact. Every day seemed like a fresh balancing act, and I ran out of techniques. Although Jared's sudden comeback had rocked me, I couldn't let that anxiety rule me. Ethan required consistent behavior from me. More than that, I owed him strength.

But that morning as I entered Blackwood Tower, a terrible feeling crept into my chest. I had not mentioned Jared to Adrian yet. I couldn't. Not when our marriage contract and relationship was based on layers of mistrust. Should Adrian learn that Ethan had been involved and Jared was returned, I preferred not to consider the fallout.

The receptionist greeted me with the customary courteous indifference, "Good morning, Mrs. Blackwood." Not by any emotional measure, but others behaved as though we were the ideal power couple—not a real marriage. Actually, Adrian and I knew little of each other. Strangers driven into the same orbit by an agreement, a contract that had extracted me from one trap and then positioned me in another.

Adrian's office elevator ride seemed longer than usual. My ideas were flying, looking for some sort of fix for the catastrophe I had discovered. It was all too much—Jared's threats, the lies I was hiding from Adrian, and the rising strain. I , however, afford to lose control.

Heart thumping, I entered Adrian's office. He stood by the big windows as usual, back to me immersed in the vista of the city skyline. His workspace reflected him—cold, strong, and absolutely frightening.

"Adrian??" I called gently.

He turned around not right away. I felt uncomfortable in his stillness.

At last he said, his voice low and sharp. You're late.

Though I could feel the tension in the air, I said, "I had some things to take care of," attempting to keep my tone laid back.

Adrian turned slowly, his black eyes settling on mine with an intensity that always made me feel exposed, like though he could see right through me. Although I detested that feeling, Adrian had something about him that drew attention and made hiding difficult.

His voice stern, "I don't appreciate being kept waiting, Samantha," he added. Particularly not when so much is on line.

His comments caused my stomach to contract. He was not merely speaking of business. For weeks now, he had been wary of me; I knew it was only a matter of time before he started poring over my background. Should he learn about Jared, regarding the falsehoods I had told to shield Ethan... What he would do eluded me.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, keeping a firm voice even though inside I was collapsing. "It won't happen again.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed as he looked at me for a protracted period. Look at that it does not.

His words weighty and frightening hovered between us. Part of me wanted to shout at him that he didn't control me, that this marriage denied him the right to own every action. I couldn't, though. Not now. Not when I was still so profoundly caught in this web of secrets and lies.

I battled to concentrate as the conference got underway. Adrian was reviewing some contract specifics, but my thoughts kept veering to Jared. The sensation that he was monitoring me and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike persisted. When he needed to be, he had always been like that—patient, analytical, and merciless. And with Ethan in the picture, I had more to lose than ever before.

The voice of Adrian drew me back to the here-now. Are you even listening at all?

I blinked, trying to see his look. Indeed. I apologize; I simply seemed a bit unfocused.

His eyes narrowed once more, but this time there was something else there. Question of concern? Not at all, that cannot be. Adrian expressed no concern. Not for me, at least not yet.

"Distracted isn't going to cut it, Samantha," he murmured, slanted forward and his voice dropped to a menacing whisper. Not when we are this near to closing the agreement with Harrison Global.

Though I tried to concentrate, nodding was useless. The weight of all that was happening outside this office blinded my mind. That was for the best; Adrian knew half of it.

Rather was it?

For weeks I wondered whether I could tell him, but every time I thought about it the cold, pragmatic side of Adrian told me why that wasn't an option. Between us, trust was a weapon. Regarding the arrangement, I had no idea how far his allegiance stretched, and I couldn't risk him turning on me using my background.

Still, I sensed his gaze fixed on me while the conference went on. His look had an intensity that unsettled me. Adrian was always two steps ahead of everyone around him, and I knew he wouldn't take much time to begin to put things together. I merely had to bury my secrets long enough to find a path out.

Later that evening, following Ethan's bedtime, I sat by myself in the kitchen, the silence enveloping me. As I took up my phone and went through the messages Jared had sent, my hands shook. Problems. Promises of what might happen should I deviate from the norm.

I wanted to toss the phone across the room and act as though none of this was occurring by blocking his number. But I could not. Not when Ethan's safety rested on my onestep ahead of Jared. He had always been one to keep his word on his threats; I could not afford to gamble.

Once more my phone buzzed, and my heart skipped a beat when Jared's name flashed across the screen.

You believe you can avoid me permanently?

I looked at the note, a frigid sense of fear flooding over me. How have I let things develop so far? How had I let Jared reenter my life and into the life of my son? And how the devil was I supposed to escape this?

Another message appeared just as I was ready to set down the phone.

Sam, tick-tock. Time is running short*.

My breath seized in my throat, panic started in my chest. I failed at this. Living in constant anxiety and waiting for Jared to decide on his next action was intolerable. I did not, however, have options. Not until I figured out a strategy to keep him permanently out of our lives.

My phone rang just as I was poised to respond. I froze, fixed on the screen. Jared was not it this time. It was Adrian.

"Hello?" My voice wobbled as I responded.

"Come to the office," he urged, his voice sharp. "We ought to talk.

The connection dropped dead before I could reply.

I fixed my phone, the cold of Adrian's words still hanging about. He wanted to chat about what? Was he knowledgeable? Alternatively was this only another business-related discussion?

Still deep inside, though, I knew Adrian was not the kind to call casually. It indicated something had changed if he wanted to meet me right now.

How much, then, did he know?

And how far down into this labyrinth of lies and secrets was I?