The ride in the Maybach was silent. The leather seats smelled of money. Colette sat in the corner, clutching her phone as if it were a lifeline. She had checked the hospital portal three times. The balance was zero. It was real.
August sat on the other side, typing on his phone, ignoring her.
"How?" Colette finally asked, her voice trembling. "Are you a hacker?"
August sighed, sliding his phone into his pocket. "Driver, pull over."
The car glided to a stop on a quiet side street. August turned to her, the interior light casting sharp shadows across his face. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a thick document.
"Read it."
Colette took the heavy paper. Prenuptial and Marital Agreement.
She flipped through it. The legalese was dense, but the terms were clear.
Clause 1: Duration of marriage shall be exactly 365 days.
Clause 2: The Wife must appear at all public functions designated by the Husband.
Clause 3: Infidelity by the Wife will result in immediate termination and repayment of all debts.
Clause 4: The Husband agrees to cover all medical expenses for Richard Barrett, plus a monthly stipend of $50,000.
Colette looked up, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Why me? You could hire an actress. A model."
August looked out the window. "Because you left the money."
"What?"
He turned back to her. "This morning. You thought I was a prostitute. You were broke, scared, and running away. But you still paid. It was insulting, yes. But it proved two things: you are incredibly stupid, and you are not greedy."
Colette felt heat rush to her cheeks. "I have principles."
"Exactly," August said. "My family... my world... is full of sharks. I don't need a shark. I need someone who won't try to steal the company while I'm sleeping."
He leaned in closer. The scent of him-sandalwood and cold air-filled her senses.
"And," he added, his voice dropping an octave, "I don't find you repulsive. That will make the public displays of affection easier."
Colette swallowed hard. The air in the car felt suddenly thin.
"Sign it," August said, handing her a fountain pen. "Sign it, and you never have to see your stepmother again."
Colette looked at the pen. It was heavy, black lacquer with gold trim. She thought of her father, safe for now. She thought of Meredith's smirk. And she thought of the files on her father's laptop-the ones showing how Sanders Media had systematically bankrupted smaller art houses, including her father's, using fraudulent valuations. This wasn't just about saving him. This was about getting inside.
She uncapped the pen. Her hand shook, but she forced the nib onto the paper.
Colette Barrett.
The ink was dark and permanent.
August took the document back. He checked the signature, then nodded.
"Welcome to the firm, Mrs. Sanders."
Colette froze. "Sanders? As in... Sanders Media?"
August leaned back, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. "Caught up at last? Good. I'd hate to think I married a complete idiot."
Colette stared at him. The magazines. The news. August Sanders. The ruthless CEO. The Billionaire.
She had tipped August Sanders a hundred dollars.
"Oh my god," she whispered, burying her face in her hands.
"Driver," August said calmly. "To the Upper East Side. My wife needs to pack."
