"That went well," Dominic said as they sat in the back of another taxi.
Aisha was shaking. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving her cold.
"He's going to come after us," she said. "He'll try to prove the marriage is a sham. He'll investigate you."
"Let him," Dominic said. "He won't find anything." Because I have a team of cyber-security experts erasing my digital footprint as we speak.
"We have to be careful," she said. "We have to live together. Really live together. If he sends a PI..."
"I'm looking forward to it," Dominic said.
Aisha looked at him. "Why are you so calm? My father destroys people for sport."
"Maybe I like sport," he said.
Aisha's phone rang. It was Barry.
She put it on speaker.
"Aisha," Barry's voice was dangerously calm. "I've spoken to the lawyers. The marriage stands. For now."
Aisha let out a breath.
"But," Barry continued. "I need to know who this man is. If he's going to be part of this family, he needs to be vetted. Bring him to the Founder's Dinner next Friday."
Aisha froze. The Founder's Dinner was the most exclusive event of the year. The sharks of Wall Street, the old money families, the press.
"If he embarrasses us," Barry said, "if he holds a fork wrong, if he opens his mouth and sounds like the gutter trash he is... you will annul this marriage. Or I will bury you in litigation until you're eighty."
Click.
Aisha dropped the phone. She buried her face in her hands.
"We're dead," she moaned. "It's a black-tie gala. You... look at you."
She gestured to his leather jacket.
Dominic looked down at himself. "What's wrong with me?"
"You need to know which fork is for salad and which is for fish. You need to know how to discuss emerging markets. You need to know how to tie a bowtie."
Dominic smiled. "I'm a quick learner."
"We have one week," she said, her eyes frantic. "One week to turn you into a gentleman."
" My Fair Lady," Dominic mused. "I always liked that movie."
"This isn't a movie, Dominic! This is my life!"
He reached over and took her hand. His thumb traced the back of her knuckles. The touch sent a jolt of electricity up her arm.
"Aisha," he said softly. "Trust me. I won't let you down."
For the first time in two days, looking into his storm-gray eyes, she believed him.
