The Divorce He Never Signed

"We're still married, Amanda

The glass slipped from Amanda Blake's fingers and shattered on the ballroom floor.

The music didn't stop, but her heart did.

She turned slowly. The voice. That voice. Deep, cold, precise. Like ice cracking across a lake. Five years. Five years of therapy, silence, blocking numbers, erasing memories-and he was here.

Standing tall in a dark suit, the man she thought she'd escaped forever.

James Stone

"You're not supposed to be here," she whispered.

He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving hers. "You shouldn't lie to your husband."

Her throat tightened. "Ex-husband."

He reached into his jacket, pulled out a folded paper, and held it out to her like a weapon.

"I never signed it."

Her fingers trembled as she took the paper. Her old divorce petition. Her signature. Her lawyer's. The firm's seal.

But the signature box for James Stone was blank.

Her knees nearly gave out.

"This is a joke."

"It's not. Legally, you're still mine."

The words hit her like a slap.

"I-I left you. We agreed-"

"I didn't," he said calmly. "You ran. I stayed married."

Amanda felt her lungs squeezing. The room was closing in. She looked around-people were still dancing, drinking, smiling. No one noticed that her life had just been ripped apart.

"Why are you doing this now?"

James looked down at her, unreadable. "Because you're about to be made partner at Lex & Law."

Her mouth dropped. "You had me investigated?"

"I own fifteen percent of the firm."

"What?"

"I bought it last year."

Her head spun.

James leaned closer, his voice low. "You want that promotion? You need my signature. You want to marry your new boyfriend? You need my signature."

She took a shaky step back.

"This is blackmail."

"No," he said smoothly. "It's a negotiation."

Amanda clenched her fists. "What do you want?"

James smiled. "Come back. Be my wife. For thirty days."

She stared at him. "What?"

"You live with me. Appear with me. Help me close the Ilari merger. Then I'll sign the papers."

"And if I say no?"

"I destroy your promotion and your boyfriend's career. He's not as clean as he looks."

Amanda froze.

James voice dropped. "I've waited five years, Amanda. I won't wait another day."

And then he walked away-leaving her shaking, furious, and trapped in a marriage she didn't know still existed.

Amanda stormed out of the ballroom, her heels clicking violently across the marble floor.

She didn't stop until she reached the bathroom. She locked the door behind her, dropped her clutch, and stared at herself in the mirror.

Still married.

Still his.

She wanted to scream.

She yanked out her phone, fingers shaking, and dialed Miriam.

Her sister picked up on the second ring. "sis" You okay? You sound like-"

"I just saw James."

A pause.

"What?"

"He never signed the divorce."

Miriam gasped. "Are you serious?"

"I'm holding the papers. They're blank. He said we're still married. And that he owns part of my firm."

"What?! That psycho-"

"He wants me to live with him for a month and pretend we're still together. If I don't, he'll sabotage my promotion and Henry's job."

"Henry?" Miriam said sharply. "What does Henry have to do with it?"

"He said he has dirt on him."

Another pause. "That sounds like James. Are you okay?"

Amanda sat on the edge of the sink. "No."

"You're not going back to him, Sis."

"I don't have a choice."

---

The next morning, Amanda walked into Lex & Law early, hoping for quiet. Instead, she found her managing partner, Mr. Kay, waiting by her desk.

"Amanda. Can I see you in my office?"

She nodded, heart pounding.

Once inside, he gestured for her to sit. "We've had an issue flagged in your file."

Her stomach dropped. "What kind of issue?"

"Your marital status."

Amanda tried to stay calm. "It's a mistake. I submitted the divorce years ago."

"Well, the court says it's still pending. You never filed for a hearing."

"I did. My lawyer handled everything."

He gave her a look. "The firm is reviewing your partner consideration. We can't promote someone with an unresolved legal discrepancy."

She felt her throat close.

Kay sighed. "Fix it quickly. You have until the end of the month."

Amanda nodded numbly and left the office.

Outside, her phone buzzed.

James.

She didn't answer.

Another buzz. A text.

> You'll come around. I always play the long game. – L.

---

That night, she told Henry everything.

He sat stiff on the couch. "He blackmailed you?"

Amanda nodded.

"Baby, we'll go to the media. File a suit."

"We can't. He owns part of the firm. He'll make it look like I forged the papers. That I married you while still married to him."

Henry looked pale. "What if... what if you just do it?"

Amanda stared at him.

"Just thirty days," he added quickly. "Get the signature. Get out."

"You think I should go back to my ex-husband?"

He touched her hand. "I think... maybe he's not as dangerous as you remember."

She pulled her hand away, suddenly cold.

Henry avoided her eyes.

"Is there something I should know?" she asked softly.

"No," he said too fast.

But his hand trembled.

And for the first time, Amanda realized she might not know any man as well as she thought.

--

Amanda stood in front of James penthouse.

Tall, sleek glass. Private elevator. Security like a prison.

She took a deep breath. She had sworn never to see this place again.

The guard at the front desk looked up. "You're expected, Ms. Blake."

Of course she was.

She stepped into the elevator, heart pounding, stomach tight. The same scent filled the air-cedar, leather, something sharp like winter. Everything was exactly as she remembered.

Except now she was here as a prisoner with a deadline.

The doors opened.

James stood waiting.

Dark shirt, sleeves rolled, no tie. Casual, but still commanding. He studied her like he always did-calm, confident, calculating.

"You came," he said simply.

Amanda walked in. "You gave me no choice."

"I gave you options."

"Threats are not options."

He didn't argue.

She dropped her bag on the couch. "Let's get this over with. Thirty days. I stay here. We play your game. Then you sign."

James raised a brow. "I never said you'd live here."

Amanda froze. "What?"