CONTRACT OF CHAOS

o marry a comp

in the sharp navy suit didn't react. His name was Juli

o marry me,"

Legally. Not

into a Netflix movie

d, his gaze unreadable. "Do you

ell "prank." Nothing. Me-a broke, paint-smudged waitress faci

c designer," I said. "That's

tone. "I need a wife. In name only. For

"You could hir

o ties to my world, no past scandals, and no risk

vette

ndition. Your student loan debt. Your eviction notice

at's why you picked me?

re invisible. No one would

stop myself from throwing my wate

arming. I'm

rich and powerful, and you likely hav

exed. "It'

e left a fortune, and the catc

er. That told

him. "You'

conside

on dollars could s

actly why you

n at the folder he'd slid across the table. The contract insid

about anyone,

sign that contract, and you

ck. "And what do I get

said. "And a

"And what happens

will

infuriating. "You

let people close enou

ounds l

neliness were a fact

was one text away from disconnection. My mum's latest bill loomed in my inb

ed the

hoice,"

signed an

u w

ur full nam

Marcus

purse, stared at the do

" I said, "about a

ed once

me like furnit

like a partner

decide I w

ll disappoin

ign

We'll marry by Friday." I'll have s

him. "No prop

ansaction, no

his han

ething flicker in his eyes. Not w

it wa

ike they work for you?" I asked as

es

our fak

ciall

arms. "Do I

get five.

g? I move into your penthouse and

hate you,

ve fool

ession shifted. "I don't let myself feel anything

rtable. Because I'm not very goo

n't re

pened, and a black c

ill take you

e not

escort e

He didn't even wait for the door to c

ror. I wore a designer gown, which likely

nning," the s

le someone else's

press, legal witnesses, a judge, and a photographer were

s to tal

"What, no f

swe

hone to my ear.

otion. No attachment. You follow the rules. I k

the others and wal

e wind-up do

now

not afrai

shoul

arp curled i

utes," I said. "You could at

etending a lo

ung

s in front of a

re w

indiff

husband and wife, Julian lean

e whispered ag

e rules, Tessa,

or the cam

the door to what I thought was m

lready insid

wasn'