Chapter 5 Nolan
“We’ve done our research,” the woman in front of me says. “We understand that your sister is genuinely ill. We are willing to negotiate a package that cares for her as long as you give up any rights to Mr. Nilsson’s assets.”
The lawyer is a pretty redhead with sharp eyes that miss nothing. She had my measure within ten seconds of me walking in. Or she thinks she did. Clearly, she’s playing the same stupid game that Nilsson was. She’s acting like I’m here to con him. It’s irritating as fuck.
But hey, I can play that game too. It turns out that the Bureau has even more power than Erik Nilsson. He’s got to marry me whether he likes it or not. Something about that is deeply satisfying. I like the fact that this is pissing Nilsson off. And it doesn’t hurt that it means I’ve got leverage.
I only registered so that I could get Ellie into the trial. I wasn’t expecting my alpha to actually pay for anything. If Erik Nilsson pays every one of her bills, that’s even better. It won’t even come close to touching what he owes me but I’ll take it.
“I have no interest in Mr. Nilsson’s assets,” I say, keeping my voice level. “Never did.”
Sara Ramirez—Head of Legal according to the nameplate on her desk—raises one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe, given the history.”
“Believe what you want. I registered to make sure Ellie gets the care she needs. That’s it.”
She studies me for a long moment, then nods slowly. “Alright. Let’s talk terms.”
The office is not what I expected from Nilsson’s legal department.
Somehow, I imagined something old: carpets, paneling and legal books, but instead Nilsson Industries owns a tall glass tower in the center of the city.
Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the city, and I can see the bay in the distance, glittering in the afternoon sun.
Everything is minimalist, clean and polished.
I shift in my chair, deeply uncomfortable.
This is Nilsson’s territory. His building, his company, his domain and some stupid, primal part of my brain won’t let me forget it. My skin prickles with awareness. I keep catching myself scanning the room like I’m expecting him to walk in at any moment.
He won’t. Sara made it clear when she called to set up this meeting that Erik preferred to handle the negotiations through intermediaries. Of course he did. God forbid he actually have to get his hands dirty paying me off.
The thing is, I should be relieved. The less I see of Erik Nilsson, the better. But there’s a part of me that’s disappointed.
He might think that the blood test match at the Bureau was somehow a scam but I know it isn’t. And that’s not just because I didn’t arrange it.
I knew it the second I scented him in that meeting room at the Bureau.
Our chemistry is off the charts. It’s been almost a week since we met – the time it took for Nilsson’s crack legal team to work out that they can’t get him out of this – and every single night has been filled with sex dreams. I’ve been waking up panting and hard, my head filled with images of him under me, above me, in me.
I can still smell him, even though he’s nowhere near this office. His scent has imprinted on my brain, and now everything smells like him so that I don’t know if it’s a memory or the actual remnants of his presence in the air.
He’s a dishonest, deceitful, corporate scumbag, but my body doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo.
“Mr. Nilsson has proposed a small civil ceremony,” Sara says, pulling up something on her tablet. “Scheduled for next Saturday at his penthouse. He insists on no publicity.”
“Fine by me.” I lean back in my chair, projecting a confidence I don’t entirely feel. “I don’t want anyone knowing I’m marrying the bastard either.”
Sara’s lips twitch. For a second, I think she might actually smile, then her professional mask slides back into place.
“We’ll need witnesses, of course. The Bureau requires at least two. Will you be bringing any guests?”
“No.”
She looks up from her tablet. “No family? Friends?”
“I’m sure Mr. Nilsson can provide the required witnesses.” I keep my voice flat, uninterested. “I don’t want anyone I care about anywhere near this circus.”
The truth is more complicated than that. Ellie still doesn’t know about any of this. She’ll be furious to learn that I’m selling myself to the man who helped destroy my career just to pay for her medical bills. And I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible.
She’d refuse. She’d insist on finding another way, even though there isn’t one. She doesn’t need that now. Her only job is getting better.
Besides, this is my choice.
“Alright.” Sara makes a note on her tablet. “Now, let’s discuss what you want out of this arrangement.”
“Ellie’s treatment. Fully covered, for life. Everything—specialists, medications, procedures, ongoing care, whatever she needs.” I lean forward, holding her gaze. “And complete confidentiality. She doesn’t know about this, and I want it to stay that way.”
“That can be arranged.” She’s typing as I speak, fingers flying over the screen. “What else?”
“Nothing else. I have no intention of living with Erik, having sex with him, or spending any more time with him than absolutely necessary. Contact must be minimal.”
Sara pauses her typing, looking at me with an expression I can’t quite read. “You understand that the Bureau has certain... expectations regarding prime matches?”
“I understand that forced cohabitation is illegal. I also understand that the Bureau can’t actually compel me to consummate anything.” I smile thinly. “I read the news.”
Something shifts in her expression and her lips turn up the corners. She’s amused by this whole thing for some godforsaken reason. “You’re referring to the Torres-Thorndike case. Yes, they can’t forcibly remove you and make you two spend time together but that doesn’t mean they’re toothless.”
I fold my arms. “I’m not living with him. I’m not having sex with him.” Even if the thought of it has been consuming my every waking moment for days.
“We’ve got a contingency plan,” she says. “Mr Nilsson is prepared to provide you with a separate apartment for the duration of the marriage. One year minimum, after which either party can file for divorce.”
“Separate?”
“The apartment lease will be in both your names and it’s where you will ‘live’ together,” she says using her fingers to make air quotes. “Technically, Erik will have the right to enter when necessary–”
A free apartment for a year doesn’t sound so bad. Nilsson being able to enter whenever he feels like it doesn’t.
“No right to enter.”
She holds up her hands. “Sorry, we need to keep that in. The Bureau is going to be watching closely. They may do spot inspections. Mr Nilsson will not enter unless it is to enable the pretense of the marriage. Otherwise, he will stay away.”
I want to argue but this is better than I was expecting. All we need to do is pretend to be unhappily married any time the Bureau checks in on us. If they never check in, I’ll never see him.
I nod slowly. “That’s fine.”
“He will also keep clothing and personal items at the apartment. You’ll be required to ensure evidence of co-habitation as far as is reasonably possible.
If you have a glass of wine, make sure there are two glasses on the dish rack when you’re done.
Don’t remove his toiletries from the bathroom or his clothes from the hamper. That kind of thing.”
“But he’s not going to be there.” She’s already said but I need to be sure.
“Essentially, yes.” She meets my gaze steadily. “Mr. Nilsson has no intention of interrupting you while you’re there, but the doorman will be monitoring for Bureau visitors. As soon as anyone arrives, he’ll come over and play happy families with you for the duration of their visit.”
Play happy families. I imagine us sitting together on the sofa holding hands while a Bureau official sips tea and asks us intrusive questions. I wonder if I should ask for a list of personal preferences and habits in case they ask.
Instead I just say, “That’s fine with me.”
“Upon dissolution of the marriage, you’ll receive a modest settlement contingent on signing a non-disclosure agreement.”
I try to hide my surprise. I wasn’t expecting anything. “How modest?”
She names a figure. It’s more than I expected. Enough to give me a fresh start somewhere, if I want it. It doesn’t cover the loss of my research but it’s better than nothing.
“That’s acceptable.”
Sara nods, typing again. “There are a few other conditions, most common sense. You’ll be expected to maintain the appearance of a genuine marriage for the duration.
That means no public statements to the contrary, no obvious affairs, nothing that would embarrass Mr. Nilsson or give the Bureau reason to investigate. ”
“Fine.”
“If at any point, despite your best efforts, the marriage becomes public, you may also be required to attend certain events with Mr. Nilsson. Charity galas, corporate functions, that sort of thing. We’ll try to give you advance notice, but there may be occasions where that’s not possible.”
I grit my teeth. The thought of standing next to Erik in some fancy ballroom, pretending to be his happy omega mate while a bunch of rich assholes look down their noses at me... but I can do it. For Ellie, I can do anything.
“Fine.”
“Excellent.”
“That’s it. Any questions?”
I sit and think for a moment before answering, then shake my head.
She taps something on her tablet, and a printer in the corner of the office whirs to life. “I’ll just get these documents printed and bound for you. It should only take a few minutes.”
While we wait, I let my gaze wander around the office. There are personal touches here and there—a Star Wars mug on the desk, a vintage video game poster on one wall, a small collection of action figures on a shelf. Not what I expected from a corporate shark.
“You’re not what I pictured,” I say without thinking.