7. Lena #2
I take the papers. My eyes skim the text, but the numbers hit me like a punch.
Ten million dollars for every year of marriage.
And a generous safety net: twenty thousand dollars a month, post-divorce.
It’s absurd. And strangely… flattering. I swallow hard and look up, trying to keep the shock out of my voice.
This morning, when Dominic couldn’t find me, I spent a few hours at the shelter with Valerie. I told her about the whole marriage plan, and that I’ll finally have enough money to help her. But I hadn’t imagined this kind of money.
“This is real? You’d give me all that... just for being your wife? And still take care of me when I’m not?”
He gestures gently toward the couch, inviting me to sit. My fingers tremble around the papers, the numbers still echoing in my head. I lower them into my lap and let them slide from my hands. They rest there, forgotten, as I press my palms together between my knees, trying to steady the tremble.
Dominic sits nearby, not crowding me, leaning slightly forward, giving me room to breathe. Time to take it all in.
Then, quietly, he reaches out and takes one of my hands in his. His touch is warm. Grounding. His thumb brushes lightly across my knuckles, then up to my cheek, tracing a soft line across my skin, a silent reassurance.
“From the moment you became my fiancée, your life changed. For good. This document is a protection. A guarantee. I want you to be safe no matter what you decide in three years.”
“Three years?” I echo, still trying to wrap my head around it. I flip through the pages again, my fingers stiff. The words blur.
“The contract works in three-year cycles,” he explains gently. “At the end of each one, you’re free to choose whether we keep going... or walk away.”
“So I have to stay married to you for at least three years?” My voice is quiet, but it lands between us like a stone.
Dominic nods once. “Yes. But I’m not asking you to endure them, I want you to live them. With me.”
He watches me closely, as if those words matter more than anything written on paper.
Then he hesitates. His tone softens. “There’s also a clause near the end. About children. If you agree to have one, the compensation is a hundred million. On top of everything else.”
“A hundred million to have your baby and then divorce you?” I ask, stunned.
“You’d get to decide. The child could live with me.”
I sit up straighter. “That’s the dumbest legal clause I’ve ever heard.”
My voice catches. 'What made you think I’d just leave my own child?'
He lifts his hands slightly, palms up, measured. Controlled. “It’s just a formal clause. Legal language. I know it sounds cold, but this is about protecting you, too. Everything can be rewritten. The point is that if you choose to have a child with me, you’ll be protected. Fully covered.”
He draws in a breath, then lets it out slowly, his gaze distant.. “And our child would inherit all this. Just as I inherited it from my father.”
My jaw tightens. My fists clench in my lap. “Damn it, Dominic. You think like a feudal lord. My child will live however they want, not chained to some legacy.”
“So… you’re not completely rejecting the idea of a child?” Dominic’s voice is teasing, soft, but still measured.
“Oh, come on. That’s not what I said.” I let out a nervous laugh and set the contract on the table with a soft thud.
“I’ll think about a few changes. Minor ones. I hope you’ll accept them.”
My voice is calmer now, though I still feel the pressure behind my ribs.
“Your offer is...” I pause, searching for the right words. My hands stay folded tight in my lap. “Very generous. Financially, I mean.”
The words feel awkward in my mouth, too formal for how raw this moment is. “Thank you. I mean it.”
I meet his gaze for a second, then draw a breath and push forward, a little more grounded now.
“We still need to talk about the rest, what you expect from me. And... how do you plan to help me? With what you said you would, back in the car, when you proposed our arrangement.”
He leans back, exhaling slowly, as if he’s been waiting for this.
“It’s been a long day and night. We can go over the rest tomorrow, after some rest. There’s still plenty to cover.”
“I’d rather do it tonight.” I cross my arms, then uncross them. My nerves won’t let me sit still.
“I want us to make things clear tonight, what each of us expects,” I say, taking a long sigh. “I don’t want to be caught off guard by anything. What exactly is it that I’m supposed to do?”
Dominic lets out a quiet, amused breath. “Oh, Lena. And here I was, worried I’d come off too pragmatic by showing up with a lawyer’s contract like some cold executive.”
He gestures lightly toward the papers, then back at me. “Turns out, you’re the one who wants every detail nailed tonight.”
He shifts a little closer, not intruding, just gently present. “Can’t we wrap our union in something softer? I could order dinner. Open some wine. You take a long, hot bath. I’m supposed to be at the club by midnight, but...”
He pauses. The smile that follows is softer now. He watches me closely, like he’s trying to catch the exact moment it sinks in. “But I think I’d rather be here. You’re my almost-bride. You deserve all of me tonight.”
His whole body seems to relax, like something in him finally unclenches now that I’ve accepted the contract.
Great. And here I am, fully aware this is the moment where the practical part of a convenience marriage begins.
“Come on, Dominic. Let’s get the formalities out of the way first. Then we can relax. We still have business to discuss. Please.”
I ground him, pull him back to what this actually is. No fantasies about wives, sex, or babies. Just the deal.
“Alright. If that’s what you want… let’s lay it all out. First of all, no one in my family can know the truth. They’re traditional. They wouldn’t understand.”
“Agreed. Same with mine. Though my dad’s hard to fool. So, who will know?”
“Our friends. Lexi, of course. Gabriel and Damien. And Alice, she’ll help with the press and our public image. That’s it. Anyone else on your side?”
It’s time to mention Valerie. But the shelter isn’t my secret to share. The fewer people who know, the better.
“No. No one else,” I say, slipping my crossed fingers into my pocket.
“My part’s simple, Lena. You’ll have all the benefits of being my wife, shared expense account, full access to hotel services, a car, and a driver. Your time is yours. You can spend it however you want, buy whatever you want.”
“I’d rather have a personal account. I’ve lived independently my whole life, this is already going to be enough of an adjustment.”
“Of course. I’ll transfer a monthly allowance to your personal account. If you need more, just let me know. You’ll also have a card for our joint account. You decide how to use it.”
“You mean in addition to the ten million?”
He gives a small nod. “Hmm, I should explain. The contract outlines compensation for each year of marriage and the amounts in case of divorce. It doesn’t cover how you’ll live as my wife.”
I swallow hard. That part, your life has changed , I should’ve paid more attention when he said it earlier.
“And what do you expect from me?”
Something shifts in his expression, the faintest spark in his eyes, a warmth I haven’t seen before.
“Do you think you can plan the wedding with my mother? She’d love that.”
His whole face seems to soften at the mention of her. Then he pauses, just a second too long. “And maybe... don’t tell her right away that you don’t want kids. Who knows...”
He watches me. I don’t blink.
“The thought of a grandchild would make her really happy. And, of course, you’ll need to act, at least in front of her, like you love me. Like you’re the woman who finally tamed me. Can you do that?”
I suddenly realize that while it might be easy to play the possessive fiancée around other women, doing it in front of his family is something else entirely. I hate lying to mothers. Even for a good reason. This won’t be easy, and it clearly means something to him.
“I’ll do everything that’s up to me, of course. I think... that part will be fine.”
Dominic’s smile comes slowly, like it’s catching up with him.
Not ironic, like I’ve seen before. It’s warm, surprisingly warm.
Like my answer meant something to him. For a second, he looks different.
Softer. Like I’m seeing a side of him he doesn’t usually let anyone see.
It’s a rare expression. I’m not even sure I’ve seen it before. So this is his soft spot, his mother.
And somehow, without meaning to, that smile slips past my guard, touching a part of me I usually keep out of reach. I’m not sure if I want to let it in... or push it away. But we still haven’t touched the complicated part.
“And about the women, how exactly am I supposed to keep them away from you? And the tabloids?”
"Just don’t give anyone a reason to doubt this is real. Be affectionate in public. Touches, kisses… anything that gives you an excuse to put your hands on my body."
He pauses, watching me carefully. I meet his gaze, unmoved.
"And obviously, no other men. You’ll attend or host events with me. I don’t care how possessive you want to be. As far as the public’s concerned, I’m yours.”
The word yours lands low, beneath the waist, not like fire, but a tension that spreads fast. Lying to our parents suddenly feels like the easy part.
How am I supposed to hold it together with Dominic glued to my side, the man worshipped by every woman in his orbit, and for miles beyond?
He steps closer, silent at first. Then he leans in, his voice low and warm against my ear.
“Whatever happens, Lena... you won’t face it alone. Not while you’re mine.”
I know he means it to comfort me. But all it does is stir something restless and tight.
I glance at him from the corner of my eye, taking in the confident cut of his profile.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Dominic Monti is the kind of man who doesn’t just walk into your life; he rearranges it.
Even in a fake marriage. And that’s what really scares me.
Because I already feel like I can’t escape him.