Olivia Brooks’s POV

The phone buzzed in my hand again and my chest tightened as if the tiny screen carried a bomb ready to go off.

With trembling fingers, I unlocked it.

(You have 24 hours. Don’t waste my time.)

My throat immediately went dry.

I knew that the message could only be from one person.

Alexander Cole!

It just had to be him because who else could send a message that cold and commanding, as if my whole life was nothing more than a deadline on his calendar?

I dropped the phone onto the couch and covered my face with my hands.

Twenty-four hours!

That was all I had to decide if I would tie myself to a man who didn’t believe in love. A man who saw me as nothing more than a convenient choice.

And the worst part was that I was considering it.

***

The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the fridge. I tried to breathe slowly but my thoughts kept running in circles.

FIVE MILLION DOLLARS!!!!

The number would not leave my head because it meant a lot of things.

It meant Ethan’s treatment would continue. It meant no more eviction notices. It meant freedom from the weight that had been crushing me for so long.

But it was freedom with a golden leash and that leash was tied to the wrist of Alexander Cole.

I walked into Ethan’s room.

He was asleep on his side, his thin shoulders rising and falling under the blanket.

His once thick hair was now patchy. Even in sleep his small hand clutched the stuffed bear I bought him years ago.

My chest ached so badly I thought it would split in two.

How could I look at him and not take the deal?

And how could I look at myself in the mirror if I did?

***

The next morning I dragged myself out of bed after barely an hour of sleep. I made weak coffee and went to work at the diner.

My uniform still smelled of grease no matter how many times I washed it.

The morning rush had barely begun when Mrs. Carter, my landlord, walked in.

Her sharp eyes found me right away.

“Olivia,” she said firmly. “We need to talk.”

Dread filled my stomach. “Can it wait until after my shift?”

"No!" She shook her head. “Your rent is three months late. I can’t keep waiting.”

Her words cut deep. I wanted to tell her I was trying, that I wasn’t lazy, that life had just beaten me down. But no words came.

I only nodded.

“I’ll get it to you soon.” I said but she didn’t look convinced.

"You have till tomorrow evening, I do not want to hear any excuses or you will find yourself and your things out on the street." She warned and turned to leave.

As she walked out my phone buzzed in my apron pocket.

I brought out my phone and saw it was another text from the unknown number.

I took a deep breath and my stomach twisted as I read it.

(Tick-tock, Miss Brooks.)

Heat rushed to my face.

He was obviously watching me and somehow he always knew when to push.

***

By the time my shift ended my legs ached and my heart felt heavy.

I walked home in the cold air. Inside, Ethan was on the couch scrolling through his tablet.

“Hey, Liv,” he said with a tired smile. “How was work?”

“Busy. Same as always.” I forced a smile.

He frowned. “You look upset.”

I brushed his hair back.

“Just tired.” I lied.

I wanted to tell him everything, I wanted to crumble and lay all my burdens on him but I couldn’t.

He would never let me sacrifice myself for him.

So I stayed silent.

***

That night after having our meager dinner and putting Ethan to sleep, I sat at the kitchen table with the contract in front of me and began to read page after page of strict rules.

No love.

No intimacy.

Only public appearances.

Divorce after twelve months.

I took a deep breath and ran my finger over the empty line waiting for my name.

Olivia Brooks.

I closed my eyes and imagined what it would look like signed.

I imagined becoming Olivia Cole. Pretending in front of cameras. Pretending in front of Ethan. Pretending in front of the world.

Could I live a lie for one year.

My phone buzzed again.

(Time is running out. Decide.)

I closed my eyes. The words echoed in my head like a drumbeat.

I was still caught in my indecision when I heard Ethan coughed from the other room. A deep, weak cough that broke me in half and in that moment, my decision was already made.

***

The next morning I stood in front of the Cole Empire building. The skyscraper rose above me, its glass walls shining in the sun.

The contract was in my bag and it was wrinkled from my gripping it too much.

The revolving doors opened and I stepped inside.

My heart pounded as the elevator carried me to the fifty-ninth floor.

When the doors slid open his PA was waiting with that same unreadable smirk.

“Miss Brooks,” he said. “Mr. Cole has been expecting you.”

Expecting me? As if he already knew what I would decide.

I lifted my chin, trying to look stronger than I felt.

“Take me to him.”

I figured that since my decision was already made, the least I could do was face it with my head held high.

The PA led me to the office door. My hand shook as I pushed it open.

Alexander Cole looked up from his desk. His storm-grey eyes locked onto mine, looking even more handsome than yesterday.

“Miss Brooks,” he said smoothly. “So… what’s your decision?”

***