Chapter 1
Chloe Lancaster gripped the armrests of her leather office chair, staring at the proposal on her desk. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into the material as she tried to process the absurdity of what she was reading. This was not how her Monday morning was supposed to go.
“A marriage contract,” she muttered, the words tasting sour as they left her lips.
Across from her sat her father, Robert Lancaster, his usual air of authority hanging between them like a fog. He tapped a pen against the edge of the desk, his salt-and-pepper eyebrows arched in a silent challenge, daring her to protest.
“You can’t be serious,” Chloe said, finally meeting his gaze. The room felt smaller, suffocating, as if the walls of her corner office were closing in.
“This is bigger than you, Chloe. Bigger than any of us, frankly. The merger with the Carter family is crucial to both businesses,” Robert said, his voice calm, controlled. “Your marriage to Jake Carter will unify our interests, smooth over decades of competition. It’s the most logical move.”
“Logical?” She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. “You’re asking me to marry Jake Carter. The same Jake Carter who once superglued my locker shut in high school and then told everyone I cried about it for a week?”
Her father sighed, as if Chloe’s objections were nothing more than an inconvenience, a minor roadblock on the way to sealing this deal. “That was years ago. You’re both adults now.”
Chloe stood up abruptly, walking over to the massive floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the Manhattan skyline. Below, the city buzzed with life, cars honking, people rushing to work, oblivious to the storm brewing in her office. She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to stop the headache that was threatening to form.
This was madness. Jake Carter? Of all the people. The one person who had always been a thorn in her side, someone who never took anything seriously. Sure, he was talented—his family’s watchmaking business, Carter Chronos, was a small, respected name in the luxury world—but a marriage? A contract?
She took a deep breath, turning to face her father again. “There has to be another way. This isn’t the 18th century. We don’t need to marry off daughters to secure a business deal.”
Robert’s expression softened, just for a moment. “Chloe, I wouldn’t ask this of you if there were another option. The competition is fierce, and both of our companies are struggling. This deal could save us. It’s a partnership, not just a marriage.”
A partnership. That word lingered in the air. Chloe prided herself on being a savvy, independent businesswoman, the head of Lancaster Diamonds, one of the most prestigious jewelry companies in the world. She didn’t need anyone, let alone Jake Carter. But she also couldn’t ignore the weight of responsibility that came with being a Lancaster.
“And Jake?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest. “What does he think about all this?”
Robert leaned back in his chair, a small smirk appearing on his face. “Jake has agreed, on the same terms you will. This isn’t any easier for him, I assure you.”
Chloe huffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “And what exactly are these terms?”
“The marriage lasts one year,” her father said, holding up a finger as if counting off a list. “At the end of that year, the merger will be finalized. If you both decide to annul the marriage, you can go your separate ways. No strings attached.”
She stared at him, waiting for the catch. There had to be one. This was too insane to be that simple.
“And what if we can’t stand each other?”
“Then you’ll have to find a way to stand each other for the sake of the company,” Robert replied, his voice firm once more. “But I have a feeling you’ll manage.”
Chloe sank back into her chair, staring down at the marriage contract. The ink seemed to blur on the page, her mind racing through all the implications of what was being asked of her. Marry Jake Carter. Play the part of the dutiful wife for a year. Smile for the cameras and attend family functions. And at the end of it, walk away.
It was a high-stakes game, one she hadn’t asked to play. But if there was one thing Chloe knew, it was how to rise to a challenge. She never backed down, and she certainly wasn’t going to let Jake Carter or anyone else think she was incapable of making this work. Even if it killed her.
“Fine,” she said finally, her voice cold and detached. “I’ll do it.”
Her father’s smile widened, but Chloe couldn’t bring herself to return it. In the back of her mind, one thought kept echoing: “What have I just agreed to?”
As she picked up the pen to sign the contract, her phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced at the screen and groaned. Of course it was Jake.
“Ready to become Mrs. Carter? Let’s do this quick and painless.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. Quick and painless? Not with him, it wouldn’t be.
And so it began.
