Chloe Monroe adjusted the strap of her worn leather satchel, nervously clutching the folder containing her best friend's "urgent paperwork." She wasn't sure why this task felt so ominous—maybe because anything involving her best friend Jenny often spiraled into chaos. But a free coffee and a guilt-ridden promise of "I owe you big time!" had been enough to get Chloe here, standing in front of the imposing City Hall.
"This better not be another one of your stupid pranks," Chloe muttered under her breath, glancing at her phone. Jenny's last text was cryptic at best: Just drop off the papers and sign where they ask. Quick in and out, promise!
Inside, the building was sterile and bustling. Officials scurried around with clipboards, while couples whispered sweet nothings or argued about the finer points of marriage licenses. Chloe felt out of place in her paint-stained jeans and oversized cardigan. She tried to ignore the curious stares as she approached the front desk.
"I'm here to drop off some papers for Jenny Kline," she said to the clerk, who didn't even glance up before pointing her to the waiting area.
"Sit tight. They'll call you."
With a sigh, Chloe found a seat by the window, where she could watch the city's chaotic rhythm outside. She tried to distract herself by flipping through her sketchpad, but the nervous energy in the room was contagious. The more she waited, the more she felt out of place.
"Miss Monroe?"
Chloe looked up to see a tall man in a crisp suit standing by the doorway. His eyes scanned the room like a hawk until they landed on her.
"That's me," she said, stuffing her sketchpad back into her bag.
He gave her a tight, impatient smile. "This way, please."
Chloe followed him into a small, nondescript office. A long table dominated the space, flanked by two other men in suits. One of them was rifling through a stack of papers, while the other stared intently at his phone. She felt like she'd walked into a high-stakes negotiation.
"Uh, I'm just here to drop these off," she began, holding out the folder.
"Right," the man at the table said briskly. "Sign here, here, and initial here." He pushed a stack of papers toward her without looking up.
"Wait, what exactly am I signing?" Chloe asked, eyeing the dense legal text.
"It's all standard procedure," the man replied, clearly impatient. "Jenny already cleared it. Just a formality."
Chloe hesitated, the pen hovering over the page. But Jenny had assured her this was simple, and she wasn't about to argue with a room full of intimidating men in suits. With a resigned shrug, she signed her name in all the marked spots.
"Great," the man said, gathering the papers. "You're all set."
"Set for what?" Chloe asked, suddenly uneasy.
Before anyone could answer, the door burst open. A tall, broad-shouldered man strode in, his dark hair perfectly tousled, his tailored suit screaming wealth and power. Chloe recognized him instantly—Sebastian Kane, the reclusive billionaire tech mogul.
His sharp blue eyes landed on her, narrowing in confusion. "Who the hell is this?"
"Your wife," one of the men replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"What?" Chloe and Sebastian said in unison.
Chloe's stomach dropped as the words registered. She stared at the man, her brain scrambling for an explanation. "There's got to be some mistake. I'm not—this isn't—"
The man from the table coughed awkwardly. "The marriage license has been signed and processed. Legally, you're now Mr. Kane's wife."
For a moment, silence hung in the room. Then Sebastian turned to her, his jaw clenched. "You've got two minutes to explain what the hell you're trying to pull."
"I'm not pulling anything!" Chloe snapped, her voice rising. "This is some kind of mix-up. I was just doing a favor for my friend—"
"A favor?" Sebastian's tone was incredulous. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
Chloe crossed her arms, her temper flaring despite the absurdity of the situation. "Yeah, you're the guy who just accidentally married a broke artist. Congratulations, honey."
Sebastian stared at her, his expression a mixture of disbelief and fury. Chloe had a sinking feeling that this was only the beginning of her problems.
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