The elevator ride down to the lobby was the longest of Chloe's life. Standing in awkward silence next to Sebastian Kane—her newly minted billionaire husband—she could feel the tension rolling off him in waves. His jaw was clenched tight, his arms crossed as he stared straight ahead.
Chloe fidgeted with the strap of her satchel, the silence suffocating her. "For the record," she muttered, unable to help herself, "this wasn't exactly a great day for me either."
Sebastian shot her a sideways glance, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is this inconvenient for you? Being married to a billionaire must be such a hardship."
Chloe snorted. "You mean being married to an egotistical control freak? Yeah, it's a blast."
The elevator dinged, and Sebastian stepped out without another word. Chloe hurried after him, her shorter legs struggling to keep up with his long strides. He moved with the precision of a man who was always in control, his expensive suit somehow immune to the chaos surrounding him.
Outside, a sleek black car idled at the curb. The driver opened the door, and Sebastian gestured for Chloe to get in.
"I'm not getting in that car," she said, crossing her arms.
Sebastian turned to her, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Do you have another way of getting to my office? Or are you planning to fix this mess from the sidewalk?"
"Your office?" Chloe asked, incredulous. "Why would I go there?"
"Because we need to sort out the terms of this… arrangement," Sebastian said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Unless you have a better idea?"
Chloe hesitated. She didn't want to spend another second with him, but she also didn't want to leave this unresolved. With a resigned sigh, she climbed into the car, muttering under her breath about control freaks and their fancy cars.
The ride was mercifully short, though the silence between them was as heavy as ever. Chloe stared out the window, trying to process the absurdity of her situation. An accidental marriage to a billionaire? This kind of thing only happened in bad rom-coms or clickbait headlines.
When they arrived at Kane Tower, Chloe was momentarily distracted by the sheer opulence of the building. Glass and steel shimmered in the sunlight, and the lobby was a gleaming expanse of marble and modern art.
Sebastian didn't pause to admire the view. He led her to a private elevator that whisked them up to the top floor, where his office was situated. The doors opened to reveal a sprawling space with floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist furniture, and an air of ruthless efficiency.
"Sit," Sebastian commanded, gesturing to a leather chair in front of his desk.
Chloe bristled at his tone but sat down anyway, refusing to let him intimidate her.
Sebastian sank into his chair on the other side of the desk, steepling his fingers as he regarded her. "Here's how this is going to work," he began.
"Wow, we're off to a great start," Chloe said, leaning back in her chair. "Let me guess—your way or the highway?"
Sebastian ignored her sarcasm. "This marriage is temporary. We'll file for an annulment or divorce as soon as the legalities allow. Until then, we need to maintain appearances."
"Appearances?" Chloe echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"My public image is already under scrutiny," Sebastian explained, his tone clipped. "The last thing I need is a scandal. A sudden marriage, followed by a quick divorce, would raise too many questions."
"So what are you suggesting? That we play house?"
"Exactly," Sebastian said. "For the next three months, you'll stay in my home and act as my wife. No one outside this office needs to know the truth."
Chloe blinked. "Three months? Are you insane?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
Chloe opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again. She didn't. Not unless she wanted to be dragged through a legal nightmare and plastered across every tabloid in the country.
Sebastian smirked, clearly interpreting her silence as victory. "Good. Now, here are the rules—"
"Rules?" Chloe interrupted. "Oh, this just keeps getting better."
"Rule one," Sebastian continued, undeterred. "No discussing our arrangement with anyone. Rule two: You'll accompany me to all necessary events and act like a devoted wife. Rule three: Stay out of my way the rest of the time."
Chloe folded her arms, glaring at him. "And what do I get out of this?"
Sebastian leaned back in his chair, his gaze cold and calculating. "What do you want?"
Chloe hesitated, caught off guard by the question. She thought about her struggling art career, the bills piling up at home, the dream of one day owning her own gallery. But the idea of asking him for anything made her stomach turn.
"Nothing," she said finally. "I don't want anything from you."
Sebastian arched an eyebrow. "You're surprisingly principled for someone who just accidentally married a billionaire."
"And you're surprisingly arrogant for someone who thinks he can boss people around," Chloe shot back.
Sebastian's lips twitched, as if he were fighting a smile. "Three months, Miss Monroe. Think you can handle that?"
Chloe stood, leaning over the desk to glare at him. "Watch me, Mr. Kane."
Sebastian's smirk deepened. "This should be interesting."
---