Chapter 2

"You mean..." she managed to say, her voice a strangled whisper, "like, the Chandler Group... that Harmon Chandler?"

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. It was a surprisingly warm sound. "If I were him," he said, gesturing around the worn interior, "do you think I'd be driving a 2012 Ford?"

He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a worn leather wallet, handing it to her. "I think you might need some reassurance."

Her fingers trembled as she took it. She flipped it open. The first thing she saw was an ID card. AeroLux Airlines. The photo was of him, his jaw set, his blue eyes piercing even in the tiny, laminated picture. He was wearing a pilot's uniform. And under his name, the title: Captain.

Captain.

The word echoed in her head, a triumphant shout. He was a pilot. He was a real, honest-to-god pilot.

A dizzying wave of relief washed through her, so potent it left her lightheaded. The billionaire, the famous name, it was all just a crazy coincidence. She felt a blush of embarrassment for her suspicion.

"It's a common enough name," he said, as if sensing her thoughts. "Causes a lot of trouble at customs, though."

She handed the wallet back, her hand brushing his. A spark of electricity shot up her arm.

The process at New York's City Hall was a blur. Harmon moved with an unnerving efficiency, as if he'd done this a hundred times before. It was clear he'd made arrangements in advance. They were in and out in under thirty minutes.

When the clerk saw his name on the paperwork, he let out a low whistle. "Harmon Chandler, huh? Shouldn't you be out buying a country instead of getting a marriage license?"

Harmon just smiled, a calm, easy smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll leave that to the other guy."

Watching him, so poised and unbothered, Erin's last sliver of doubt evaporated. He was just a normal man, burdened with a famous name.

They were handed a single sheet of paper. It felt flimsy, impossibly light for the weight of the words printed on it. They were legally married.

Stepping back out into the gray afternoon, Erin's head spun. She felt like an actress in a movie about someone else's life.

Harmon pressed a set of keys into her palm. They were cold and solid. "Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn," he said. "Apartment 15B. Our home."

He glanced at his watch. "I'm sorry. I have a flight to London tonight. I have to get to the airport."

A pang of disappointment hit her, swift and sharp. But she pushed it down. This was a pilot's life. This was what she had wished for.

He leaned in, and for a heart-stopping moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, his lips brushed her forehead, a touch as light as a whisper.

"I'll see you when I get back, Mrs. Chandler."

And then he was gone, turning and walking down the street, his back straight and his stride purposeful, disappearing into the crowd without a backward glance.

Erin stood frozen on the sidewalk, the marriage certificate in one hand and the keys in the other. She felt hollowed out, like she'd just completed some grand, surreal piece of performance art.

She pulled out her phone and googled the name. The first result was a Forbes article. The picture showed a man with the same piercing blue eyes, the same chiseled jaw, but his expression was cold, ruthless. He looked nothing like the man whose old Ford smelled like coffee.

She let out a shaky breath of relief. She was glad she hadn't married that man. She had married a pilot. A real, warm, flesh-and-blood pilot.

She hailed a cab and gave the driver the address, her heart a mix of nervous anticipation and giddy excitement. The apartment building was unassuming, a pre-war brick building on a quiet, tree-lined street.

She let herself into 15B. The door opened into a spacious, light-filled apartment. The decor was minimalist and tasteful, all clean lines and neutral colors. It was exactly her style.

The furniture was new, the tags still on some of the cushions. But the refrigerator was completely empty, a clear sign of someone who was rarely home. It fit the pilot narrative perfectly.

She sank onto the sofa, the soft leather cool against her skin. She looked at the platinum band on her finger. It was starting to feel real.

She was married. To a pilot named Harmon Chandler.

She had no idea that, across the street, parked in the shadows of an old brownstone, a black Maybach sat silent and unseen.

Inside, Harmon watched her on a small screen connected to the apartment's hidden cameras. He saw her explore the living room, run a hand over the back of the sofa, a small, curious smile on her face.

And on his own face, a gentle, possessive smile bloomed.