Chapter 6

Harlow stepped into the massive, marble-floored lobby of the Monroe building. She kept her head down, avoiding the gaze of the receptionists. She walked straight toward the private VIP elevator bank tucked in the back corner.

She pressed the old, yellowed magnetic card against the sleek black scanner.

The scanner flashed red for a second. Harlow held her breath. Then, a sharp beep echoed, and the light turned green. The brushed steel doors slid open smoothly.

Harlow let out a quiet breath and stepped inside.

The elevator shot upward, your stomach dropping slightly from the speed. It stopped at the top floor.

The doors opened. Harlow stepped out and nearly collided with a man in a gray suit carrying a stack of thick files. It was Marcus Thorne, Fitz's executive assistant.

Marcus stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock. He immediately held up a hand to block her path.

"Who are you? You don't have an appointment," Marcus demanded, reaching for the earpiece hidden in his ear to call security.

Harlow didn't blink. She spoke rapidly, her voice sharp and precise.

"Your firm is secretly acquiring Nexus Tech. Their Q3 financial reports are hiding a forty-million-dollar deficit in their offshore R&D accounts."

Marcus froze. The color drained from his face. That data was top-secret. If that leaked, the acquisition would collapse instantly.

In that split second of his hesitation, Harlow sidestepped him. She walked straight to the heavy, double mahogany doors at the end of the hall and pushed them open.

The CEO office was cavernous. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a dizzying view of the Manhattan skyline.

Standing by the window, with his back to the door, was Fitzgerald 'Fitz' Monroe.

He wore a dark charcoal suit that perfectly tailored his broad shoulders. Hearing the doors open, he slowly turned around.

His eyes were a piercing, icy blue. They locked onto Harlow with a heavy, suffocating pressure. He looked like a predator assessing a threat.

Marcus rushed into the room behind Harlow, panting. "Mr. Monroe, I'm so sorry. I'm calling security right now to throw her out."

Fitz raised one hand. A single, silent gesture. Marcus instantly clamped his mouth shut and stepped back.

Fitz's cold gaze remained fixed on Harlow. "Who are you? And how do you know those numbers?" His voice was a low, dangerous rumble.

Harlow didn't show an ounce of fear. She walked confidently to the center of the room and sat down on the expensive black leather sofa. She crossed her legs.

"I am Harlow Holman," she said smoothly. "I know those numbers because the underlying AI architecture Nexus Tech is using was originally designed by me anonymously years ago. I know exactly where its fatal flaw lies. By reverse-engineering the cost to patch that dead end, their R&D deficit has to be a forty-million-dollar black hole. It's simple math."

Fitz narrowed his eyes. He walked over and sat in the single armchair opposite her. His aura filled the space, demanding submission.

"State your business," Fitz said coldly. "My time is billed by the second."

Harlow looked him dead in the eye. "I need you to be my divorce attorney. I need you to crush Beck Chase and leave him with absolutely nothing."

Fitz stared at her for a second. Then, a short, harsh laugh escaped his lips. His eyes were filled with absolute disdain.

"Ms. Holman," Fitz said, his tone dripping with mockery. "This is Wall Street. Not a marriage counseling clinic. The door is behind you. Leave."

He stood up and reached for the intercom button on his desk.

Harlow didn't move a muscle. She threw her trump card onto the table.

"What if I can solve the problem of Fitzgerald Senior forcing you into a commercial marriage? What if I can secure your control over your trust fund?"

Fitz's finger stopped a millimeter above the intercom button. The temperature in the room plummeted. He turned his head slowly, his eyes narrowing into dangerous, lethal slits.

Harlow spoke clearly, laying out the deal. "Be my lawyer. In exchange, I will play the role of your perfect girlfriend. I will handle your grandfather, and you will be free from his arranged marriages."

Fitz walked slowly back to the sofa. He leaned over, placing both hands on the armrests of her chair, trapping her in his shadow.

He was so close Harlow could smell the sharp, clean scent of cedarwood cologne radiating from his skin. Her heart beat faster, but she forced herself to hold his gaze.

"What makes you think you can fool my grandfather?" Fitz asked. His voice was a husky, threatening whisper.

Harlow tilted her chin up. "Because I am not just the Holman heiress. I can also read and fix the obscure AI code he is currently obsessed with."

Fitz's eyes searched her face. He looked at the stubborn set of her jaw and the sharp intelligence burning in her eyes. The air between them crackled with invisible electricity.

Suddenly, Fitz pushed off the chair and stood up straight. He adjusted his cufflinks. The hard, cruel lines of his mouth softened just a fraction, forming a faint, calculating smirk.

"Deal," Fitz said. "But remember, Ms. Holman. During the contract period, this is a transaction of absolute obedience."

Harlow stood up. She extended her right hand.

"Mutual benefit, Mr. Monroe. A pleasure doing business."

Fitz gripped her hand. His palm was hot and strong. The most terrifying alliance in New York had just been forged.