Chapter 1 The Contract

Nadia's POV

When I first saw Sam Thorne, it was the coldest day of winter New York City had. Though nothing equipped me for the frigid grandeur of his home, I expected luxury. From the floor to the ceiling windows, the picture of a metropolis blanketed in snow contrasted sharply with the austere, clinical décor of the penthouse. Though it was not the kind of business most would identify with, I was here on business.

I inhaled deeply, attempting to calm my anxiety, then followed the butler up the long corridor. Driven by the weight of the secrets I was about to uncover, every stride felt more weighty than the last. My mind flew over the specifics of my task. Sam Thorne's public persona as affluent, distant, and untouchable was about to become my reality.

I stopped in front of a set of large double doors. The butler nodded at me and turned away. Reaching for the handle, I paused to gather myself. Undercover Sam's ex-wife, Venessa, was Nadia Moore, a single-mission undercover agent. I aimed to expose her sinister secrets. My actual goal was Venessa, purportedly carrying proof against Sam that was damning. My cover was the contract marriage; I had to retain the pretense of looking for a fresh start while hiding my actual goals.

Opening the doors, I entered the magnificent office Sam Thorne had waiting for me. Sitting at his desk, he seemed to be detachedly staring out at the city. He was a man who had perfected control; his posture was exact. I shuddered down my spine as he turned to meet me. Dark and fierce, his eyes seemed to cut away all pretenses and see right through me.

"Ms. Moore," he continued, his voice silky but devoid of affection. "I believe you are ready to go forward."

I forced a smile as my new reality pressed down on me. "Mr. Thorne". Yes, I am ready.

He pointed for me to sit, and I moved across from him. Apart from the buzz of the city outside, the room was quiet. Sam locked his eyes on me, computing. Wishing for what lay under his immaculate façade, I could almost hear the gears moving in his head.

Sam started by sliding a contract over the desk and saying, "The terms of our agreement are simple." "You will be my wife by name only. Your main responsibility will be to keep the picture of a perfect pair and show up for social events. You will get financial security and a sizable allowance in return. Are we exactly clear on that?

Though my heart was beating, I nodded. This was it-the start of a high-stakes game in which every action had to be deliberate. indeed, Mr. Thorne.

His eyes never wavered; he seemed not to respond to the formality of my answer. I look for professionalism and discretion. I do not carelessly share my past.

I ate hard." Understood.

Before I could add more, the office door flung open, and a startling woman with a confident gait arrived. She was the picture of refinement, but the instant her eyes locked with mine, a flash of identification-or maybe something darker-passed between us. She fixed me for a second too long before turning to speak to Sam.

"Sam, we have to talk about the Venessa matter," she continued, her voice short and sharp. "I now have fresh data."

Sam's face stiffened, and he turned back to me with an incomprehensible gaze. "Nadia, my assistant here is Rebecca. Rebecca, this will be my soon-to-be wife.

Though polite, Rebecca's grin missed her eyes. "a pleasure."

As Rebecca went on, "Venessa's been active," the room was tense. She is moving in ways that might compromise our whole business.

Sam's face clouded, and he nodded curtly to dismiss Rebecca. "I appreciate you, Rebecca." I will deal with it.

Rebecca left, Sam's eyes went back to me, and I shivered. Though I knew from the beginning that this would not be a simple task, the stakes were already higher than I had expected. The mention of Venessa made me shudder and underlined the weight of the work that has to be done now.

"Ms. Moore," Sam began, his voice turning to one of strained civility. "I want you ready for what is ahead."

A knock at the door came before I could answer; Jake, Sam's buddy and confidante, entered. His presence was warm, real, and immediately disarming, a counterpoint to the frigid tension in the room.

"Sam, you asked for me? Jake looked at me momentarily, then returned to Sam.

"Yes, Jake," Sam responded, his voice somewhat lower. "We have to talk about our next moves."

Once more, Jake's eyes locked with mine, and for a brief instant, there was something in his look-perhaps curiosity, maybe something else. He grinned warmly. "Hello, Nadia. I have heard plenty about you.

Though it felt forced, I answered with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Jake.

Sam's guardedness was a far cry from Jake's laid-back attitude. I was intrigued by Jake's understated appeal as he started talking about the specifics of their forthcoming company trip. He exuded a warmth that seemed so different from the cold, measured world I was suddenly living in.

Soon, the discussion returned to the threat Venessa presented. Sam was all business, his attention limited to the current work. But his words had a faint undercurrent of irritation, suggesting that Venessa was more than just a personal issue; she was a hazardous wildcard in a convoluted game.

Sam and Jake had a few more words regarding a business agreement as the conference came to an end before Sam officially dismissed us. Jake stayed for a moment, his eyes back to me, asking almost no words.

"Do you need help settling in?" Genuine in his tone, Jake asked, "I imagine this is a significant change."

I paused, the weight of my two responsibilities weighing down on me. That's quite nice of you, Jake. I will manage for now, I suppose.

Jake nodded, but he was concerned. "Ask if your mind changes; do not hesitate."

Sam's eyes tracked Jake as he departed-a mix of irritation and something worse. Between them, I could detect a deep-seated tension, an undercurrent of antagonism as unpleasant as yet fascinating.

I felt unsure and alone in the office with Sam. The contract was signed, the game started, and I was now a piece in a convoluted power battle. But the more I watched Sam and his environment, the more I came to notice how complicated nothing appeared to be.

Sam's voice stopped me as I turned to get out. "Nadia, remember the reason you are here. It's not a game here. Each of us has something to guard.

His statements clearly expressed an unwritten threat. My goal was only beginning, and the borders separating my obligation from my feelings were quickly erasing. With secrets and threats hiding around every turn, what lay ahead was a labyrinth of dishonesty and peril, and I was right in the middle.

Feeling a sense of foreboding, I turned back at the soaring edifice as I left the penthouse. The contract marked the start of a trip full of danger and mystery, not only a legal pact. Every stride I made pulled me farther into a web of lies and hidden intentions, where every turn might reveal unanticipated information.

The real test was still to come, and one thing was clear as I got ready to negotiate this perilous road: the game was only starting.