Chapter 4 The Fine Print of Power

Selena woke before sunrise, the silence of the penthouse thick like fog. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and for a brief second, she forgot where she was.

Then the weight of the ring on her finger reminded her.

Not a dream. Not a nightmare either. Just... reality wrapped in a gold band and a billionaire's name.

She dressed quickly-simple, black, sleek-and stepped out into the sprawling living room. The skyline glittered through the glass walls. New York never slept. Neither did she.

Damien sat by the fireplace, already awake, a laptop open before him and a file in hand. Of course he was working. The man probably scheduled his heartbeats.

"You're early," he said without looking up.

"I couldn't sleep."

He closed the file. "Coffee?"

She hesitated. "You offering? Or ordering?"

Damien smirked. "I don't serve. I delegate."

"And I don't take orders."

They stared at each other-two hurricanes in a glass house, silently daring the other to strike first.

Finally, he gestured to the table. "Sit. We need to talk."

She did-but not out of obedience. Out of curiosity. What fresh hell was next?

He slid a document across to her. She recognized the legal letterhead instantly.

Amendments to the Contract.

"What is this?"

"Clause addendums," he said coolly. "Regarding our living arrangements, media interaction guidelines, and... boundaries."

Selena flipped through the pages. One clause caught her attention.

Clause 9: Physical Intimacy Boundaries - Subject to Mutual Consent.

She raised a brow. "You had your lawyers draft this?"

"I did," he said. "We're going to be under public scrutiny. We need to act the part. Touch, whispers, body language-it sells the story. The public loves a believable lie."

Selena's skin prickled. "So you're putting boundaries around the lie now?"

"I'm giving you control over it."

She studied him. "Why?"

"Because I'm not the monster you think I am."

Her voice came soft. "Aren't you?"

---

Later That Day - The Blackthorn Private Office

The world outside roared, but the office was silent.

Selena followed Damien through the elevator into a marble-lined executive suite. Dozens of staff bowed their heads, greeted them as Mr. and future Mrs. Blackthorn.

It made her stomach turn.

Inside, the office was sleek and cold. Like him. All chrome, glass, and expensive shadows. One wall held nothing but screens-financial news, stock tickers, security cams. Another held a massive portrait.

Of a woman.

She stopped, staring.

"She's beautiful," Selena murmured.

"My mother," Damien said from behind her.

There was something in his voice she hadn't heard before.

Grief.

"She died young?" she asked.

He didn't answer. Just poured himself another drink and walked away.

Selena filed it away. One crack in the fortress.

One weakness.

---

Meanwhile - Unknown Location

A burner phone lit up.

"She's with him now," a voice rasped.

On the other end, a woman laughed. "Oh, sweet Damien. Still pretending love can fix what blood broke."

A pause.

"Proceed with the plan," she whispered. "And when the bride falls... he'll come undone."

---

That Night - Blackthorn Penthouse

Selena sat by the window again, her laptop open, skimming articles on Damien.

There were rumors. Buried lawsuits. Acquisitions that destroyed families.

She recognized one name.

Her father's.

Her eyes widened. He hadn't just bought out Hart Enterprises. He'd crushed it.

On purpose.

She stood, heart pounding.

He'd planned this all along.

The deal.

The contract.

Her.

Selena stormed into his study, the file in her hand.

"You targeted me," she hissed. "This wasn't business-it was personal."

Damien looked up slowly. "You're just realizing that?"

The fury in her chest exploded.

"I agreed to marry you to save my family. But you-this-was never about partnership. It was revenge."

He stood, voice low. Dangerous.

"I told you not to sign things without reading the fine print."

Her breath hitched.

"You destroyed my family-"

"I protected mine," he said, eyes flashing. "Your father signed the deal that bled my mother's company dry. You just never knew who paid the price."

Silence roared between them.

Selena stared, numb. Betrayed. Furious.

"I hate you," she whispered.

Damien's gaze darkened.

"Good," he said. "Hate is real. Let's start there."