I didn't sleep.
At 5 AM, I gave up trying. Made coffee. Stared at the city waking up below me. Thought about everything that could go wrong.
Declan found me on the balcony.
"You're up early."
"Never went to sleep."
He wrapped his arms around me from behind. Kissed my shoulder. "Me neither."
"Scared?"
"Terrified." He rested his chin on my head. "You?"
"The same."
We stood there, watching the sun rise, holding each other.
"Whatever happens," he said, "I'm glad I had this. Had you. Even if it ends today."
"It's not going to end today."
"How do you know?"
"Because I won't let it."
We got ready in silence.
I chose a navy suit professional, serious, nothing that would distract. Declan wore charcoal grey, his armor firmly in place. By 8:30, we were in the car, heading toward Kane Tower.
He held my hand the whole way.
"Remember," I said, "the truth. Just tell them the truth."
"The truth."
"And Declan?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
He kissed me. "I love you too. Let's go win."
The boardroom was all glass and steel.
Long table. Fourteen chairs. Fourteen people who held Declan's future in their hands. They watched us enter with expressions ranging from curious to hostile.
Julian sat at the far end, smiling.
"Ah, the happy couple. Right on time."
Declan ignored him. Pulled out a chair for me, then sat beside me. Our hands stayed linked on the table.
Helen Park, the senior board member, called the meeting to order.
"We're here today because Julian has raised serious concerns about Declan's leadership. Specifically, about the nature of his marriage." She looked at us. "Julian, the floor is yours."
Julian stood. Opened a folder. Smiled.
"Thank you, Helen. I'll keep this brief." He pulled out documents. "These are copies of a contract between Declan Kane and Olivia Chen, signed approximately one year ago. It's a marriage contract. For money. Three million dollars, to be exact."
Murmurs around the table.
"The contract specifies a one-year arrangement. Separate bedrooms. No intimacy required. A business transaction, pure and simple." Julian looked at Declan. "My cousin married a stranger to fulfill our grandfather's will. He lied to all of you. He lied to the board. He lied to everyone."
He set the papers down. Smiled again.
"I rest my case."
Silence.
Fourteen pairs of eyes turned to us. Judgment. Curiosity. Disappointment.
Helen spoke first. "Declan, do you have anything to say?"
Declan stood. Squeezed my hand once, then released it.
"Everything Julian said is true."
More murmurs.
"We signed a contract. It was a business arrangement. I needed a wife to fulfill my grandfather's will. Olivia needed money to save her family. We made a deal."
Julian's smile widened.
"But that's not the whole story."
Declan looked at me. I stood, moved to his side.
"The contract was real," he continued. "The arrangement was real. But somewhere along the way, something changed." His voice steadied. "I fell in love with my wife. Not because I had to. Because I couldn't help it."
I spoke next. "I didn't plan this. I didn't want it. Falling in love with Declan was the last thing I expected when I signed that contract." I met their eyes. "But it happened. And it's the best thing that ever happened to me."
Declan took my hand again.
"We could have hidden. We could have lied. But that's not who we are. Not anymore." He looked at each board member in turn. "If you want to remove me as CEO, do it. But know that this marriage this love is the most real thing in my life.
Silence stretched.
Then Helen spoke. "Julian, do you have anything else?"
Julian's smile had faded. "This is they're performing. This doesn't change the fact that he deceived the board "
"It changes everything." Helen's voice was firm. "A man who can admit vulnerability, who can love, who can be honest even when it costs him? That's the kind of leader we need."
Other heads nodded around the table.
"I move we table this discussion," another board member said. "No action required."
"Seconded."
Julian stood. "You can't be serious. He lied to you. He "
"He made a private arrangement that became a real marriage." Helen looked at him coolly. "Unless you have evidence that this love is fake which I doubt you do I consider this matter closed."
Julian's face went red. Then white. Then red again.
"Thank you for your concerns, Julian." Helen smiled. "They've been noted. This meeting is adjourned.
We walked out into the hallway, hand in hand.
Declan stopped. Pulled me into his arms.
"We did it."
"We did it."
He kissed me. Long and slow and full of everything. I didn't care who saw.
When we pulled apart, Julian was standing there.
"Congratulations," he said flatly. "You win. For now."
"This isn't a game, Julian."
"Everything's a game." He looked at me. "Enjoy it while it lasts. People like us don't get happy endings."
He walked away.
I turned to Declan. "Is he right?"
"No." Declan cupped my face. "People like him don't get happy endings. People like us we make our own."
He kissed me again.
And for the first time, I believed him.
Margaret met us in the hallway.
"Crisis averted, I take it?"
"Crisis averted." Declan grinned—actually grinned. "Call the Tribune. We're giving them an exclusive."
"We are?" I asked.
"We are. The whole story. Contract, love, everything." He looked at me. "No more hiding. No more secrets. Just the truth."
I kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too. Let's go tell the world."
That night, we stood on the balcony.
The city spread below us, a million lights, a million lives. I leaned against Declan, his arms around my waist, his chin on my shoulder.
"Happy?" he asked.
"Ridiculously."
"Good."
A pause. Then: "Olivia?"
"Mm?"
"I want to do this properly. The wedding, I mean. A real one. With people who matter. With vows that mean something."
I turned in his arms. "You want to marry me again?"
"I want to marry you for real. Not because of a contract. Not because of my grandfather's will." His eyes held mine. "Because I can't imagine my life without you."
I kissed him. Long and slow and full of everything.
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes, I'll marry you again. For real this time."
He lifted me, spun me around. I laughed, and he laughed, and the city glittered below us like it was celebrating too.