"I have a proposition for you. Let's get married," I said.

Noel Sinclair stared at me as though I had grown a second head. Of course, he would—I had just barged into his office and proposed marriage without any prior appointment.

Noel's lips curled up in dark amusement as he stared me down, even though he was sitting and I was standing. "I'm fairly certain you know who I am, Ms. Tempest."

"Of course, I do. Noel Sinclair of the Sinclair Tech Empire."

And my parents' murderer...

But I wasn’t going to tell him that little part.

"I need a powerful man by my side so I can secure my father's tech company before investors successfully steal it."

It was true—I needed someone like Noel as my husband. My parents had died a month ago, and those hungry sharks hadn't hesitated to jump in on my father's company. Good thing my brother and I were the only ones in his will.

But my brother couldn’t take over.

"What's in it for me?" he drawled, twirling in his office chair while I leaned over with both my palms resting on the surface of his sleek black table.

"You need this," I began, staring straight into his eyes. "You need a wife for public appearances. A woman who's up to your par."

I was up to his par. In fact, my father's tech business was even higher than his, which was why we had always been rivals. The moment I came of age—thirteen—I had been taught who our friends and foes were.

The Sinclairs were at the top of that list of foes.

That’s why I suspected him. That’s why I was certain it was him.

"True," he nodded softly. "I need a wife for public appearances, indeed. But I don't know why it should be you," he said, staring up at me.

I chuckled. "I am as power-driven as you. Ambitious and smart. If you're not looking for all that, then I don't know what you would be looking for."

Noel chuckled, his voice deep. "Your father and I were rivals, Ms. Tempest. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes," I answered without hesitation. I was going to do this. I was going to ruin him the way he had ruined me—by murdering my parents. By making me lose my brother.

"Alright then," he said, picking up the emergency telephone by his side. He tilted his head toward the seat beside me, and I suddenly realized I had been standing this whole time. I sat slowly as he said, "Prepare a marriage agreement contract, Kelvin. I'll send you the details."

He said the last part while staring at me too intensely. I cleared my throat. I hadn't expected him to be this fast. I had expected him to think it over and get back to me the next day or so. But then again, he was making his incoming death easier and quicker, and I had never been more grateful.

Noel offered me coffee. Normally, I wouldn’t have accepted—not knowing if he had poisoned it—but I had watched him make it, and I was thirsty as hell. An hour later, a younger-looking man than Noel knocked and slipped inside the office, staring at me first before his eyes went to Noel. He dropped two enveloped files on the desk. My heart palpitated.

I was doing this. I really was.

Noel took out both files, and after reading through the agreement—which didn't particularly have anything I should complain about—we both signed each other's copy.

"Well then, Ms. Tempest. I guess we're done?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. I nodded.

"We are," I responded, standing up from the seat with the file. "Here's my personal number in case there's anything else you'd like to say." I slid my card toward him, then nodded one last time before turning on my heels and leaving his office.

★

"So, you'll be getting married soon?" Nirvana, my best friend, peered up at me from the rim of her coffee mug.

"Yeah, probably." I twitched my lips. I had been ready for this a week ago—after the month my parents had died—but now, I was all nerves. "It's nothing, anyway," I shrugged. "I'll play the role of a wife for fuck knows how long, then complete my mission and leave."

Nirvana sighed, rolling her eyes. "It's not as easy as you make it sound, Tem."

That was the problem. It wasn’t easy at all. I had never killed an animal, let alone a man. But I needed to do it.

I had to do it.

"But are you certain, though? That Noel Sinclair is the one?" she asked hesitantly.

"He is, Nirvana. I'm certain he is. All my investigations, all angles point to him. And this isn’t just about my parents and avenging them, anyway. It’s about my brother, too."

Nirvana knew about my parents' deaths. We had been friends for six months. I had met her in college, and we had bonded quickly. She had told me her mother was dead and her father was in Europe, occasionally sending her funds as a means of checking up on her. My mother had liked her a lot and taken her in as her own daughter, playing the mother figure for her.

I had told her the day my parents died. We had gone over to the venue of the incident. It was nighttime. A big truck had smashed into their Porsche. The aftermath was so insane that I knew they couldn’t have survived.

But another thing was my twin brother. He had been their driver that night while I had stayed with Nirvana. But when we reached the scene, Tyler was nowhere to be found. The driver’s seat was clean and spotless, as though no one had been driving them.

There were only two theories: either Tyler had fled the scene before the accident, or he had been kidnapped. But then again, I knew for a fact that Noel wouldn’t kidnap my brother, so I would obviously go with the former.

But where had Tyler fled to?

Was he threatened? Did he know something about our parents’ deaths?

The questions remained unanswered, but I knew one thing for sure—marrying Noel Sinclair would open all those doors and answer every single one of them.

It was my wedding day. A week after I'd proposed to Noel, we had worked on the invitations together—or more like, he had done all the work while I just invited those necessary. I'd invited my relatives, both from my father's and mother's side. They thought I was getting married because I was in love with Noel Sinclair.

They should know better.

The designer behind me fixed my veil in my blonde hair, which she had packed into a stylish wedding bun. I was beautiful, I wouldn't deny that, and I wished this beauty was for a different occasion—not signing away my life to someone who could kill me while I slept at night.

But he wouldn't. I would be the first to put a knife to his throat.

"My, my, look how gorgeous you are," Nirvana chuckled as she walked inside the hotel room Noel had booked for us. She was my chief bridesmaid.

"Thank you." I tilted my head up to look at her with a small smile. The designer was finally done with my veil, and she helped me up from the chair.

"This dress is magnificent. Your husband-to-be has amazing taste," Nirvana gushed, and I rolled my eyes.

"Tell me about it," I sighed. I sat on the bed while the dressers slipped my stilettos onto my feet, and after everything was done, we were driven to the church. My uncle was waiting outside the chapel—I had told him to walk me down the aisle because he was the closest thing to a father I had.

"You look beautiful, dear," he said when I intertwined my elbow with his. "Mario would be happy to see his daughter in a wedding gown."

Mario—my father.

"He would," I whispered.

The bell rang, and soft music started playing as Uncle Chase and I walked into the chapel. It was full—really, really full. Noel had played his card perfectly, making everyone believe we were actually in love and getting married for that reason.

I knew why he did it. One wrong move, and the sharks would bite.

We reached Noel, who stood before the altar. My veil was still over my face, but I could see him perfectly. He was handsome, with his hair gelled back and that black mole under his left eye.

"You look beautiful, Tempest," he complimented, and I was momentarily stunned before I remembered he was doing it for the audience.

I smiled a fake sweet smile. "Thank you, Noel. You look gorgeous as well."

Noel chuckled low before we turned to the priest. After the whole ordeal of saying our marriage vows and putting on our rings, it was time to kiss the bride.

I didn’t actually think Noel was going to kiss me, but he surprised me by taking off my veil and pressing a full kiss to my lips.

A sly smirk curved his lips when he pulled away.

After signing marriage certificates and all the other bullshit, it was time for the reception. Noel and I rode in the same car, but it was unimaginably silent—neither of us spoke until we reached the hotel venue for the reception.

That, too, went well—until it was time for the couple’s dance. I had taken off my wedding gown and worn a simpler white dress. The musical band changed the song into something soft and warm, like this was any love story.

Noel wrapped his arms around my waist while I placed mine on his shoulders as we twirled to the music. He leaned down, and my heart left my body when I thought he was going to kiss me again, but he only whispered:

"Didn't know you were so excited to get married to me. I mean, you literally invited all your family members."

His words registered, and I scoffed, but then I chuckled—knowing everyone was watching, searching for the perfect slip.

"Who wouldn’t be eager to get married to you, Noel?" I asked in a whisper. "You are all money. I’m certain my aunties are very excited that I’m getting married to you."

Noel laughed—a low sound—and before I could register the fact that I enjoyed the sound of his laughter, a gunshot echoed outside.

And then—screams.

"Take cover!" Noel yelled before he left my side. But then—men in black everything and masks filtered into the room. Bullets flew, screams made my head almost explode.

Everyone rushed to take cover, though some guests were hit—but not in vital places.

Me? I still stood in absolute shock, unmoving, until Noel rushed to me and ducked, bringing both of us to the ground. I only just realized he had saved me from a bullet that had landed dangerously close to my feet.

Noel was yelling, but his voice had never sounded so distant. Not only were the men in black shooting, but Noel’s men, too. When everything died down and Noel lifted me up, leaning me against the wall, a piece of paper before me caught my eye. I crawled to pick it up.

When I unfurled it and read the contents, my breathing—and my whole body—paused altogether.

"Hello, Tempest. Happy Lovely Wedding Day."

The ride back to Noel's house was silent. Too silent. And even if I liked noises and loud places, this just wasn’t the occasion.

Someone was after me. Or Noel. Or maybe both of us.

But I knew very well this person was looking for me. At me. And I also knew this person wasn’t Noel. Noel didn’t know about the little paper, though. The moment I spotted him coming, I had squeezed it and thrown it away immediately, mixing it with all the food and dirt on the ground.

What a wedding day.

The moment the driver parked the car inside the garage, I opened the door and slipped out. A minute later, I heard the soft sound of his footsteps. I wasn’t sure if Noel noticed my change in mood, and even if he did, he did well not to ask.

Noel walked ahead of me and led us to the elevator that took us up to his penthouse. My breath caught when I saw the interiors. I’d been born and bred with money, but Noel was a whole other brand of rich—and he did well to show it.

I thought Father was richer than the Sinclairs?

"Where's my room?" I turned to him and asked when we stood in the sitting room.

Noel stared at me for a beat, then asked, "What happened in there?"

I blinked, confused for a moment, before it clicked. "It's nothing," I answered, gulping and turning away from him.

He closed the distance between us in two strides and turned my face back to his with a finger under my chin.

"It’s not nothing if you look like life just drained out of you. What did the paper read, Tempest?"

A chill raced down my spine.

He had seen me read the letter.

"It’s nothing," I said firmly, but it came out choked as my throat had suddenly gone painfully dry.

Noel took a deep breath in, his fingers still holding my chin in place. "Don’t tell me fucking nothing, Tempest. I saw you—"

"Saw me what?!" I yelled. "That isn’t part of our deal, Noel! Have you forgotten that we each mind our business when we’re not in public? Now, where’s my room?" I hissed.

His clenched jaw told me he wanted to say more, but he just took a deep breath in and closed his eyes.

"Follow me," he ordered, then turned on his heels, leading us up the stairs.

I followed immediately, and we came to a stop before one of the doors.

"This is your room, and this is mine," he said, gesturing to the two doors beside each other.

His room was beside mine. He was making this way too easy.

"Food is in the kitchen downstairs in case you get hungry." He turned and touched his room’s doorknob but stopped, turning back to face me. "You’ll have to cook, though. The maids don’t stay until night."

He then opened his door and slipped inside. I did the same with a sigh.

I took off the wedding dress and everything else, had a cool bath, then came back to bed. Sleep didn’t come immediately, though—I was still thinking about the letter and whoever might be watching me. The person was perhaps close yet far. I might know them but not at all.

When sleep finally came, nightmares escorted it as well. The usual nightmares I had every night, followed by sleep paralysis.

Since my parents’ deaths, I was never the same Tempest Blackwood they left.

I was a broken one. One left with grief and loss and nightmares.

★

By eight o’clock in the morning, I was ready for business.

Over time, Noel had stacked my wardrobe with things I liked—professional dress shirts and skirts—even though I was just twenty-one. If my mother were to see me, she’d tell me to live a little and not be so uptight like Father. She had never liked Father teaching me and Tyler about business, but I guess they came in handy anyway.

Standing before the wardrobe-sized mirror plastered onto my closet, I took a deep breath in and released it, tucking my hair behind my ear on both sides. Then, I slipped into my loafers, grabbed my handbag, and exited the room.

Of all the things I expected coming out of my room on the first day living with Noel, it wasn’t him sitting on the couch in the living room—acting like an actual husband waiting for his wife.

He turned at the sound of my steps and slowly rose from his chair when I approached him.

"Good morning," he greeted, his voice deep. And I almost forgot the real purpose of marrying him.

Almost.

"Morning," I responded, my voice harsher than it should be. "I'll be bringing my car in today."

It was still in the apartment I’d purchased after Father’s death. It hadn’t been sold yet, and the landlord was taking good care of it.

"There’s no need," Noel stated. "There are plenty of cars for you to use here anyway." He paused, his brows furrowing. "And you’ll need to start going out with bodyguards."

I scoffed. "Bodyguards, plural? Please don’t start with that. I’m not going anywhere with bodyguards. I didn’t when I was still my father’s child, and I definitely won’t now."

He stepped closer into my space. It seemed he liked doing that a lot.

"Probably because when you were still your father’s child, you were immensely protected—and you didn’t even know it," he growled. "You will go out with bodyguards because I don’t know the meaning of the fuckery that happened yesterday, and I’m not letting anything happen to my wife." His nostrils flared dangerously as he spoke, and I didn’t even realize when I nodded.

Maybe it was because of his dominance. As much as I’d been a strong woman, I’d also been a seriously obedient one.

"Okay," I muttered.

"That’ll be for later, though. You’re riding with me this morning."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "No."

"There is no ‘no,’ darling. You will ride with me this morning."

He chuckled, then leaned down to whisper in my ear, "Appearance purposes. Did you forget? Hm, wife?"

He pulled back with a smirk, then brushed past me, walking out of the house.

With a heavy sigh, I followed suit.