Chapter 56

Chapter 56
Chapter 56
LUCAS
"Two more weeks. I'm wrapping up a project here, then I'm all yours. I want to meet this miracle woman who's got you wrapped around her finger. And the nephew, right? Jose mentioned something about Sophia having a brother you're adopting?"
"Sort of. Adam. He's five. He's been in a coma for the past year after an accident, but he woke up last week. He's... he's incredible, Louis. You're going to love him."
"A ready-made nephew. I can work with that." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Does he like video games? I'm already planning to be the cool uncle who spoils him."
"He's five and just woke up from a year-long coma. I don't think video games are on the immediate agenda."
"Fine, fine. I'll start with dinosaurs or trucks or whatever five-year-olds are into these days." Louis paused. "But seriously, Lucas. I'm proud of you. This whole thing—getting married, becoming a father figure, building a real life outside of work—it's huge. Dad would be proud too."
My throat went tight. "Thanks, Louis. That means a lot."
"Now, about this bachelor party I never got to throw you—"
"Absolutely not."
"Come on! Let me at least take you out for drinks when I get back. We can celebrate your marriage properly."
"I'm married, Louis. The time for bachelor parties has passed."
"Married men can still go out. Sophia seems cool—I bet she wouldn't mind."
I thought about Sophia's jealous declaration in the elevator earlier, her determination to claim me in front of Sofia Lang. "She might mind more than you think."
"Oh?" Louis's interest sharpened. "Is there trouble in paradise already?"
"No. Just... she was jealous today. Of an employee. It was actually kind of hot."
Louis laughed. "You're disgusting. And also completely gone for this woman. God, I can't wait to meet her and tease you mercilessly in person."
We talked for another twenty minutes, Louis catching me up on his projects in Singapore and his plans to eventually move back to New York. By the time we hung up, I was smiling again, the earlier tension from my conversation with Jose mostly forgotten.
I returned my attention to the reports on my desk, trying to focus on quarterly projections and acquisition proposals. But my mind kept drifting back to Sophia. To the way she'd looked at me in the elevator. To the fierce possessiveness in her voice when she'd announced her intentions to Sofia.
To the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she was developing real feelings for me.
I could use this. I knew I could. If I spent time with Sofia—purely professional, completely appropriate—and Sophia got jealous again, it might push her to admit how she really felt. Might force a conversation about whether this was still just a contract or if it had become something more.
It was manipulative. I knew that. But I was desperate. Desperate to know if Sophia loved me back, if she wanted this to be permanent, if I had any chance at all of keeping her beyond the terms of our agreement.
My phone buzzed with a text. Sophia.
Adam had a great physical therapy session today. Dr. Gray thinks he'll be discharged by Friday. Can we start setting up his room?
I smiled and typed back immediately: Of course. Whatever he needs. I'll have Martha coordinate with you.
Her response was a simple heart emoji, and I stared at it for a long moment, trying to decipher if it meant anything beyond casual affection.
God, I was pathetic. Analyzing emojis like a teenager with his first crush.
But that's what Sophia had reduced me to. A grown man, CEO of a billion-dollar company, giggling after office sex and obsessing over whether his wife actually loved him.
And I didn't even care. Because the alternative—a life without Sophia and Adam—was unthinkable.
So I'd do whatever it took. Be as manipulative as necessary. Use Sofia's presence to make Sophia jealous, use the possibility of pregnancy to tie her to me, use every tool at my disposal to ensure she stayed.
It wasn't noble. It wasn't even particularly ethical. But it was honest, at least to myself.
I was in love with my contract wife, and I was going to make sure she never left me.
No matter what it took.
Even if it made me the kind of man I'd never thought I'd become.
Even if it meant crossing lines I'd sworn I wouldn't cross.
Because losing Sophia wasn't an option I was willing to consider.
Not now. Not ever.
She was mine. And I was going to make sure she stayed that way.
Whatever it took.