Chapter 2: Sign It

The next day, Sophia stood outside Room 3008 at the Plaza Hotel, running a high fever.

Yesterday's rain, combined with discovering the true face of her boyfriend of one year, had left her trembling uncontrollably.

Just after getting out of the Uber, she'd received a termination email from her business partner. The penalty: seven figures.

She dug her nails into her palm, forcing herself to stay lucid.

Behind that door was the blind date Mia Carter had arranged—a Columbia University distinguished professor and head of the Crawford conglomerate, Sebastian Crawford.

The only lifeline that could free her from the Windsor family and Evan's entanglement.

Sophia took a deep breath and was about to knock when a wave of alcohol stench hit her from behind.

A drunk, overweight man stumbled forward and blocked the door.

"Sophia Delgado, what the hell are you doing here!"

Sophia's brow furrowed as she recognized him—Hank Donelly.

Her stepmother Mrs. Windsor had forced this so-called blind date on her to secure a real estate investment deal.

"Mrs. Windsor told you to wait in 3006. Instead you're running around here trying to seduce some random man?!"

"Come with me right now. You're keeping me entertained tonight, or forget about seeing a dime of that investment!"

Hank lunged for Sophia's shoulder, emboldened by liquor.

Disgust surged through her.

Sophia tried to pull back, but the fever had drained her strength. Her feet wouldn't move.

Click.

The suite door opened from inside. Sebastian Crawford stepped out.

A black dress shirt stretched tight across his chest, the top two buttons undone. A sharp black overcoat hung from his shoulders, making them look even more imposing.

One well-defined hand shot out and intercepted the groping palm.

Crack.

Bone snapped. A scream followed.

"Ahhh!"

Sebastian twisted Hank's wrist backward with one hand until it broke.

Then he drove his knee into Hank's gut.

Two hundred pounds of flesh slammed into the hallway wall and crumpled to the floor.

Hank clutched his stomach, wailing.

Sebastian pulled out a pristine white handkerchief and wiped his fingers.

The side that had touched Hank got tossed into the trash.

"My guest. And you think you're fit to touch her?"

His voice was low and hoarse, chilling.

Before Sophia could process what happened, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Evan Parker came running, panting.

Last night Sophia had walked out and cost him twenty million dollars.

He'd spent all day tracking her down, finally using her phone's location to find this place.

When he saw Sophia standing with a stranger who radiated authority, old and new grievances boiled over. He shouted.

"Sophia Delgado, you've got some nerve!"

"Just to spite me, just to make sure I don't get that money, you actually went and found another man!"

"Are you that cheap?! Can't survive without a man, can you?!"

Sophia stared at the man a few steps away.

The man she'd relied on for a year. The man she'd been willing to strip for.

While another man tried to assault her, Evan stood by, blind to everything except his pathetic need for control and his rage over money.

Her stomach churned harder. The fever made Sophia's vision swim. Her body swayed.

A large palm steadied her waist.

The warmth of his hand seeped through the fabric.

Sophia's breath caught.

A crisp cedarwood scent enveloped her.

Sebastian turned to shield her from the chaos outside.

He removed his overcoat with one hand and draped it over Sophia's shoulders, his fingertips grazing her earlobe.

The coat still held his body heat and a faint trace of that scent.

He walked to the table, picked up a document and a black pen, and handed them over.

"Looks like your problems are bigger than I thought."

"Since we both need a legal arrangement to solve them, sign this."

"Tomorrow morning, nine a.m. Manhattan City Hall. We get married."

Sophia looked down.

A marriage contract?!

Mia said this guy just needed to go through the motions. Why does he have a whole contract ready?!

Sophia's nails bit into her palm. She met his eyes and took half a step back.

"Mr. Crawford, why me?"

"Short on women, or do you think I'm easy to manipulate?"

"I need a wife in the legal sense to put an end to tedious dinners."

"One year. You're suitable."

Mrs. Crawford!

Sophia didn't hesitate further. What she needed most right now was backing powerful enough to shut up the Windsor family and Evan Parker for good.

"Fine. Nine a.m. tomorrow."

Sebastian collected the documents.

Outside, Evan Parker was still yelling.

"Sophia Delgado! Get over here!"

"Do you even know who he is? You dare leave with him? If you walk out that door, don't bother coming back to the Parker house!"

Sebastian lifted a hand toward his assistant.

"Too noisy. Clear them out."

Two bodyguards moved in, grabbed Evan by both arms, and dragged him away.

"What are you doing?! Let go! I'm from the Parker family! Sophia, you—mmph!"

Evan struggled. His shoulders were pinned.

Hank, still playing dead on the floor, got hauled up and dragged out too.

"Let's go, Mrs. Crawford."

Sebastian turned back, a note of satisfaction in his voice.

Sophia's overstretched nerves finally snapped when she heard "Mrs. Crawford."

Her vision went black. After holding on all day, she couldn't anymore. She pitched forward.

She didn't hit the ground.

Sebastian's long arm swept out. His palm closed around her waist and caught her firmly against him.

Sophia's forehead bumped against his solid chest. She let out a muffled sound.

The fabric was warm, carrying that faint cedarwood scent.

So warm.

Sophia's eyelids drooped. Consciousness slipped away.

Sebastian looked down at the girl in his arms, her cheeks flushed with fever. His fingertips had just brushed her furrowed brow when his assistant hurried over.

"Boss, we have a problem." The assistant glanced at the unconscious Sophia and lowered his voice.

"The Windsor family just issued a network-wide blacklist order in cooperation with the New York Art Association."

Sebastian's hand paused. His tone turned icy. "Continue."

"Evelyn Windsor filed a formal plagiarism accusation against Miss Sophia, claiming she copied her work. All the major media outlets are picking it up."

"Miss Sophia's business partners have already filed for forced contract termination through the court. If she doesn't come up with two million dollars in compensation by nine a.m. tomorrow, Miss Sophia won't just miss the wedding—she'll be sent straight to jail..."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed involuntarily. The arm around Sophia's waist tightened, inch by inch.