Chapter 4 Four

Sloane’s POV

It was hard to sleep somehow. It was already three in the morning, Maya had already passed out across the couch with a half-empty wine glass balanced carelessly on her stomach while some loud action movie played in the background.

But I remained awake, sitting by the apartment window with my knees pulled tightly to my chest as I stared out at the glittering Chicago skyline.

The city looked beautiful from up here, seeming cold and untouchable just like him.

The contract rested on the coffee table beside me like a loaded weapon, and every few minutes, my eyes drifted back toward it against my will.

Cassian Hayes.

Even thinking his name irritated me. A sudden bitter laugh escaped my throat as I leaned my forehead against the cool glass windows. Two hours ago, I had been his employee.

Annoyed? Constantly frustrated? Every damn day.

But at least I belonged to myself. Now I was getting married to him.

Fake marriage or not, the reality of it made my stomach twist violently. Nothing about this situation felt normal. No sane man blackmails his head of security into marriage because his public image needs saving.

No sane man will calmly threaten to imprison you while discussing wedding arrangements like he was choosing wine for dinner.

And yet Cassian had done exactly that without blinking once. Because men like him didn’t see people, they saw assets, useful and replaceable things.

My gaze drifted toward the contract again, and despite the disgust crawling through me, another feeling settled underneath it all.

Opportunity.

That was the dangerous part.

Because marrying Cassian Hayes gave me access, I could never obtain it any other way. Private offices. Hidden records. Family secrets. Locked doors.

Answers.

The closer I got to the Hayes family, the closer I got to destroying them.

A slow smile suddenly touched my lips at the thought. Maybe Cassian believed he had trapped me, or he thought he had dragged me into his world and chained me there permanently.

But people with such an ego become careless when they believe they have already won. And Cassian Hayes looked very confident.

My phone buzzed sharply beside me, dragging me out of my thoughts.

It was an Unknown Number, so I gradually opened the message

Vehicle arrives in one hour. Be ready.

Lydia.

I snorted softly and tossed the phone back onto the couch.

“Romantic,” Maya mumbled without opening her eyes.

I glanced over at her. “You’re awake?”

“No,” she muttered dramatically. “I died sometime around midnight. This is my spirit speaking.”

I rolled my eyes and stood slowly from the window, my back aching from sitting there for hours. Maya finally pushed herself upright, immediately wincing as she rubbed her temples. “God, I hate wine.” She grumbles.

“You say that every single time you drink.” I rolled my eyes with a small smile.

“And yet I continue returning to the toxic relationship.” She squinted toward me before her expression shifted slightly. “Wow. You look awful.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I grabbed the abandoned wineglass from the table and headed toward the kitchen sink while Maya shuffled after me, half asleep.

“You know,” she said while leaning against the counter, “normal people usually get excited before their wedding day.”

I knew she was mocking me.

“Normal people aren’t getting blackmailed into marrying a psychopath.” I retorted.

“Fair point.”

Silence settled briefly between us while I rinsed the glasses. Then Maya spoke again, quieter this time.

“You’re scared.”

The words hit too close to the truth.

I stiffened instantly. “I’m not scared of him.”

“I didn’t say you were scared of him.” She adds, staring at me.

I looked away without answering because the truth was complicated.

Cassian didn’t frighten me in the normal sense. I wasn’t scared he would hit me or scream at me or lose control physically. What unsettled me was worse.

He walked through life like a man constantly playing a game while everyone was still learning. And somehow that made him terrifying.

Maya pushed herself off the counter and walked closer slowly. “You know what the worst part is?” she asked softly.

“What?”

“You actually have to live with him now.” She points out

A dry laugh escaped me. “Trust me, I’ve already considered throwing myself into oncoming traffic several times.”

“I’m serious, Sloane.”

“So am I.”

Her face softened with concern. “You don’t have to go through with this.”

“Yes, I do.” The words came out sharper than intended, because I didn’t just need this marriage anymore, I needed what came after it.

The truth, revenge, and answers about my father, about Lena…About what the Hayes family had done to mine.

I swallowed hard and looked away before Maya could notice the shift in my expression.

“I’ll be fine,” I said finally. “I’ve dealt with worse men than Cassian Hayes.”

That wasn’t entirely true. No one unsettled me the way he did. It irritates me how aware I become around him. Every interaction with him felt like stepping into a fight I couldn’t fully predict.

And the worst part? I still refused to back down from him. Even now, after the threats and manipulation.

I still wanted to fight him every chance I got.

—-

By eight o’clock, a black Benz car waited downstairs exactly as promised.

Of course it did.

Cassian’s people operated with military precision. Everything was timed and organized down to the second.

I hated how perfectly his world functioned.

Maya fussed around me while I grabbed my purse and checked my reflection one final time.

“You look insanely hot,” she announced proudly.

I glanced down at myself. I wore a simple cream dress with minimal makeup, my hair neatly pinned back. I’d say I looked elegant, like a billionaire's wife.

And the thought alone made me nauseous.

“I look like I’m attending my own funeral.” I grimaced.

“Well, technically, your freedom is dying today, so close enough.” She shrugs.

I shot her a glare.

She grinned immediately. “There she is. I was worried your personality disappeared overnight.”

The driver opened the back door for us the second we stepped outside into the freezing morning air.

I slid into the car beside Maya, and immediately tension started creeping back into my chest. This was really happening, and by the end of the morning, I would legally belong to Cassian Hayes in the eyes of the world.

The thought made my stomach twist violently again, And The drive remained mostly quiet until Maya suddenly gasped beside me.

I sighed. “What now?”

“I just realized something horrifying.” She says

“What?”

“You’re about to become rich-rich.” Her eyes gleamed, seeming shocked.

I blinked slowly. “That’s what you find horrifying?”

“You don’t understand,” she whispered urgently while grabbing my arm. “You’ll have billionaire access. Private jets. Expensive wine. Tiny desserts with gold flakes on them.”

“I hate you.”

“You’ll also probably own towels that cost more than my rent.” She adds

“I already regret bringing you.” I sighed, shaking my head slightly

But she ignored me completely. “Promise me you won’t become one of those terrifying rich women who drink sparkling water and silently judge poor people.”

“I literally own combat boots.”

“Good. Stay grounded.”

Despite her ridiculous commentary, the closer we got to the church, the quieter I became.

My stomach tightened harder with every passing street. Then, after what felt like forever, the car slowed, and reality immediately crashed into me all over again.

The church stood small and elegant beneath the gray Chicago sky while photographers crowded outside waiting like vultures around roadkill.

Camera flashes exploded the second the car door opened.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.

Maya leaned forward to look through the windshield before groaning loudly. “That bastard invited paparazzi.”

Of course he did.

Because nothing Cassian Hayes did lacked strategy, this wedding wasn’t romantic; it was damage control.

The cameras immediately started shouting questions the second I stepped out onto the sidewalk.

“Sloane! Over here!”

“Miss Mercer, how long have you been engaged?”

“Is this connected to the merger scandal?”

“Are wedding bells enough to save Hayes Enterprises?”

I kept my face blank while anger burned violently beneath my skin. Then another sleek black car pulled up behind ours.

And the atmosphere shifted instantly as Cassian stepped out. Immediately, the photographers practically lost their minds.

He looked extremely composed in a charcoal black suit tailored to his body, his dark hair neatly brushed back, while those icy blue eyes scanned the crowd calmly, as if he owned the entire city.

Which, honestly, he probably did.

Everything about him screamed power—confidence wrapped around him like a second skin.

And the worst part was that he knew exactly the effect he had on people.

After a moment, His gaze landed on me. And it stayed there.

Something sharp twisted low in my stomach before irritation crushed it instantly.

Absolutely not! I refused to react to him physically.

Cassian walked toward me calmly while cameras flashed nonstop around us.

“A word,” he said smoothly.

Before I could protest, he lightly gripped my elbow and guided me around the side of the church away from the reporters.

The second we were alone, I ripped my arm free.

“Don’t touch me.” I hissed.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “You brought your friend.”

“You noticed. Congratulations.” I said with a slight frown.

“This was supposed to remain private.” He grits lowly.

I stared at him in disbelief. “You literally invited paparazzi.”

“They’re controlled.”

“Oh, well, that makes everything better.”

His expression darkened faintly.

“You need to understand something very quickly,” he said quietly. “From this moment forward, your behavior reflects on me.”

I almost laughed.

“My behavior?” I repeated incredulously. “You blackmailed me into marriage, and you’re worried about behavior?”

“I’m worried about complications.” He immediately adds.

“You mean human emotions? Yeah, you’ve always seemed allergic to those.” I retorted.

His jaw flexed slightly, and for a second, neither of us moved. Then he stepped closer, and I instantly became aware of everything.

The expensive scent clinging to him, the sharp angles of his face, and the terrifying calmness in his eyes.

“You’re angry,” he murmured.

“No shit.”

“But you’re still here.”

The words hit harder than they should have because he was right, and I hated that he knew it, too.

“You shouldn’t look so pleased with yourself,” I said coldly. “This arrangement benefits me too.”

Something flickered in his eyes at that.

“Oh?”

“You think you trapped me, Cassian.” I stepped closer too, refusing to back down. “But trust me when I say this marriage is going to cost you far more than ten million dollars.”

For the first time since meeting him, something dangerous flashed behind his eyes.

Interest.

A slow smile touched his mouth, “You really do look beautiful when you threaten me.” He says.

I stared at him in complete horror for half a second before fury exploded through me instantly.

“You are genuinely sick in the head.” I snapped.

“And yet you’re marrying me anyway.” He adds with a grin.

Before I could respond, the church doors opened behind us.

“They’re ready for you, Mr. Hayes.”

Cassian’s gaze stayed locked on mine for one lingering second before he stepped back smoothly as if nothing had happened.

Like my pulse wasn’t hammering violently inside my chest, like he hadn’t unsettled me again. Then he held out his arm formally.

“Shall we, Mrs. Hayes?” he asked softly and looked at his arm, then at him.

What am I doing?