Page 19 of Enemies to Wife

I didn't understand why it was so important for Sebastian to be in one of those clubs until Davis told me that they were more than just university social circles. Only members of these clubs could join the Trivium Foundation, and apparently Sebastian's family heritage was tied to the foundation. This meant that as a non-member that Sebastian had no access to his family's estate, which Davis told me was in excess of fifty million pounds. He also told me that Sebastian had been given a second chance to get his membership, but due to the rules of the foundation, it was required for members to be married.

It wasn't until two weeks ago that I had received documents via a courier that I found out how much Sebastian was losing. There were several documents. One was from the Wife for Hire Agency confirming that my contract with Sebastian had been terminated at full contract price. Sebastian had paid the full fee for the six months and requested that I wasn't to be penalised for the early termination. Sebastian had also covered the Agency's fee, and I was informed that my debt with the Regent's University had been resolved as well. Inside, along with the documents was a cheque from the Agency in my name for £100,000. There was also a statement of accounts with a request for signature to confirm a change of name. The account looked like it was in the name of Lily McIntyre. I realised it was the money that Alec had taken from me and invested. That sick bastard really did think that I would come around. The statement showed the account balance at £142,000. I had only had about three grand when it was taken from me. The last thing was a letter from Sebastian himself.

"Lily,

My sweet tempting apple. I am sorry that I could not deliver this in person. I am still in the middle of this mess. I promise that once I have sorted everything out, I will make contact. I hope that the rest of this package goes some way to make up for what you have had to deal with these last few years.

You will probably be happy to know that you are no longer under contract with me, you are not my wife anymore. It's strange because it took the Agency asking if I wanted them to arrange for a new contract with another woman for me, to realise what I guess I already knew. I told them no, by the way. I told them I only ever wanted one woman to be my wife. No other woman could even come close.

You see, Lily Appleby; I was obsessed with you the moment that I first met you. I know that the foundation paired us for a reason, but I don't think they even knew the impact. I used to think that your name was just the sign that you were my own temptation, my own apple as it was. That my obsession with you was why I was destined for Hell. But now I realise that it is the opposite. You are my heaven, and you are the only woman that I ever want in my life. I am in love with you, and I will always be in love with you.

Which is why I ask for one thing from you, and if you say no, then I will accept it, because I respect your decision. When I am done with all this crap, I would like to take you on a date. No contracts, no archaic pairing shit. Just me and you on a date.

Always hopeful that one day I will call you my wife for real.

Sebastian Lynch.”

Sebastian had not only paid me, but in terminating the contract he had lost his chance of getting his family's estate. He had literally given up millions for me. And all he was asking for was a date. I picked up the phone and sent a message to Jade, my former contact at the Agency. Two minutes later I received a message back with a link to a video call. I clicked the link and waited for the video to connect.

"Good afternoon, Miss Appleby," The woman that I had only met once and knew as Miss May, said as she appeared on the screen. "I trust you received the contract termination by now."

"Yes, thank you," I said.

"Brilliant, well how is it that I can help you then?"

"I have a request that may be a little unorthodox," I said. Miss May raised an eyebrow, and I smiled as my plan formed in my mind.

Chapter 14

Sebastian

This traffic was going to be the death of me, I thought as I sat in the back of the car. Davis was doing his best to make his way through the city traffic, but it was lunchtime, and every fucker had some place to go.

"We’re almost there, boss," Davis called back over his shoulder. "Do you want me to ring ahead to tell them you are running late?"

"No, I wouldn't bother," I said. It wasn't like this meeting was going to be any good. It was the final meeting with the Foundation, this was where they would tell me if my application had been successful. Since I was walking in there unmarried, I knew I hadn't even met the minimum requirements.

I wasn't even going to bother with the meeting, but James had called me two nights ago while I was in Chicago. I had been chasing up another lead about the friend that Lily had told me about. She had spent one night in tears after telling me that McIntyre had taken her friend, after she had introduced Lily to the Agency. She blamed herself and I hoped that if I could find the girl that it would help Lily heal from her own trauma. So far, I had struck a handful of dead ends. Chicago turned out to be another one, so when James told me I should come to the meeting I thought what the hell. I might as well get rejected in person. It didn't really matter that I was going to be late as well. I had come to terms with the fact that my father's estate would be dissolved into the foundation. To be fair, the man was a complete bastard, almost as bad as William McIntyre himself, who was now rotting in a cell with no chance of trial or parole. I hoped that using his money to help with further cleaning up the foundation would help, but I had gotten by without it so far, and James Killinham was as dedicated to the cleanup as I was, so maybe between us, we could do some damage.

I started looking through some of my files as Davis pulled into the side street where the entrance to the foundation was. I wanted to check for any last-minute loopholes before going in, but everything all boiled down to the fact that despite the corruption that went on behind closed doors, the foundation wanted to maintain a family friendly front. I looked up as my door opened and I saw Davis looking at me with a strange smile on his face.

"What's got you all happy?" I scoffed as I put the files down on the seat next to me and undid my seatbelt.

"Nothing boss," he said, and his grin grew. I shook my head and climbed out of the car. Well, at least one of us was happy.

"Okay," I said and pulled out my briefcase and turned towards the door. "Let's get this shit show over w-" I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw James standing with someone in front of the Foundation entrance.

She looked as beautiful as the first moment I saw her. I could still see the haunted look in her eyes as I slowly walked over to her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. She frowned at me.

"Well, hello to you too," she scoffed. I narrowed my eyes on her, and she rolled her eyes in return. She glanced up at Davis and then back at me.

"I was told that today was important," she said. "I was told exactly how much you were giving up by not having a wife with you." I glared at Davis and James. I never want Lily to know this. I didn't want her to feel guilty.

"Lily, it's fine," I said. "I just want you to be happy."

"You have given me so much," she said. "You gave me my life back. I'm even going back to school. And it's because of you. This is the least I can do for you." She reached out with shaky hands and handed me a thick white envelope.

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