Page 35 of A Temporary Forever

Our gazes meet again above the polished table. My mind fires in all different directions. I think of my work, of the wonderful years I spent in New York, of my colleagues who would pay the highest price.

But I can’t expect Caleb to sacrifice three years of his life. We’re not even friends.

I wish I could read his mind, but he stares me down without so much as a hint of his thoughts. Just an unreadable mask.

“Do you want a minute to discuss this?” Dominic asks.

I’m about to nod when Caleb turns to his lawyer. “No, it’s okay, let’s continue.”

Dominic raises his eyebrows, as surprised as me.

“Caleb—” I start, but he raises his hand.

“Shut up, Celeste. For once in your life, don’t run your mouth.”

I still open my mouth, but no words come out while heat spreads up my throat to my cheeks.

Dominic doesn’t lose a beat and slides a folder to me. “Okay, so at Caleb’s instruction, I took the liberty to prepare this prenup.”

I hate that both of them can see how my hands tremble as I open the document.

“It sums up that you will get one million and an apartment of your choice upon your divorce, but no other claims can be made on my client’s assets.”

I gasp. “I don’t want your money.”

Caleb snorts and shakes his head.

“You may say that now, but three years with this one…” Dominic chuckles, ignoring Caleb’s glare. “And I shouldn’t be saying this, since Caleb is my client, but this deal is highly disadvantageous to you, given the current and future potential financial status of your husband-to-be.”

Is this some sort of test? “As I said, I don’t want his money, and I have an apartment.”

Caleb snorts again. “You’re not returning to thathell hall.”

Is this man for real? “That’s really none of your business. I think the most important clause in the prenup needs to be my autonomy. You don’t control my life decisions.”

Caleb huffs his exasperation, shaking his head. “Celeste, just sign it so we can move on.”

“Move on? What? Do you have more damsels in distress to save, or mistakes to fix so you can feel better about yourself?”

His jaw ticks. “Yes, my darling fiancée, I have an appointment at the courthouse to book. The sooner we get married, the sooner we can part ways.”

“If you don’t want…” My argument dies on my lips when I realize that this banter and bickering won’t get me any closer to solving my problem.

Why is he doing this? Why do I care? His motivation shouldn’t concern me.

For once, I can just accept someone’s help. I owe it, if not to myself, then to my colleagues.

Probably making the biggest mistake of my life, I scribble my signature on the contract with the devil.

Only this particular devil wants nothing in return. And yet my heart and my soul are bleeding.

As soon as I lift the tip of the pen from the paper, Caleb stands. “Great. Only two years and three hundred sixty-four days more.”

Chapter 11

Celeste

Ashrilling sound pierces through my brain. What the fuck is that? I breathe to five counts, finishing my hamstring stretch. Yesterday’s rehearsal was killer.

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