Light played against the Gibbons Group boardroom’s wall of windows. I could just make out the shadow of Martin Enterprises’ building. In some ways, I could watch over my family from across the city.

Ink stained the underside of Damon’s hand. He bowed slightly and presented me with a folder. “For you.”

I scanned the first sheet. “Prenup?”

“Obviously.”

I smiled and took my place at the other end of the table, making amendments as we built our negotiations. “You’ll hire me in a management position at Gibbons Group on a trial basis? Hopefully, I’m up to your standards,” I teased mildly.

He smirked, but kept reading. “If that goes well, after 30 days or so, we will make it a permanent hire until the merger, at which point you will be appointed CEO of Martin Enterprises.”

I could hardly wait!

“But,” he continued, “if you do anything that would impede Gibbons Group success, we have the right to terminate you, void any marriage contracts, and sue for negligence.”

I tilted my chin up and crossed my legs. “That won’t be a problem. I have a strong sense of loyalty.”

Damon paled, eyes turning downcast. “Yeah. Your father was lucky.”

I reeled back from the table. “What is that supposed to mean? I gave Martin Enterprises everything. I left because I had to do what was best for me and the company. Even if—” My nose quivered, my throat tightening. “Even if it killed me.”

I might have died in that crash in the other timeline.

But I had another chance now. I wasn’t going to waste it.

“Alina,” Damon said in that gentle voice that always managed to squeeze the tension out of me, “he really was lucky to have you for so long. I completely support your reasons for leaving.”

I inhaled deeply and set my shoulders back. The last thing I needed was to show any weakness during my “trial” period. We hadn’t even signed anything yet.

“What about you?” I asked, my voice even as Damon got up to fix himself a drink. “Should I put in a clause that any negligence on your part results in you forfeiting the shares, and that I can sue for damages?”

He sighed and walked back to my side of the table. My legs jiggled as he set the glass down in front of me. The water inside rocked to one side. He got me a drink?

“I’m sorry,” Damon said quietly.

I nodded sharply, not trusting myself to speak until I’d had a few sips. “We should probably stop talking about lawsuits if we’re planning on getting married amicably.”

“And divorced.” He cracked a smile. “It’s all sort of backwards, isn’t it?”

“Well, hopefully it goes better than my other relationships.” I gestured to the seat nearby. “Let’s get back to business.”

He looked like he was about to say something else but thought better of it. He relocated his work to the corner seat, accidentally nudging my feet under the table as he scooted in. 

“What about the relationship aspects?” he said. “Do we have a timeline? Budget? Date requirements?”

“I think we should get married within the next six months, but let’s hide our affiliations until after I’ve been established as more than your ex and Roy’s daughter, if we can.”

He scribbled an amendment. “Yeah, I don’t want to get a reputation for dating employees or doing favors for exes.”

“Doing a favor isn’t so bad.”

He narrowed his eyes, deadpanning, “We’re getting married.”

“Right. Well, that benefits both of us. As for the wedding…”

Last time, I’d been strong-armed from one photo op to the next, only barely getting to eat a bite of cake before we had to make the rounds with all of our guests. But it was the happiest I’d ever seen my dad. He hadn’t stopped gushing about how we were such a perfect match—that we’d have smart, beautiful children and be the industry’s leading power couple.

Damon and I would make a powerful pair, too!

“Hopefully, Dad will be open to coming to the ceremony.”

Shaking his head, Damon made another note. “As long as I’m not paying for it. I think we should elope.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged.

Damon arched an eyebrow, studying me for a moment. “We should go out a few times a week.”

“We both have to eat.” I smiled and flipped the pen between my fingers. “Even after we’re married.”

Damon flushed and slunk out of his suspenders. “Where will we be cohabiting, if that’s what we’re doing?”

Todd had insisted on a fresh slate in a new apartment, with very little from either of our previous places. Most of our sleek furniture and art had been his taste, but I wasn’t too particular. Still, I had no plans to uproot my little nest for Damon.

“I think we should both keep our places, assuming we both like them, for when we’re divorced, but I’m not sure where we’ll stay,” I said. “I haven’t even seen your place yet.”

“I haven’t seen yours, either,” he said.

“We’ll have to remedy that.”

When we were both satisfied with the contract, we shook hands. He was so firm. Steady.

He grazed my bare ring finger and pulled my hand closer for examination. “I guess I’ll have to get you a ring.”

The slow circles from the pad of his thumb were driving me crazy. I pulled away and waved. “First, get me set up with HR! We can worry about jewelry later.”

“Still, I feel like we should commemorate the moment. Ah! I have the perfect thing.” 

He darted from the conference room. I half expected him to return with champagne, but instead, he came back grinning, got down on one knee, and presented a long, black box.

“Alina Martin, will you ‘merger’ me?” He popped the box open, revealing a shiny, expensive fountain pen nestled in velvet.

I burst out laughing. “Yes! I do, yes.”

Not exactly what I’d imagined when we were dating in high school, but it was kind of perfect. I needed something to sign this contract.