Married for His Empire

n't s

kept running calculations, projecting scenarios, analyzing risk like I was still at

e. Found workout clothes in the closet-expensive athletic wear with tags still

s overlooking the city as it woke up, orange and pink bleeding acr

as alrea

heavy bag with methodical precision. His form was perfect-controlled power,

t didn't stop. "

ll, started walking. "Kept calculating ex

y." He landed a combination that m

stipend. The real

ard but controlled. Grabbed a towel, wiped his face.

eed to a jog. "As

The casual way he handled what had to be over two hund

Kemi will be there as witness. Afterward, lunch with my legal team t

"Today? You said

day. Today is day two." He lay back, pressed the bar up smoot

parties. Meet each other's fa

er rep. "My uncle filed preliminary injunction papers yesterday, claiming I'm mentally unfit to run the

woman you met yesterday

the bar back, sat up. "A man in the middle of a mental health crisis doesn't get married

ur proof o

he past." He stood, grabbed his water bottle. "Which, techn

about your mother? Doesn't sh

"Victoria Kingston has many opini

't know ab

" He headed toward the door. "Wear something simple to the registry. We'

owing realization that I'd signed a contract with a man who operated a

-

n a navy suit, hair still damp from the shower. He looked like

he said, po

ne at 3 a.m. "Your uncle. Thomas. What

fifties-handsome, silver hair, politician's smile. "He's spent the last twenty years living beyon

strip the comp

oney laundering." He swiped to a network diagram. "See how it connects? Your evidence doesn't just prove fi

connecting to legitimate businesses. A web designed to hide money while

espionage," I said slowly.

to testify. And why we need this marriage to look legitimate enough that

e a gr

otional. Evidence is fact. We're building a case, Eniola. You're not just

be married to

r's company from thieves." He leaned back. "How it looks depen

't ask

r document. "Here's the narrative. You discovered irregularities in Westbridge's accounts. As a responsible anal

er on the investigation. Developed feelings during long nights reviewing evidence. Married q

prisingly b

Memorize the timeline. We met six weeks ago. Had dinner three times. I proposed two w

cations, even fabricated conversation topi

hen asked. Just stay vague-people project what they want onto

fork. "What do I call

"What do

on? Sir?" The last one came out w

"Elijah is fine. We're supposedly in

we're no

atic. Honey, if you're from a romance novel." Now he did

-

Fluorescent lights, plastic chairs, the smell of ol

in charcoal gray. She handed me a folder. "Your d

get my birth

n't elaborate. "The registrar is re

iage freely. A bored official pronounced us legally wed wit

," he said, already rea

unreadable. Then he leaned in

aste. Pro

d imagined my first kiss a

back. "Mrs

anded like

emi took photos-documentation, she ca

door for me. His hand brushed my lower back as I climbed i

?" he asked once

away in a government offic

You got married. They'

are fo

that doesn't make it less real. You're legally my wife no

ns I didn't ha

his phone. "We have two hours before the legal team mee

my parents. My b

d. "No one

across his face. "Th

disappeared into his office. I sat in my suite

Adeyemi

onally, you can use whatever you want. Lega

ang. Unkno

Then thought: what if

el

ed, American, sharp. "This is Vic

opped. "Mrs.

. My son married a woman I've never met."

nown each oth

ve been a Kingston for thirty-five years. I know what a business arrang

"I'm sorry, what

ey? Status? Citizenship?" She waited. "Whatever it is, understand this: Kingston wives are scrutinized. Photographed.

ntion of embarr

th me next week. New York. I want to s

hung

shaking. Elijah app

her calle

t." He leaned against the d

ngement. That she wants to meet me. Tha

seem bothered. "Don't let her in

t sound li

ree decades. It's how she maintains relevance." He checked h

o wh

ancial analyst' not 'trophy wife.'

er casual wear. "Right. Be

nner, yes." He straightened. "Welcome to your new l

teriously appeared in my closet, I caught my reflection.

rent

s and already felt like I was d

ola would'v

checked her lipstick, and reminded h

en had thought the

was going to prove them