Grace
Grace threw up in the courthouse bathroom.
Not because she was pregnant or sick. Because in ten minutes she was marrying a man who thought she was a criminal.
"You okay in there?" Sophie knocked on the stall door. "We're supposed to go in like now."
"I can't do this." Grace wiped her mouth with shaking hands. "Sophie, I can't."
"Yes you can. Five million dollars remember? Your bakery. Your future. Everything you ever wanted."
Everything except a real marriage. A husband who actually loved her. A wedding with flowers and music and people who cared.
Grace stepped out of the stall and looked at herself in the mirror. The white dress Sophie helped her pick was pretty but simple. Thirty dollars from a clearance rack. Her hair was pulled back because she didn't know how to do fancy styles. No makeup except some lipstick Sophie forced on her.
She looked like a girl playing dress up. Not a bride.
"You look beautiful," Sophie said firmly. "And Ryan Brooks is lucky to have you even if he's too stupid to know it."
"He hates me Soph."
"He doesn't hate you. He just doesn't know you yet." Sophie grabbed Grace's shoulders. "Look at me. You survived foster care. You survived aging out with nothing. You built a life from scratch. You can survive one year married to a grumpy billionaire."
Grace wanted to believe her. But when she closed her eyes, all she saw was Ryan's cold face when he accused her of being a con artist.
This was a mistake. A huge, terrible mistake.
Sophie's phone buzzed. "James says they're ready. We have to go now or we'll be late."
Too late to back out. Too late to run. Grace had signed the contract yesterday. Taken the first payment, fifty thousand dollars that hit her bank account this morning. Money she'd already used to pay three months of rent and her maxed out credit card.
She was trapped.
They walked down the hallway to the small courtroom. Grace's heart pounded so hard she thought she might pass out.
James stood outside the door looking professional in his suit. "Miss Parker. You look lovely."
"I look terrified."
"That's normal for weddings." James smiled kindly. "For what it's worth, I think you're making the right choice."
"Does Ryan think that?"
"Ryan thinks this is a business transaction. But he'll come around. My boss isn't as cold as he pretends to be."
The door opened. Ryan stood inside wearing a dark suit that probably cost more than Grace's car. He looked like he was attending a funeral, not his wedding.
When he saw Grace, something flickered in his eyes. Surprise maybe. But it was gone too fast to read.
"You came," he said.
"Did you think I wouldn't?"
"Honestly? I gave it fifty-fifty odds."
Grace wanted to punch him. Instead she walked to where the judge waited. An older woman with kind eyes who looked sympathetic.
"Let's begin," the judge said. "This is a civil ceremony so it will be brief."
Brief was an understatement. The judge asked if they understood they were entering into marriage. Grace said yes even though she understood nothing about what she was doing. Ryan said yes like he was agreeing to a business meeting.
"Do you Ryan Brooks take Grace Parker to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
Two words. Flat and emotionless. Like he was ordering coffee.
"Do you Grace Parker take Ryan Brooks to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Grace's throat closed up. This was it. Last chance to run. Last chance to choose poverty and freedom over money and a cage.
She thought about Mr. Brooks dying in that hospital bed. His last wish for her to marry his son.
"I do," she whispered.
"Then by the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Ryan stepped forward. Grace's whole body tensed.
He cupped her face with both hands. His fingers were cold. Then he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss lasted maybe two seconds. It felt like kissing a statue. Cold, hard, completely unfeeling.
When he pulled back, Ryan whispered so only she could hear, "Smile. My father's watching."
Grace's head snapped around. James held up his phone showing a video call. Mr. Brooks lay in his hospital bed looking so weak and frail it broke her heart.
But he was smiling. Actually smiling like this was the happiest day of his life.
Grace waved at the camera, forcing herself to look happy. "Hi Mr. Brooks."
"Grace." His voice was barely audible through the phone speaker. "You look beautiful sweetheart."
"Thank you. Your son cleans up pretty good too."
Mr. Brooks laughed and then coughed. The nurse next to him looked worried but he waved her off.
"Take care of my stubborn boy," he said. "He needs someone who'll stand up to him."
"I'll do my best." Grace's throat tightened. "I promise."
"Thank you." Mr. Brooks mouthed the words more than said them. Then he closed his eyes and the nurse ended the call.
Silence filled the courtroom. The judge cleared her throat.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. I hope you'll be very happy together."
Mrs. Brooks. Grace was Mrs. Brooks now. The name felt wrong in her mouth.
They signed papers. The judge filed them. Just like that, Grace was married.
Sophie hugged her tight. "You did it! I'm so proud of you."
James shook Ryan's hand. "Congratulations sir. I've arranged for Mrs. Brooks' things to be moved to the penthouse this afternoon."
"Good. We need to leave soon." Ryan checked his watch. "We have four hours to get ready."
Grace blinked. "Ready for what?"
"The Sterling Foundation Gala. Tonight at seven."
"What gala?"
Ryan looked at her like she was stupid. "Our first public appearance as a married couple. I told you about this."
"No you didn't!"
"I sent James to tell you yesterday."
"I was working a double shift! Nobody told me anything!"
Sophie stepped between them. "Okay timeout. What exactly is this gala?"
"The biggest charity event of the year," James explained. "Five hundred guests. Press coverage. Everyone who matters in Seattle society will be there."
Grace's stomach dropped. "I can't go to that."
"You have to," Ryan said. "People need to see we're really married. If they think this is fake, Derek will use it against us in court."
"Court? What court?"
Ryan and James exchanged a look.
"There's a hearing tomorrow," Ryan said carefully. "Derek is challenging my father's will. Claiming Dad wasn't mentally stable when he changed it. If Derek wins, our marriage doesn't matter and he inherits everything."
"You didn't tell me this!" Grace's voice rose. "You said marry you for a year and I get my money. You didn't say anything about court or public events or any of this!"
"It's all in the contract you signed."
"The contract was fifty pages of legal language I didn't understand!"
"That's not my problem."
"Yes it is! I'm your wife now whether you like it or not! We're supposed to be partners!"
Ryan's jaw tightened. "We're not partners Grace. We're two people fulfilling a business agreement. Don't confuse this with something it's not."
The words stung like a slap. Grace's eyes burned but she refused to cry in front of him.
"Fine. What do I wear to this gala?"
"James arranged for a stylist to meet you at the penthouse at three. She'll handle everything."
"Of course you did. Because I'm too stupid to dress myself."
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to." Grace grabbed her purse. "What else haven't you told me? Any other surprises I should know about?"
Ryan hesitated just a second too long.
"What?" Grace demanded.
"Victoria will be at the gala tonight."
"Who's Victoria?"
"My ex-girlfriend."
Sophie made a choking sound. Grace felt like the floor had disappeared under her feet.
"Your ex-girlfriend is going to be at the event where I meet everyone as your new wife?"
"Victoria's family runs the Sterling Foundation. She has to be there." Ryan's voice was defensive. "It doesn't mean anything."
"Does she know you got married?"
"Probably. News travels fast in our social circle."
"And how do you think she's going to react when she sees me?"
Ryan didn't answer. Which was an answer all by itself.
Grace laughed but nothing was funny. "This is a nightmare."
"This is what you signed up for. One year of public appearances, charity events, playing the perfect wife. That's the deal Grace."
"The deal sucks."
"Five million dollars says otherwise."
Grace wanted to scream. Or cry. Or both. Instead she turned to Sophie. "Take me home. I need to change before the torture begins."
"You mean the penthouse," Ryan corrected. "That's your home now."
"That's your house. It'll never be my home."
Grace walked out of the courthouse, still wearing her cheap wedding dress, officially married to a man who saw her as a business transaction.
Behind her she heard Ryan tell James, "Make sure she's ready by six. I don't care what it takes."
The car ride to Ryan's penthouse was silent. Grace stared out the window watching the city pass by.
She was married. Actually married. No going back now.
Sophie squeezed her hand. "It'll get easier."
Grace didn't answer because she didn't believe it.
At the penthouse, a woman in designer clothes waited in the lobby. "Mrs. Brooks? I'm Andrea, your stylist for tonight. We have so much to do!"
Andrea hustled Grace into an elevator that went straight to the penthouse. The doors opened onto a apartment bigger than the entire building Grace used to live in.
Everything was glass and expensive furniture and cold perfection. Not a single thing out of place. Not a single sign anyone actually lived here.
"Your room is this way." Andrea led her down a hallway past multiple closed doors. "Mr. Brooks had it prepared for you."
The bedroom was huge. King size bed. Walk-in closet. Private bathroom with a tub big enough to swim in.
Grace felt like crying.
This was supposed to be a dream come true. Money, security, a chance at everything she wanted.
So why did it feel like she'd just sold her soul?
"Let's get started!" Andrea clapped her hands. "Hair, makeup, dress fitting. We have three hours to transform you."
Transform her into what? Someone worthy of standing next to Ryan Brooks?
Someone his ex-girlfriend wouldn't destroy on sight?
Grace sat down and let Andrea work, feeling like a doll being posed and painted.
Through the bedroom door, she heard Ryan's voice on the phone. "Yes I got married. No it's none of your business. Victoria, I need you to leave Grace alone tonight. I'm serious. If you make a scene, we're done as friends."
A pause. Then Ryan's voice got hard.
"Don't threaten me. You have no idea what you're dealing with."
He hung up.
Grace's hands started shaking.
Tonight she'd meet Victoria. Meet Ryan's entire world. Pretend to be a happy newlywed while everyone judged her.
And tomorrow Derek would try to destroy everything in court.
Andrea held up a dress. Red silk that cost more than Grace made in six months.
"Perfect!" Andrea beamed. "You'll look stunning."
Grace stared at her reflection in the mirror.
She looked like a stranger.
At 6:45, Grace stood in the living room wearing the red dress and heels that hurt her feet. Her hair was styled in soft curls. Her makeup made her look older, sophisticated, nothing like herself.
Ryan walked out of his room in a tuxedo. He stopped when he saw her.
"You look different," he said.
"Good different or bad different?"
"Just different."
Not exactly a compliment.
The car ride to the gala was silent. Grace's hands wouldn't stop shaking.
"Nervous?" Ryan asked.
"Terrified."
"Don't be. Just smile, stay close to me, and don't say anything controversial."
"What counts as controversial?"
"Anything about how we met. Where you work. Your background. Keep it vague."
"So lie."
"So protect yourself. These people will use anything against you."
The car pulled up to a massive building with lights and cameras everywhere. Grace saw the crowd of photographers waiting.
"Oh God," she whispered.
Ryan took her hand. His grip was firm but not warm. "Ready?"
"No."
"Too bad. We're on."
The car door opened. Camera flashes exploded like lightning. Ryan stepped out and held his hand back for Grace.
She took it and stepped into the lights.
Voices shouted from everywhere.
"Ryan! Who's your date?"
"Is it true you got married?"
"What's her name?"
Ryan's arm went around Grace's waist, pulling her close. He smiled for the cameras like everything was perfect.
Grace tried to smile too but her face felt frozen.
They walked into the building. Music and laughter filled the air. Hundreds of people in expensive clothes holding champagne glasses.
Every eye turned to stare at Grace.
A woman in a black dress walked straight toward them. Beautiful, elegant, dripping with diamonds.
Ryan tensed beside Grace.
"Hello Ryan darling," the woman said with a smile sharp as knives. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your new wife?"
Victoria Sterling had arrived.
And from the look in her eyes, she was ready for war.