"You look nervous."

I tense at the words softly spoken behind me. Pulling me from my thoughts, Kai takes the place next to me at the iron railing, and it takes everything in me not to shudder. I can feel the heat of his body. It's as if we were touching despite the several inches between us.

"Not nervous exactly," I say cautiously. I don't know if it's Kai or the night ahead of us or something else altogether, but my heart is beating erratically, and a feeling of dread has followed me everywhere ever since I stepped foot off the jet.

I raise my eyes from the courtyard scene below to Kai. His profile is sharp, with a stern brow over eyes that catch everything. They catch my gaze from the corner. He quickly looks away with a grumble, and we fall back into silence.

The crowd gathers below us, growing in size by the second. It's a lot of people – hundreds, even; one of the larger parties of the season. The fact that it's at Hiwatari Hall instead of the estate says something. There's also a lot of paparazzi. A glittering sea of white light swallows the end of the driveway as guests exit the horse-drawn carriages that picked them up from the docks or landing pad.

Maybe I am nervous.

I know it's not the crowd that's got me feeling this way. It's who's in the crowd, the fancy outfits, the dress I'm wearing. It's that I don't want to be here. I can feel the Hiwatari clan swarming and slithering around this giant house, just out of sight but ready.

Something in the air.

I look back to Kai. He wants to be here even less than me. I can read it in the way his lips pull tight just the slightest bit whenever the noise from the crowd below rises to us. Can he feel it, too? This... something?

He catches me again, his expression immediately closing off, putting that impassive mask in place.

I smile, bemused and strangely comforted by his revulsion. "So what is this place?" I ask, turning to face the darkened hallway behind us.

Only the wall sconces give off a dim, warm glow - a clear indication that this part of the mansion is off-limits to the partygoers downstairs. They stream in using the two crossing staircases, having come up the drive, through the gates, and pass the long pool of water that held not one, not two, but three spouting fountains. The fountains are very dramatic, with the one in the middle shooting water at least five or six meters high. Beyond the fountains are the front gardens with great, meticulously groomed grass and shrubs.

I got a good look at the impressive manor when we flew in on the jet this morning. The exterior of the house is pearly white with black and gold accents. Castle-like spires pierce the sky. Black railings and terraces - like this small Juliette balcony I found - give it a romantic air. The interior is all dark words and black marble. Despite Kai taking me to all kinds of fancy places, I still stared in awe at all the details as I walked through the halls earlier. I have to pinch myself just as a reminder I was living on rice and dreams less than a year ago.

"It's the original Hiwatari Hall," Kai answers. He says hall as if this structure isn't a castle. "It was built with the first millions the Hiwatari's earned selling raw materials for ships and weapons to the government during the war."

I nod. These days, Hiwatari Enterprises is involved in everything, but that's where it all started.

I take a lungful of salty sea air. "We're on an island," I point out as I wander the empty hall, taking in all the gilded details - the canvases of men and women I don't know, the intricate crown molding. It's like something out of a different time, even though I know it's been updated and maintained.

Kai clears his throat, and a bit of bitterness leaks through. "The Hiwatari's have never been social people. We like our distance. But conducting business with an ocean between isn't easy, so the other house was built later."

I wonder why they keep this place. No one lives here. I've never even heard of it, so it's not like they rent it out. It stays vacant, alone, and unattended until it's needed for an event like this. For a moment, my heart aches for the beautiful house. Such a waste.

Kai's gone silent. I glance over to see him watching me with soft eyes, his gaze dragging down the dress. It was waiting for me in the room set aside for us. We arrived this afternoon by jet and were led up by an attendant as the staff rushed around to complete everything. I didn't see a single other Hiwatari the entire time.

As soon as we were left alone, Kai announced that he had business, and then he and Rick cleared out for the rest of the day. I stayed put with my laptop, though I was tempted to seek out Salima for some company. The chances of running into Kay, or worse, Soichiro, kept me from venturing out. Eventually, a staff member dropped off a snack platter, and later a stylist came in to help put me together. Even though it's Salima's party, the rest of the family has a role to play, and I'm expected to play mine.

The dress is one of Olivier's and I feel a bit funny wearing it. It's a piece of art, though. Blue, with a mermaid flare at my knees, fitted the rest of the way up. The sleeves fall off my shoulders and flow around my chest and back with loose ruffles. Crystals that shimmer like stars dot along the top and fall, becoming less dense as they reach the hem. The stylist did my hair, keeping it simple by pinning it up in the back and leaving some of my bangs free.

I swallow as Kai's eyes come back up, suddenly self-conscious.

"You look beautiful tonight."

His voice is soft but deep. Or maybe it's the hallway creating the intimate atmosphere. Either way, it settles over me and sets my cheeks on fire. I laugh and fan my face to defuse the moment. "Oh, stop. You're making me blush." And then I bat my eyelashes at him. "Okay, say some more."

His eyes search my face. The shadows play with his features, casting half his face in dark gray but washing the other side in warm yellow. The fire in his gaze is a contrast to his stony expression.

I fiddled with one of the starry sequences. "Olivier did an amazing job. As usual," I break off with a soft giggle. "Though I'd like to take all the credit, it's just the dress."

Kai moves his arm, reaching towards me. Instinctively, I respond by curling my hand around his. Our hold is relaxed for the briefest moment, before Kai tightens his hand around my small one. Suddenly, I'm hauled forward, until we're face-to-face.

His dark eyes penetrate me, and for a second, I think he's going to waste one of our last remaining kisses.

Even worse, I think I want him to.

I'm already starting to rise to meet him when he spins me away. "Hey!" Our hands stay together, and the skirt of my dress swishes around my ankles when I come to a stop.

"Your time with Romero is paying off."

I try to glare, but it's hard. Dealing with Romero's dance lessons has not been easy, but my perfectionist tendencies never let me admit defeat. Unwillingly, Kai's praise warms that side of me.

Laughing, I kneel into a clumsy curtsey. "May I have this dance?"

"The man is supposed to ask." Kai pulls me back up. His arm is solid as he wraps it around my waist. After a beat, we fall into the steps of a basic waltz. There's no sound, no music, except what we can hear from the crowd below.

I keep count by tapping my finger gently on his shoulder. "Gender rules, schmender rules. If I want to ask a guy to dance, I will."

"You can hurt a man's pride like that."

"Is your pride hurt?" He spins me away and then brings me right back.

"A lesser man's pride, I mean. Mine is untouchable."

"That's not pride, Kai. That's ego."

Kai lifts a shoulder in dismissal of all charges. The tip of his lips gave away his amusement.

We dance for a few more minutes. Our pace slows until it's more of a sway, and I lean my head on his shoulder. It's peaceful, alone up here. I feel no pressure. More than anything, I wish we didn't have to go downstairs. I chew on my lip, not wanting to be the first to break the silence.

Just knowing that this will end dampens my mood even more. Usually, Kai has to leave my side for some reason or another, and usually, I don't have a problem with that. He needs to conduct business, and I'm just a space filler for a while.

But tonight, I don't want to be left alone. Even if it's awkward, I want him to be my shadow. My belly tosses at the thought of Kai dropping my hand, leaving me open to the crowd with its well-dressed, high-class patrons, who, in my head, have taken on a sinister appearance.

I sigh, closing my eyes. Can you be all mine tonight, I wonder.

Kai stiffens, and I realize I slipped. I said that out loud, with my head resting on his shoulder, my mouth just a few inches from his ears. Beneath me, his chest rises and falls with a heavy breath. My gaze travels up his neck to his jaw. He tilts his head so that he can try to meet my eyes.

Summoning all my wits, I step back as the need to get ahead of this sets in. "I mean, not mine like mine," I start with a laugh. "Mine like..."

Mine, like what? What can I say as an excuse?

Kai does nothing to help. He stares and waits with an arched brow, letting me dig my grave right in front of him. His silence kills me.

I chuckle, forcing the laugh out. "Listen, this is a room full of mostly strangers, and I know something Salima's planning on telling the family later tonight, and that's going to be a whole thing. Just don't leave me alone when things are getting rocky. That's all I ask."

Kai's expression turns from curious to humorous, the grin playing on his otherwise neutral face. "You ask for a lot."

"Not nearly as much as I should." I try to bite, holding back a smile, but I'm sure it spreads across my face like a cat with a canary. "You're getting off easy."

To my surprise, Kai nods. "Agreed."

I lift my brows. "Promise?"

Kai doesn't answer, but he doesn't shut me out either. It's enough.

I nod. No longer having an excuse, I step back into his space. With a wry smirk, he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me to his side. I know it's time to join the other guests, though it's the last thing I want.

We make the short trip through the halls to where the guests have gathered as even more pour in. As we enter, I immediately feel several eyes on us. Kai grabs two glasses of some sort of pink champagne concoction, passing one to me. I take a sip, expecting something fruity. I get sour instead and can't contain the noise of disgust, glaring at him as if he were personally responsible for this assault on my senses.

Kai's shoulders shake, but before I can take revenge for laughing at me, he turns away. The evidence of his delight at his little prank lay bare on his face. It's in his smile, the soft crease around his eyes as he continues to drag me through the crowd by my hand.

For an hour, we move from group to group, never staying in one conversation too long. I'm more familiar with the guests than I thought I'd be, and we fall easily into the personas we've been cultivating.

Max finds us first. I see his blonde head weaving through the crowd approaching us, and throwing up an arm to wave him over. He's the first person I'm happy to see.

"I thought I saw you," Max says, wrapping his arms around Kai's shoulders in an uninvited hug. "Late, as always."

I'm next in line, and I take the hug eagerly. "My fault."

"Shh, Hil," he says too loudly while pretending to hide his mouth from Kai, "let him take the blame. It's what he's good for."

I smile at his charm, his ease. Max falls into conversation with a mostly-silent Kai, not the least put off by his off-standish attitude. He's handsome tonight, with the face of an angel and soft yellow hair with a slight curl to it.

Julia and Raul appear next, and Max pulls them into his easy chatter. A surly Yuriy rounds out the group eventually. Even he can't escape Max's affection when he pulls the taller man into a tight squeeze. My eyes track Julia, noting that she stands as far from him as she can get. Eventually, she discreetly stands next to me.

Looping her arm through mine, she pulls me from Kai's side. Kai's hand tightens around mine, staring at Julia.

The lights dim momentarily, and a hush falls over the crowd. All at once, heads turn to the second-level terrace, where Salima appears. Her red hair has been tamed and smoothed over, and her gown is a deep violet. Most surprisingly, she wearing her signature leather jacket. I can't believe Kay and Gideon let her get away with it. She scans the crowd from above, a slight grin on her face as she takes in the audience gathered to hear her birthday speech.

I turn to Kai when I can't figure out why her expression seems off to me. His chest expands with a deep breath that could have been from impatience, but once I see him shift, his shoulders pulling straight, and that look on his face, I know.

It's that pride we were talking about before.

His dark eyes shine with it as he gazes up at her, his cousin. While any of the other Hiwatari's would look snobbish and cruel, towering above all, Salima is a princess from a fairy tale. Put together with the jacket, she looks like a rebel. He's proud of her, and I realize that Kay would have never let her wear it; she would have had to fight for it. I smile, suddenly impressed with her too.

She holds a champagne flute in both hands in front of her. "Thank you all for coming," she starts. Her voice wavers a tad. I remember what her intentions are and how terrifying it must be. You've got this, girl, I think, sending her all the strength I can. She continues, louder than before.

Salima jokes about how difficult it was to grow up the baby of the family and the only girl. She speaks about being a teenager in the spotlight and how she never let any of that get to her. When she graduated high school, thinking she knew everything, and how she had to fight with her mother and father to let her go to a local college versus the finishing school they wanted to send her to. And now, at twenty-one, she knows there's still a lot to learn - life lessons she's excited for.

She smiles at Kay. It's sickly sweet. A sharp pain stabs my gut, and that bad feeling that's been nagging me all night is no longer ignorable.

I thought Salima would at least wait until later into the evening, quietly leaving after telling her family where to shove it. Not what I think she's about to do. Not dropping a bomb of devastation before the party even started. I lean into Kai, unable to take my eyes off Salima. "She wouldn't -"

Would she?

When Kai doesn't answer, I have to look at him. My stomach drops because he no longer looks proud. His stare is flat and hard, too tense to be neutral. Understand shatters any disbelief and hope I had that this wouldn't be a disaster.

Kai is worried, too.

"We have to stop her," I whisper harshly. Panicked. She can't do this now. This is more than just embarrassing the family. It'll start a war. They'll destroy her.

Kai grips my elbow, holding me in place. I yank, grunting with frustration, but his hold is too strong, almost bruising. Giving up on reasoning with the unreasonable, I move on to the others.

"Julia," I start, but her name drops lifelessly between us. Her pinched lips and stiff grip on the champagne glass give away her restraint.

Max looks away, his bright blue eyes downcast as if to give the moment some privacy. Yuriy watches with a sort of bemused smirk.

My hope sinks. None of them are going to do anything to help her.

Looking around the room at the gathered group, specially selected to attend not because they meant something to Salima but because of their business and social connections. I'm not alone in my growing horror as Salima starts listing the "crimes" her family has committed. First, in their business practices and then towards each other. She's stripping back the veneer of a perfect billionaire family who has it all in front of all their most valued contacts.

Even I know "friends" would be too generous a word.

Kay grabs Salima's shoulder, but Salima pushes her off. I see security guards approaching from the shadows, and my mouth dries as they wrap large hands around each of her arms. She looks so small in their grasp. She shouts, struggling to tear herself away.

People sway, shifting comfortably in perfectly tailored suits and dresses, standing in a beautifully embellished room. I feel the growing desperation for something to make her stop. She's embarrassing them. We're different, though. They want her to stop making them uncomfortable, but I want her to stop burning all her bridges.

I want to save her.

I can't.

"I can't watch this," I hiss, shaking my head. With a firm hand on Kai's chest, I shove him away from me, twisting until his hold breaks.

He gives me a sharp look, and I give him a furious one of my own. A "don't mess with me" glare that could only rival his. Free, I leave the room, passing all the security posted at the doors and into the empty hall. I was as switftly as I can in the restrictive dress, until I feel I'm far enough, stopping to catch my breath at a window. It's front-facing, providing a perfect view of the emerald-green hedges and fountains outside. The fountains remain lit by spotlights, but the water is an inky black under the night sky.

"Well, she turned out to be a complete disappointment."

My heart, which had returned to a normal rhythm, begins to pound again.

Soichiro stands at the end of the hall, half in shadows. His wrinkled hands rest on the black and silver cane. When my eyes find him, he steps forward into the light as if he'd been waiting for me.

A dower smile curves his lips. "Hopeless, all of them. I should disinherit each one to teach them a lesson."

I heave a tired laugh. It's all I got; all my fear of this man has crowded out by anger. "And where will your assets go when you're dead? Because you will die, thankfully."

Gravelly laughter echoes through the hall. Gideon steps in behind him. "There's always other options."

I think about removing my heel and throwing it at his head. He gives me the creeps, and every time I see him, I hate him more.

Not as much as his wife, though.

"I'm surprised you let her speak," I say. By all reasoning, he should have had her gagged and dragged to a dark room somewhere in this mansion much earlier.

Soichiro shrugs. "Cat's out of the bag, but she's not changing any minds with this audience. No. It'd create more of a problem if I cared." He taps the cane against the tile floor. The resounding thud feels like a gavel. A judge, passing judgment. "I've moved on to the next plan."

Or a sentencing.

I blink, my breath coming out short. His lilting voice implies he knows something I don't. He's setting me up, egging me on to inquire about his plan, but I don't bite. I refuse to give in to the urge to ask. Instead, I hold back. I wait for his next move.

"The Hiwatari's have a reputation, you know." He waits for me to respond.

Gideon watches with a twisted smile on his face. He's young enough to be Soichiro's son, yet he has just as many wrinkles. Serves him right. Silently, I glare at them.

"All three of them are determined to undermine that reputation - the one I've fought to keep safe my entire life."

Ruthlessly, I add to myself. I clear my throat as if I can't be bothered to reply. In actuality, my gut drops.

"I've heard the rumors. I've seen what they try to keep secret. I know what they don't say. They're idiots if they think they can hide anything from me."

Everything comes to a crashing halt - my breathing, my heart, my thoughts. My lips part to try and catch my breath, and Gideon's evil grin grows at my unease.

"I've spent years currying favor with a man whose son is willing to tame that wild girl. Five years, and here she is throwing it away."

"Didn't learn your lesson with Kai?" I snap, unable to hold it back anymore. Five years? He complains about that but gives no thought to the fifty or sixty that Salima would have to live with a man who wants to 'tame' her.

"Kai is harder. I didn't think I'd need to find him someone. He knows his responsibilities and what's expected of him. I thought he'd find the right person on his own. Salima was the one who needed the firm, guiding hand. Apparently, I was wrong."

I clench my fists. The dam broke, and I can't hold back my emotions any longer.

He goes on, blissfully ignoring my hostility. "Salima's wedding was going to be this summer. I doubt he'll be interested in taking her now."

"Good riddance," I growl. At least one good thing is coming from this. She'll be excommunicated, but she'll be free.

"As for my grandson," Soichiro sighs, "I can no longer give in to his whimsy. I've let him play around, pulling on his leash, for long enough. He's gone as far as I will let him."

"If you think I'm just going to-" I start, only for him to snap back.

"I've heard enough," he cuts me off, his voice the crack of a whip. "I know you don't really love him. I know he doesn't love you. These few months have done nothing to convince me that any of this is real, but I thought I'd let him get it out of his system. He likes to do things on his terms. Fine, so do I. But it must be earned. He should have turned around by now. He's disobeyed me again and again."

I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Well, I'm done playing with him. If he wants to pretend to care about someone else rather than fulfill his role, then so be it. It'll be the punishment that lasts a lifetime."

Now, I'm even more confused. "What are you blabbering about?"

His eyes flash with triumph. "Follow me, the future Mrs. Hiwatari." He turns and disappears into a shadowed hall. Gideon waits, holding out an inviting arm to guide my path.

I turn back to the way I came. I should find Kai. Maybe if I were someone else, I would have told them to shove off and do just that. It's probably what I should have done. Instead, I hesitate, and at that moment, a shadow appears over my shoulder. I look to see Gideon and two other men dressed in black. Guess I have no more options.

That's okay. I set my shoulders back and lift my chin, letting them lead me down the hall. I have questions. A lot of questions.

I follow Soichiro, trailed by Gideon and the stoic guards. I feel his eyes on my shoulders, the heat of suspicion never leaving. I'm almost flattered that he thinks I'm such a threat, but mostly, I'm irritated.

He leads us into a room with a long conference table. Soichiro goes around the table to the credenza along the back wall, where he pours a glass of water. He doesn't offer me any. I stay put by the door, waiting with my arms crossed over my chest.

The table is empty except for two black folders and a pen. I don't know what's in those folders, but a decision will be made tonight in this room. My head buzzes with doubt. I should have gone back for Kai.

Soichiro's hands curl around the back of black chair, denting the leather beneath his fingers. I peel my eyes off the folders to find him watching me. My gaze travels higher, drawn to a painting on the wall behind him.

I recognize a younger Soichiro, before age and cruelty weathered his features. He had a square jaw and hard eyes, not unlike Kai's, except they were lighter. His face was rounder than Kai's is, and wider too. He sits in a chair so massive and ornate, it's not a stretch to call it a throne. Seated next to him is a woman with sharp features and hollow cheeks. Her eyes are clear, like marbles, and they peer out of the painting with the same coolness. Standing at their sides is a young woman I recognize as Kay, and a man I assume is Kai's father in his early twenties.

Seeing him now is a punch to the gut. His eyes were a sort of reddish-brown, almost purple, and warm. Kind. He looks down from the wall, and it's almost like I know him.

Soichiro snaps his fingers to get my attention. "In each of these folders is a contract. You will sign one of these before you leave this room. There are no other options."

"What if I don't?"

"You will."

He looks at me with no emotion. This is the tycoon that ruled boardrooms for decades, not the angry grandparent I've been facing off with.

"I've done my research, Hilary, and I think I come to know you extremely well. The first contract-" he pushes the folder on the right towards me. It slides smoothly across the table, the bright lights from above flashing the gold design on the border, "-states that I will find you a position in one of our sub-companies. Of course, you will deal with rumors for a time, but if you do a good job, I assume those will die off eventually. You will do a good job, won't you?"

I take a deep breath, my chest rising heavily beneath my arms. Soichiro smiles.

"Yes, I think you will. You'll also receive a living space of your choosing - a condo in a high rise, a mansion in the suburbs, whatever your heart desires. And you'll be free of all this nonsense with my grandson. I consider this to be my best offer. You should pick it."

He said he knew the truth about me, but he doesn't appear to know that I already have a similar contract with Kai. I narrow my eyes. "Let me guess, the catch is I can never see Kai again."

"No. Of course, you wouldn't see Kai again. No reason to put that in writing." He tilts his head, eyes wrinkling with mirth. "That's Kai's plan, isn't it? Use his supposed heartbreak to deflect any further interest in his marrying."

Oh.

Oh no.

I fight to keep my face neutral, hoping I can pull this off.

He laughs. "But there is a catch; you are right about that."

I steel myself for what's coming next, waiting on the edge of a cliff.

Soichiro's voice drops, losing the fake humor he had a moment ago. "Kai will lose everything. He will be disinherited and ousted from the company. I didn't even do that to his father when he chose to leave. It will be revealed that you were lying about your relationship, but I will spare you. Kai forced your hand and blackmailed you into it. I will make sure that he never reaches the level of success he dreams of. And when I'm gone, Kay and Gideon will step in to ensure it stays that way. While you go on to live the simple life you wanted, Kai will be left to the charity of all his little entourage of gold diggers and free loaders. He'll see how long they stick around once he can no longer elevate them."

Blood drains from my face. My knees feel weak, but I keep them locked. The thought of Kai losing everything is like a shot to the heart. It hurts so much the sting surprises me.

He picks up the pen. "Sign it. I wouldn't even consider the other."

I make no move. "What is it?"

"You marry Kai."

My brows dip, the air in my lungs rushing out in disbelief. "Isn't that what you're trying to avoid? What you've been fighting us on?"

"We're far past that now. I gave Kai as many chances as I was going to. He's proven himself to be as spoiled as I thought. This is about punishing him."

He grins ruefully at my shocked face. "You'll be in his house, in his face, every day to remind him that he played the wrong games and lost. He says he wants to marry you, a girl who knows nothing about the demands of our world, who couldn't possibly keep up? Then that's what he'll get. You'll be a burden to him, a noose around his throat."

I reach for it because Kai and I can figure out the rest later. This keeps us in the fight.

Soichiro's fist slams down on it. "Before you sign, consider this. Divorce is off the table; living apart is out. You will not work, except within the approved manner that I set out for you. You will provide a Hiwatari heir within the first three years of your marriage and a second shortly after. Any more will be up to you. That will be your life."

The pain in my heart shifts. "No," I whisper, shaking my head.

"Like I said. I've come to know you extremely well. Either Kai gets nothing he wants, or you get nothing you want. Those are your options." He picks up the first folder and the pen again, offering both to me. "I'd sign this one. It works out better for you."

My eyes dart between the two folders. Both feel like betrayals – one to Kai and the other to my dreams. There has to be something else, another option. What would Kai do if his back was against a wall?

I think of Kai, and the answer comes almost too quickly. He'd tear the wall down with brute force.

Okay. How do I do that?

Another answer comes from the depths of my mind: Negotiate.

I take the pen, twisting it as I work through the panic to bring a plan together. "What happens if we fail? If we can't stay away from each other, or if I can't have children. What then?"

Soichiro lifts a single shoulder. "It's all listed in the contract. I'd tell you to have your lawyer read it, but we're under the gun. You have five minutes to sign one of them and leave this room."

"It's a bit of a joke, isn't it?" I ask, twisting the pen to produce the tip. "How are you going to legally enforce this contract? There's no way you could take something like this to court. A real judge would never hold me to this, especially if it were signed under duress."

His eyes narrow, and he examines me quietly for a few seconds. "I suppose the only way you'll find out is if you break the contract. Hilary, I hope you understand that you will never be rid of me as long as you live. You've interfered with my family, ruined my plans, and made a mockery of me among my associates. No matter what contract you sign, I will be intimately involved in your life. You will never make a major decision without it coming to me first."

I don't let a moment go by when he's finished, almost cutting him off before I give my next question. "What if I walk out of here without signing anything?" I ask casually.

"Not an option."

"But let's just say I do." I click the pen back to hide the tip. "For fun."

Gideon laughs, drawing attention to himself. "Are you having fun, little girl? Stop dawdling and sign."

Ugh, creep. I sneer in his direction. I open the first contract, the one that benefits me the most. Benefitting in quotation marks, because I could never live with myself if I signed this and left Kai with nothing. The wording is difficult to decipher, but I get the gist. At random, I start crossing things out and writing in my terms. The contract said 'employee,' I write in manager, without limit to any possible promotion I am reasonably qualified for. The contract said 'one living quarter,' I write three.

A nice beach house would be good for a hard worker like myself. Especially, since I'd be dealing with Soichiro for the remainder of my days.

I go down the contract, pretending to hum and think over each line. Everything I amend makes the contract less like a punishment and more like a reward. I'd be selling my soul if I signed this, but at least I'd make out. Like with Ralf, I'll be a thorn in his side.

I'll have to talk to Ralf as soon as possible after this. He no longer has time to decide if he's going to work with us or against us. After tonight, all lines of loyalty must be clear. We'll need to know who we can depend on. In another corner of my mind, I start making a list of people I already know will help. Kai has a long list of friends who'll stand by his side.

I might get caught in the crossfire, but we'll deal with that later. I trust that Kai won't abandon me.

I reach a line that dictates the time this will go into effect. Seven days from the date of signing. During those seven days, I'll have the opportunity to retract my agreement, but after that, I'll be locked in.

Putting my pen to the paper, I start to cross it out. As I do, the door bangs open. Kai looks around the room, his eyes landing on me and the folder. "Hilary," he says, hurrying forward and ripping the folder from under the pen. It causes a dark line scratch along the document.

His eyes scan the open page before slaming the folder closed and onto the table to the left of the other contract. "What is this?"

Soichiro remains calm. "It's a contract, Kai. What does it look like."

"It looks like you have a mess of a party in the ballroom, your granddaughter has just spilled enough family secrets to keep the news outlets busy for a year, and you're back here hiding, picking on the one person you think you can control."

"I'm fully aware of Salima's plans. I took care of her mess earlier tonight, and now I'm taking care of yours."

What does he mean by that? I look over my shoulder. One of the security guards stepped around to close the door and guard it. I turn forward, my thoughts spinning. Somewhere in this castle, mayhem is breaking out.

Kai either doesn't catch what he says or doesn't care. "You think you're going to take care of me? That you can control me through her or anyone else? Do you think I care what you want any longer? You're so resistant to change that you can't see what's right in front of you."

"And what's right in front of me, Kai?"

"Nobody wants this. Not the company, not the Board or the shareholders. Do you think Kay and Gideon follow you, picking up your scraps because they want to? Everyone is waiting until the day you're gone to finally do things the right way. I was you're only successor. I was the only one still willing to work with you, but you just had to push me, didn't you."

"Kai," I place my hand on his arm, hoping to bring him back. He's gotten angrier, his voice rising with each new accusation. Soichiro doesn't seem bothered, which means he's probably expected this. He's prepared for it, and we're about to get hit with something much bigger.

Kai doesn't stop, too lost in the moment and rage to see. Soichrio lets him go on and on, never raising a hand or word to stop him. Why wouldn't he argue back? He's calm, and I glance at Gideon to see he's just as smug.

Between the guard at the door and Soichiro keeping Kai's focus, I think our biggest problem is not in this room.

My gaze falls to the table, to the two folders. Soichiro said I wouldn't be leaving until I signed one. I hate to prove him right, but we need to get out of here and back to our friends.

I move quickly, grabbing the right folder and flipping to the last page. Before Kai can stop me, I scribble my name across the line and shove it and the pen across the table. Kai swears at me, trying to stop me, but it's too late. Soichiro's eyes widened as I push away from the table.

It's strangely gratifing to see I've surprised him, too.

"Now, open the door," I demand.

Soichiro nods once, and the guard holds open the door. I grab Kai's arm and drag him with me. He gives me little resistance, stopping only to send one last glare at his grandfather before taking charge to pull me along.

We rush down the hall in silence, with Kai leading the way. He's mad, of course, judging by the tension in his shoulders, the firm set of his jaw, and the jerkiness of his movements. Tears spring up, blurring the lower half of my vision as I try to push them back. "What was I supposed to do?" I mutter bitterly.

"Nothing," Kai answers with equal venom.

I expected we would either go to the ballroom or leave, but Kai takes me to another section of the house, turning and ducking down halls I hadn't seen before until we're heading straight for a set of French doors. I can hear the murmur of excited conversation from behind them, and it only gets louder as Kai opens the door and drags me in, slamming it closed behind us.

The scene is a mess. Julia and Ralf are arguing, with Johnny interjecting often. I can't figure out what their problem is, but Julia keeps wagging her finger in his direction. At one point, Ralf takes a step toward her, which causes Yuriy and Raul to get involved.

In the center of the room, Salima sits, bent over and sobbing into her hands as Max gently rubs her back. I'm shocked to see her. I thought she'd be long gone by now. More than the shock of seeing her is seeing her crying.

Mathilda steps forward, offering Salima another box of tissues, which Max accepts on her behalf with a lackluster smile. She sits down on Salima's other side, leaning towards her friend.

"What's going on?" I ask Kai.

"Salima's getaway plan bailed on her."

"What do you mean?"

He rolls his eyes. "She met some kids at school. They convinced her they were going to change the world together. As soon as she got her inheritance, she transferred it to a joint bank account, and now it's gone. They were supposed to come for her tonight, but they never showed. She has nothing."

I shake my head.

"So stupid," Kai mutters.

"She's not stupid," I snap, my voice raising above the clamor in the room. "You're stupid."

Kai balks at me, comepletely taken by surprise.

"You don't even realize what Soichiro said, do you?"

His expression hardens into a mask. I knew he missed it. Salima's friends didn't abandon her; Soichiro did something to them just like he's tried to do something with me.

I look around the room at the group. "So Salima has no money. There's more wealth between you than most could ever dream of. Not a single one of you can lift a finger to help?"

They stare back at me, faces blank.

"It's not that easy, Hilary," Mathilda argues. "Our lives are all intertwined with Hiwatri Enterprises. And while Kai may be willing ignore us helping, he's not in control. If we make a mistake, it's our families and businesses that suffer."

"Except for him," Julia says, turning back to Ralf. "You don't even care about the business, and you're the one who will be the least affected."

"I have assets to protect," Ralf replies smoothly. "Besides, Salima made her own choices. Now she lives with them. It's called growing up. Perhaps you should try."

"Bold words coming from you," Yuriy says. "You still live in his shadow so you don't have to worry about failing."

"I don't see you stepping out on your own. Makes one wonder if you've ever heard of the concept of work."

"At least I don't pretend to be something I'm not. I know exactly where I stand."

"Stop fighting!" I shout. They fall silent once again. "None of you are solving the problem. You're just rehashing all your old arguments. You don't like each other, I get it. But grow up or shut up! There's larger problems at the moment."

I take a deep breath to calm down. Somebody has to have a sense of reason around here. "I'm tired. I want off of this island, I want out of this dress, and I want to drink my favorite tea out of my favorite cup and go to bed. So, here's what's going to happen."

Thankfully, no one interrupts. My gaze meets with a mixture of surprise and boredom from around the room. I focus on Salima, who stares at me, waiting.

"Salima, you're going to move into my condo. I'm going to move in with Kai officially. We'll figure out your money situation, but at least this gives you a place to sleep and regroup."

"But Soichiro - " Salima starts.

"Will not do a single thing tonight." Technically, we have seven days before that contract goes into effect and a few weeks before our wedding is supposed to happen. Surely, we can come up with a plan before then.

Julia arches a smart brow. "I thought you didn't want to live at Kai's full time."

I don't have an answer for her. If we don't figure a way out of this mess, it won't matter. I'd be moving in either way.

Moving on, I start, "Now-" A small bell chimes, drawing our attention to Mathilda.

She reaches for her phone on the table and reads the message with a straight face before placing it back down on the table. I catch her hand shaking almost imperceptibly before she silently turns back to me, nodding for me to continue.

Salima's brown eyes, still red from crying, are now serious and intense as she looks at Mathilda. "What was that?" she demands.

I wait breathless as Mathilda licks her lips before lifting her gaze with a graceful smile. "Congradulations," she says to me. "I've failed. My presence is no longer needed. I have two days to leave my unit and return home."

Soichiro's moving quickly.

"Bastard," Salima mutters darkly. Her hand reaches over and grips Mathilda's. They share a troubled look. They both lost tonight and now they have nothing. Nothing but each other since neither remains under Soichiro's rule.

I open my mouth to tell them this silver lining when Kai steps to my side. "You'll stay with Salima in Hilary's condo."

Maybe it's just me, but I sene a shift in his demeanor. I stare at his profile, trying to determine what he's thinking, but only seeing how his eyes stay forward, locked on them. Shielding Salima and Mathilda from the fallout is going to set Soichiro off. Guess he knows it's too late to worry about that. Still, I can't help but feel...

Proud.

Notes: Thank you for waiting patiently for this chapter. I'm sorry for dropping a large hint and then disappearing. That was dumb, but I honestly thought I'd have the chapter out sooner since it was mostly finished. It's here now, though. As always, I appreciate any time you spend reading, giving kudos, and commenting if you choose to. Your honest thoughts and reactions are always a blast to read.