All Chapters of One Contract, Two Hearts : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

[Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content]Lucien's kisses traced a path down Elara's throat, across her collarbone and lower. She arched into him, fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer."We should…" she gasped as his mouth found her breast. "We should probably…""Talk? Plan? Overthink?" He looked up at her, eyes dark with desire. "I've spent three weeks overthinking every moment with you. Tonight, I just want to feel.""Yes." She pulled him back up, kissing him deeply. "God, yes."It was different from their first time, that desperate, heated encounter after the engagement party when they'd still been pretending this didn't mean anything. Then, it had been about release, about crossing a line they'd sworn not to cross.This was something different, something deeper, it was about connection.Lucien took his time, learning her body like he was memorizing every detail. The spot on her hip that made her shiver. The way she gasped when he kissed the inside of her wrist. T

The Good Morning America interview was scheduled for Tuesday morning.Elara had approximately eighteen hours to recover from the Today Show before doing it all over again. Eighteen hours to become the kind of person who could sit on national television and discuss her marriage without wanting to crawl out of her skin.She spent most of Monday afternoon at Quinn Interiors, dealing with the avalanche of attention her company was suddenly getting."We've had twelve calls from potential clients," David, her office manager, said. He looked shell shocked. "Actual clients. With actual budgets. One of them wants you to redesign their entire penthouse in Tribeca.""Because they saw me on TV talking about my marriage?""Because you're Elara Blackwood now. Wife of one of the most powerful men in the city. That has value."The words sat heavy in her stomach. "I don't want clients who only hire me because of who I married.""Then prove you're worth hiring for other reasons." David smiled. "Which y

The shareholder meeting was scheduled for ten AM.Elara woke to find Lucien already gone, his side of the bed cold. She found him in his office at six in the morning, surrounded by documents, on his third cup of coffee, looking like he hadn't slept."You promised you'd wake me if you couldn't sleep," she said from the doorway."I didn't want to disturb you.""Lucien." She crossed the room, took the coffee cup from his hand. "We just spent a week in Greece learning how to be partners. Don't shut me out now."He exhaled slowly. "James is proposing a vote of no confidence. Claims I've been distracted by my personal life and it's affecting company performance.""That's ridiculous. The stock is higher than ever.""Short term gains. He's arguing that the scandal damaged our reputation with international partners. That I've lost focus." Lucien ran his hands through his hair. "He has enough votes to force the discussion. Not enough to win, but enough to make it ugly.""What do you need from m

The headlines were exactly as bad as Elara predicted."Blackwood Loses Control at Charity Gala""Billionaire CEO Threatens Donor Over Wife Comments""Elara Blackwood: The Woman Who Tamed the Ice King"Miranda called at seven AM, her voice tight with professional frustration."We need to do damage control. The board is concerned. Three major donors have called asking if Preston will be pressing charges."Lucien, on speaker phone while making coffee, sounded completely unbothered. "Let them be concerned. And Preston won't press charges. He knows what he said.""That's not the point. The optics...""I don't care about the optics anymore, Miranda. I care about my wife not being disrespected at events I'm hosting."A pause. Then, softer: "I get it. I do. But you're still the CEO of a publicly traded company. You have responsibilities.""I'm aware. Schedule a statement. I'll apologize for the disruption to the event. But I won't apologize for defending Elara."After he hung up, Elara wrappe

The dinner was with potential investors from Tokyo and Lucien had been preparing for weeks. Presentations, financial projections, market analysis for a proposed development in Shibuya that could either cement Blackwood Holdings' international reputation or become a very expensive failure."I need you there," he told Elara on Tuesday morning.She looked up from her laptop, where she'd been reviewing designs for the Tribeca project. "At the dinner?""Yes. These investors are traditional. They want to see stability. A wife signals commitment, longevity, the kind of family values that matter in Japanese business culture.""So I'm there to smile and look pretty?""You're there because you're my partner. And because you're brilliant and they should meet you." He paused. "But yes, also to smile. They're very particular about image."Elara closed her laptop. "What's the dress code?""Formal. Conservative. Think elegant, not sexy.""You don't think I can be both?""I know you can be both. That