All Chapters of Sign Here, Mrs. Hart: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

Xavier’s POVLove was for men with time to waste. I had thirty days, a board of directors circling like vultures, and a dead man's lawyer telling me I needed to fall in love on a deadline. I resisted the urge to slam my hands on the table and settled for straightening my already perfect cuffs instead, pacing the length of the room.Across the table sat Arthur, my grandfather’s lawyer, apparently unbothered by my rising temper. I’d spent years studying subjects I hated just to be a better fit for this position. I’d been a good grandson, helped this company spread its wings—and now, after Grandpa’s passing, I had to sit here and listen to this? Fight my cousin Nolan, who knew nothing about how a company actually worked, for power that was already mine?“Just read the damn thing, Arthur,” I snapped. “I have a merger meeting in twenty minutes, and I doubt my grandfather spent eighty years building this empire just so I could waste my morning on poetry and sentiment.”Arthur didn’t look up

Harper’s POV“Urgh craap...” I groaned, resting my head against the small table in the hotel room, a bottle of cheap alcohol in my hand. It was the only thing keeping me from completely unraveling.I dialed Eric’s number for the twentieth time, my hands shaking, even though I already knew the answer. Busy. “Pick up,” I whispered, my voice raw from crying. “Please, Eric. Just tell me it’s a joke.”I already knew it wasn’t. I’d seen the zeros in my bank account with my own eyes.My phone buzzed, and for one heartbeat, my whole body lifted. I didn’t even check the caller ID before pressing it to my ear. “Eric?”“Miss Vance?” The voice was cold—nothing like Eric. “This is Mr. Henderson, from the collections department at National Trust.”I stiffened, pressing my forehead against my knees, eyes shut. “Mr. Henderson. I’m—I’m working on the payment. I just need a little more time.”“You’ve had two years of ‘more time,’ Miss Vance,” he snapped. “The grace period is over. If the funds aren’t i

Xavier’s POVI stepped out of that dump of a hotel room with the heavy folder tucked under my arm like a trophy.The hallway smelled like weed and regret a stark contrast to the clean luxury of my office but I didn’t care. I had the signature I needed. I had my head start on Nolan.I called Sarah as I made my way down the creaking stairs. “Have the driver pull around front,” I said. “And tell legal to draft the official addenda for the Vance estate buyout immediately.”“Right away, Mr. Hart,” she said.An hour later, I sat behind my desk, studying the woman who was now or soon would be my pretend wife. Harper looked like absolute hell. Her long blonde hair had come loose from its usual messy bun, and those emerald eyes were practically burning a hole through me.She still clutched her bruised arms where the loan sharks had grabbed her, but she refused to look weak. I had to respect that, even as it tested my patience.“Sit down, Harper,” I said, my voice flat.“I’d rather stand.” Her