MARRIED BY MISTAKE

Perched sixty-three stories above Manhattan, the Mercer Tower exuded intimidation, steel, and glass. Naturally, Aria had seen it before. Everybody had. The way it caught the afternoon sun and threw light across the city like a challenge made it impossible to miss. She never thought she would be in it. I never would have guessed that she would be here as Leon Mercer's unintentional wife. It felt like an hour, even though the elevator ride took less than a minute. With one hand in his pocket and the other still gripping his phone, Leon stood stiffly next to her. During the drive, he had made three calls. They were all angry, short, and clipped. Aria tried to breathe normally while keeping her gaze on the increasing floor numbers. The spot on her wrist where he had grabbed her outside the marriage bureau was still tingling. Not because it was painful. Since it didn't. Because his touch had been firm, warm, and utterly assured-the touch of a man who never questioned his right to take what he desired. The elevator made a chiming sound. Sixty-third floor. "This way." Leon didn't wait for her to come along. Aria was carried down a hallway lined with abstract artwork that likely cost more than her childhood home as he strolled. Somehow, her feet moved on their own. They went by the desk of an assistant. A blond woman glanced up at Leon's face before turning back to her computer right away. Intelligent woman. Leon pushed open double doors into an office that was more of a declaration of war than a place to work. Windows from floor to ceiling provided views of Central Park. In the middle was a huge desk that was so spotless it appeared as though no real work had ever been done there. A fully stocked bar was next to an L-shaped arrangement of two leather couches. With his hands in his pockets, a man stood close to the window, observing the city below. He turned when they entered. "Leon." His voice was warm, where Leon's was ice. "This is the emergency?" He looked at Aria. His eyes widened slightly. "This is not Ariana Hale." "Brilliant observation, Marcus." Leon moved to the bar and poured himself two fingers of scotch. He didn't offer any to Aria. "Meet my wife. Aria Hale." Marcus blinked. "Your... I'm sorry, you're what?" "Wife." Leon drained half the glass in one swallow. "There was a mix-up at the registry. The wrong sister signed the papers. I'm now legally bound to a woman I've never met. "Aria's cheeks were burning. He spoke about her as if she weren't there. As if she were an issue that needed to be resolved rather than a human being. Marcus's expression was halfway between amusement and shock as he glanced between them. Ask her, "How does someone marry the wrong person?" Ask her, Leon's eyes were so piercing that they could have drawn blood from Aria. "She seems to know everything, "I tried to tell you, Aria whispered." Compared to how she felt, her voice sounded more steady. "Multiple times. You didn't listen." "You signed the papers." "You told me to!" "I told Ariana to sign. Not some stranger who decided to. "I am not a stranger!" The words burst out before Aria could stop them. "I'm her sister. Her younger sister. Who was doing her a favour by delivering documents because she couldn't be bothered to show up to her own wedding!" Silence dropped like a curtain. Marcus cleared his throat. "Where is Ariana, exactly?" Aria pulled out her phone with shaking hands and held up the text message-the one with no explanation. No apology. Just Emergency. Can't make it. Marcus read it and let out a low whistle. "That's cold, even for a runaway bride." "She didn't run," Leon said. "She sent her replacement." "I am not a replacement!" Aria's control snapped. I didn't ask for this. This was not my plan. Her voice reverberated off the windows. "I didn't even want to be at that stupid office, but someone had to deliver the papers, and as usual, I'm the one who has to clean up everyone else's mess." The two men looked at her. Aria felt empty as her rage subsided as fast as it had appeared. She put her arms around herself and turned her head away. "I apologize.". I should not have shouted. "Avoid apologizing. Marcus took a step closer, his face soft. "You are perfectly entitled to feel angry. "She is without rights. With a sharp click, Leon put down his empty glass. "Not in my office. Not in my life." "Leon-" "We're fixing this. Today." Leon pulled his phone out again. I'll give Jeffrey a call. He'll be able to speed up an annulment. "What doesn't qualify cannot be expedited. Marcus's tone remained cool and collected. "Both of you signed the certificate. It has been submitted to the state. There are no grounds for an immediate annulment, no fraud, and no coercion. Then we'll get divorced. "In New York, there must be grounds for fault or mutual consent with a separation agreement. That takes time." "How much time?" Marcus hesitated. "Minimum three months if you both cooperate. Six months is more realistic. And that's assuming no one contests it." Leon's jaw clenched so hard that Aria could see the muscle jump. "Unacceptable." "I agree it's not ideal, but-" "She planned this." Leon turned on Aria, his eyes blazing. "Her sister disappears at the exact right moment. She shows up with the documents. On my marriage license, she signs her own name. "I didn't plan anything!" Aria's voice broke. "And now you're telling me I'm stuck with her for six months?" "Why would I want to marry you? I don't even know you!" "Everyone knows who I am." Leon approached, and Aria had to fight the impulse to retreat. "Everyone is aware of my wealth. My properties. My relationships. Getting married to me is the key to a life that most people can only imagine. "I'm not interested in your life. "Every gold-digger says this. "The words were like a slap. Something inside Aria became rigid and frigid. She had been ignored, disregarded, and treated as if she were unimportant for her entire life. She had come to terms with it from everyone who ought to have loved her, including her parents and sister. However, she was not required to take it from him. "You know what?" Aria said in a quiet voice, but it was more potent than all of her yelling. "You can believe anything you want. I am aware of the reality. That's sufficient. "She faced the door. Leon's voice broke like a whip as he asked, "Where are you going?" "At home. Aria didn't turn around. "It's apparent that you don't want me here. I'll handle the annulment on my own. "You're not leaving. Leon's palm struck the wood above Aria's head, keeping the door shut while her hand was on the handle. She became motionless. She could feel the heat radiating from his body because he was so close behind her. "Let me go. She was certain he could hear the pounding of her heart. "We must talk about terms. "Terms?" Leon's breath ruffled her hair. "On paper, you are my wife. That comes with consequences. Rules. Expectations." When Aria finally turned, they were only inches apart, which was a mistake. His eyes were more than grey up close. They resembled broken mirrors with silver flecks. "I'm not following your rules," she declared. "You'll worsen this situation for yourself. You've already concluded that I'm a liar and a gold-digger, so how could it be worse? What else is there? Something flickered across Leon's face. Surprise, maybe. Or respect. It vanished before Aria could identify it. Marcus spoke from across the room. "Leon. Let her breathe." Leon didn't move. "Do you have somewhere to go? An apartment? Family who'll take you in?" Aria thought of her parents' house. The one where Ariana got the main suite, and Aria got the room by the garage. Where her mother looked through her instead of at her, her father only noticed her long enough to ask her to help her sister with errands. "I had that thought. Leon's voice became quieter. "There is nowhere for you to go. Not a dime. No strategy. Like me, you are trapped. "I have a job," Aria declared, though she wasn't sure how long that would last. "I am capable of looking after myself. "Can you?" Leon's gaze scanned her face as if searching for weaknesses in her armour. "Because you appear to be a woman who unintentionally married a stranger and is unsure of what will happen next. "He was correct. That only made matters worse. "This is what will take place. At last, Leon moved aside to give her room to breathe. "You will move into my penthouse. While my attorneys work to put an end to this catastrophe, we will put on a united front for the public. You'll abide by my rules. I won't be embarrassed by you. After all is said and done, you'll have enough money to begin any life you choose. Somewhere far from me. "I don't. "I don't want your money." "Everyone wants money." "Not everyone is Vanessa." The name came out before Aria could stop it. She had seen the tabloid pictures and heard the stories. The former fiancée of Leon, who had cheated on him with his business partner, attempted to claim half of his company as part of the settlement. Leon's expression froze. Aria raised her chin and asked, "What did you say?" I said I'm not Vanessa. I didn't trap you. I did not plan this. And the only thing I want from you is to correct this error so I can go back to my life. "Your life." Leon's laugh was bitter. "The life where you run errands for your sister and let your family treat you like hired help? That life?" The observation was too accurate, too sharp. After less than an hour of getting to know her, how did he notice that? "My life is none of your business. "As soon as you signed that certificate, it became my business. Leon returned to his desk and took out a notepad. "We are putting this in writing. A contract. Terms we both agree to follow." "You can't contract your way out of a marriage." "Watch me." Leon clicked a pen and started writing. "Rule one: Separate bedrooms. We may be married on paper, but this is purely transactional." Aria's stomach twisted. Transactional. Like she was a business deal gone wrong. "Rule two," Leon continued. "No physical contact unless necessary for public appearances. I don't want there to be any confusion about what this is." "Believe me, there's no confusion." Her legs felt unsteady, so Aria went to the couch and sat down. "What else?" "You'll attend events with me when required. Smile. Play the role of devoted wife. Make this look real to anyone watching." Leon looked at her as if she had proposed burning money for amusement. "Why not just tell people the truth?" he asked. "Because I'm currently closing the biggest deal of my professional life. My investors must think I'm married, stable, and settled. Everything I've built would be destroyed by a public scandal about marrying the wrong woman. "So, to preserve your reputation, I should lie. When you signed those documents, you created an obligation that you are expected to fulfil. "You are just as much to blame for this entire mess as I am! I did not create anything. You signed without even looking at the document. "I checked the name. Ariana Hale. "Maybe if you'd listened when I tried to explain-" "Maybe if you'd been clearer-" "How was I supposed to know there would be two of you?" "I said 'I'm not Ariana' three separate times!" "And then you signed anyway!" Now they were both standing, their faces flushed and their voices raised. Marcus's expression was torn between amusement and worry as he observed them like he was watching a tennis match. Marcus remarked, "You're both right," into the deafening silence. "This situation is chaotic. Both of you had a part in it. You both now have to deal with the fallout. "Leon ruined his flawlessly styled hair by running a hand through it. "All right. We'll split the blame. However, that doesn't change the situation. "What situation?" Aria asked. "You're moving in with me tonight." "Excuse me?" "We're married. Married couples live together. If we don't, it looks suspicious. And if my investors get suspicious-" Your deal tanks. Yes, you mentioned that." Aria's head spun. "I can't just move in with you. I have things-a life. "Bring what you need. My assistant will make arrangements for the remaining items to be relocated tomorrow. "You can't just tell me what to do!" "When you live with me, I can." Leon had hard eyes. "Aria, this cannot be negotiated. If you want me to think you didn't plan this, show me. Obey the rules. Act out the part. Please help me keep my deal. We'll both leave as if nothing had happened when the six months are up. "And if I refuse?" Leon asked with a cold smile. "After that, I'll make sure that everyone in this city is aware of how you forced me into marriage. Your name will be poisonous. The reputation of your family will be ruined. You'll be remembered for the rest of your life as the girl who tricked Leon Mercer into a marriage. "There was a sense of impending danger between them. The walls began to close in on Aria. He was accurate. There was nowhere for her. You can't fight him. No resources to match his wealth, power, and legal team. She was confined. "Okay," she muttered. "Yes, I will do it. "Louder." Aria looked him in the eye. "I said fine. I'll move in. I'll follow your rules. I'll play the devoted wife." "And?" "And I don't want to see you again after this is over. Leon extended his hand. "Then, we have an agreement. "Aria gazed at his extended hand. Her entire being cried out that she couldn't handle it. Avoid touching him and refuse to accept this absurd arrangement. She put her hand in his, but what other option did she have? Warm, consequential, and utterly certain, his fingers closed around hers. "Welcome home, wife," Leon said. And Aria was absolutely sure that she had just struck a bargain with the devil.