"So what if he has a little damn money..."

"That money is enough to put him leagues ahead of you. A Social Climber like you, who scams women out of their money and affection, can’t even be compared to him," Sophie Shaw retorted bluntly.

Seeing Damian Morgan’s face turn ashen as he gritted his teeth, her red lips curled into a smirk, and a wave of smug satisfaction washed over her.

—

After taking a cab to the office, Sophie Shaw went inside and turned on her computer. She took a flash drive out of her bag, plugged it into the USB port, and printed two copies of the marriage of convenience agreement she had drafted last night.

She signed her name on the agreements, placed them in her bag along with a pen, then picked up her phone to message Alaric Blackwood.

Sophie Shaw: Are you free to meet in about twenty minutes?

At that moment, Alaric Blackwood was in a morning meeting, his phone on silent and placed screen-up on the conference table.

When the screen lit up with a message notification, the corner of his mouth lifted in a barely perceptible smirk.

He merely glanced at the screen before turning his focus back to the meeting.

Once the meeting ended, he picked up his phone from the table and strode out. Instead of returning to his office, he opened the message and casually sent Sophie Shaw a location pin.

It was a coffee shop.

It was in a prominent, ground-floor spot right across from Blackwood Tower.

Sophie Shaw rushed over in a cab. The moment she got out, she saw Alaric Blackwood inside, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window. He wore a crisp, dark suit, his features strong and well-defined. Bathed in the warm sunlight, the soft glow made him seem much gentler than usual.

She clutched her bag, pushed open the glass door, and walked inside.

She sat down across from Alaric Blackwood, ordered a coffee, and then took the marriage of convenience agreement from her bag. "Take a look," she said, sliding it over to him.

He took it and skimmed through the pages quickly, his expression questioning as he read some of the clauses aloud.

"No physical intimacy?"

"No attempts at seduction?"

"’A harmonious and friendly coexistence for mutual growth, based on respecting each other’s wishes’?"

...

Alaric Blackwood pressed his lips into a thin line. He lifted his eyes, as deep and dark as an abyss, and looked over the document to fix his gaze on Sophie Shaw’s perfectly straight face.

She calmly picked up her cup and took a sip of coffee. "If you have any objections, Mr. Blackwood, you can voice them. If not, then please sign."

"Pen."

Sophie Shaw took the pen from her bag and handed it to him.

He took the pen, but instead of signing the last page, he began carefully revising the terms of the agreement.

"Take another look," Alaric Blackwood said, handing the amended agreement back to her.

Sophie Shaw looked at it pensively. He had crossed out two clauses: ’no physical intimacy’ and ’no attempts at seduction.’ And after the part about ’mutual growth,’ he had added a new phrase—each gets what they need.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Alaric Blackwood loosened his tie, turning slightly and draping an arm over the back of his chair. His posture became decidedly more cavalier. "Exactly what it says."

"’Each gets what they need’ is too vague. You need to write down exactly what you need."

"My needs change with the time, place, and my mood. It would be impossible to specify."

"..."

’That sounds utterly shameless.’

Sophie Shaw felt this was a trap.

A huge, deep trap.

Having been burned by Damian Morgan once before, she mulled it over cautiously for a moment. Then, she snatched the pen Alaric Blackwood was idly twirling in his fingers and added another line to the agreement.

She added a parenthetical after ’each gets what they need’: (Does not include physical transactions).

Seeing the words she’d written, Alaric Blackwood felt a headache coming on.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Miss Shaw, you seem quite fixated on the subject of physical intimacy, don’t you?"

"Just being cautious."

"You don’t trust me?"

"I’ve heard certain rumors about you, Mr. Blackwood."

"Such as?"

"That you have a woman on each arm."

"What else?"

"That you’ve been with countless women, and that you even keep a pampered mistress."

"Hm?"

Alaric Blackwood raised an eyebrow.

’My reputation is really that colorful?’

’Even I didn’t know I kept a pampered mistress!’

"So, you’re wary of me."

’Interesting.’

"Let’s leave it at that. Come with me."

He stood, walked to the counter to pay, then strode out with his hands in his trouser pockets.

The knot of anxiety in Sophie Shaw’s chest finally loosened. She quickly followed Alaric Blackwood out of the coffee shop.

He cut a tall, imposing figure, at least six-foot-two by her estimation. Dressed in his impeccably tailored suit, he radiated a powerful aura, seeming to create a stir in the air as he walked.

He led her across the crosswalk and into the towering Blackwood Tower.

After taking the express elevator to the top floor, Alaric Blackwood led her to the secretary’s office. "Let her use a spare computer."

After giving the order, he returned to his office to handle some documents that required his signature.

Sophie Shaw amended the agreement, printed out two new copies, and found Alaric Blackwood. The two of them then officially signed.

"Mr. Blackwood, it’s a pleasure working with you."

Sophie Shaw politely extended a hand to him.

He ignored her gesture. "Not so fast. We still need to get the license."

"Right now?"

Alaric Blackwood glanced at his watch. They had just enough time.

He grabbed his car keys and gestured for Sophie Shaw to follow.

Staying just within the bounds of traffic laws, the Maybach sped down the road as Alaric Blackwood pushed the car to its maximum legal speed.

They arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau in just ten minutes.

The process went very smoothly. Within half an hour, Sophie Shaw was holding their marriage certificate.

She looked at the photo of herself and Alaric Blackwood on the marriage certificate and felt they didn’t match. Alaric Blackwood had taken off his jacket for the photo, wearing just a white shirt with a perfectly knotted tie.

She, on the other hand, was wearing a long black dress under a light, coffee-colored jacket.

’First time getting married, no experience.’

’If I’d known, I would have worn a white shirt to match.’

"Now that we’re husband and wife, I’ll be in your care," Alaric Blackwood said, extending a hand to her.

She looked at his large hand—his knuckles well-defined, the veins prominent, radiating a tense, masculine energy—and placed her own hand in his.

He suddenly tightened his grip, lifted her hand, and pressed a kiss to the back of it.

It was as light as a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface.

The touch was light, yet a faint electric current inexplicably shot up her arm.

She instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

Alaric Blackwood held firm, his thumb caressing her fingers. "I wonder, does Mrs. Blackwood have time after work?"

"For what?"

"To browse some jewelry stores. Look for rings."

Sophie Shaw considered it. They were married now, and as a married couple, rings were essential.

"I get off work at six."

Alaric Blackwood nodded. "I’ll be there to pick you up on time."

He didn’t release her hand, instead leading her to the car. He pulled open the passenger door, then, wrapping one arm around her waist and the other under her knees, he lifted her into a perfect princess carry.

In her entire life, this was the first time a man had ever held her like this.

Sophie Shaw’s brain stuttered and crashed, her thoughts scattering into chaos as a visible blush bloomed across her cheeks.

By the time she came back to her senses, Alaric Blackwood had already placed her in the passenger seat.

He pulled the seatbelt across and buckled her in, bracing his arms on either side of her. It was a dominant, invasive posture, caging her securely between his arms.

"Mrs. Blackwood, why are you blushing?"

"GULP—"

Sophie Shaw swallowed hard, her senses filled with the scent of his cologne—a rich blend of ebony and agarwood.

"Never been held by a man before?"

"..."

"Am I really the first man to ever hold you?"