Chapter 3 - The Contract of the Century
"You're insane," Leo said, his voice flat as he pulled his hand back from Victoria’s grip. "I'm a carpenter, lady. I build bookshelves and repair decks. I don't play pretend for the media, and I certainly don't sell myself to ice queens."
"This isn't about pride, Mr. Bennett," Victoria hissed, her eyes darting to the window where the flashing lights of the paparazzi were already reflecting off the wet pavement. "Julian is outside. If he sees my daughters alone with security, he wins custody. If he wins custody, he will send them to a boarding school in Switzerland to keep them out of the way while he strips Vance Global of its assets. My daughters will be isolated. Ruined."
Leo looked at the girls. Lily was clutching her rabbit so hard its seams were splitting. Maya, Chloe, and Sophia had clustered together, their identical faces masks of pure dread. They knew who Julian was. And they were terrified of him.
"And what about my son?" Leo demanded, pointing to Noah, who was now being held gently by Mrs. Gable near the kitchen door. "I'm not putting my boy in the middle of a billionaire family war."
"Your son will have access to the finest medical care, the best tutors, and a trust fund that will ensure he never has to worry about a bill for the rest of his life," Victoria said, her voice urgent. "And I will personally fund the daycare center so it never has to close. All I need is a signature. A temporary marriage of convenience. One year. Then you can walk away with ten million dollars."
"Ten million?" Leo breathed.
Before he could process the number, the café door opened again. A tall, handsome man with a slicked-back silver hair and a smug, victorious smile stepped inside. Julian Vance. Behind him, three reporters pushed their microphones through the doorway.
"Victoria, darling!" Julian called out, his voice dripping with fake concern. "I heard there was a security breach. The nanny abandoned the girls? Oh, the tragedy of a working mother who simply has no time for her own flesh and blood. The board is going to be devastated."
Julian walked toward the table, his eyes gleaming with triumph. But as he drew closer, his smile faltered.
Leo had moved.
He was sitting back down, draping one large, protective arm around Lily and Maya, while his other hand reached out and casually took Victoria’s hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. He looked up at Julian with a calm, lazy smile.
"Julian, is it?" Leo said, his voice carrying a perfect blend of confidence and casual arrogance. "I think you’ve got your facts twisted. The nanny didn't abandon anyone. She was dismissed because my fiancée and I decided we didn't want strangers raising our kids anymore."
Julian froze. The reporters behind him began whispering furiously, their cameras clicking at lightning speed.
"Fiancée?" Julian spat, his eyes darting from Leo’s rough hands to Victoria’s face. "Victoria, who is this garbage? You don't know this man."
"Actually, Julian," Victoria said, her voice miraculously shifting into a warm, affectionate tone that made Leo’s skin crawl with how convincing it was. "Leo and I have been together for months. We wanted to keep our private life out of the tabloids for the sake of the children. But since you’ve decided to make our family a corporate circus... meet my fiancé. Leo Bennett. The future co-guardian of the Vance estate."
Julian’s face turned an ugly, mottled red. "This is a lie! He’s a nobody! A setup!"
"A setup?" Leo chuckled, standing up and pulling Victoria close to his side. He looked Julian dead in the eye. "If you think it's a lie, you’re welcome to test us in court. But right now, you're blocking the exit. And my daughters have a doctor's appointment."
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The bluff worked—for now. But as the limousine pulled away from the café, Victoria handed Leo a thick, hundred-page document bound in black leather. 'Welcome to the family, Leo,' she said, her warm tone vanishing instantly, replaced by her usual arctic chill. 'Rule number one: you will move into my estate tonight. Rule number two: if you touch me, or if your son touches anything in the east wing, the contract is void and you get nothing. And rule number three... my ex-husband is coming back to town to kill us both.'
