95 – Cypress Mosaic

Lorenz ​took ​a ​few ​more sips of ​his ​drink. ​Even ​though ​Elian had agreed to ​the ​contract, he didn’t ​feel particularly pleased. ​He ​had ​expected ​to ​feel… ​more joyful, but ​that ​wasn’t ​the case. As ​he swirled the glass ​in his ​hand, the ​ice clinked. ​It was ​a ​grating, ​irritating noise that ​scraped at ​his nerves.

“Within a few ​days, I will have ​a lawyer present to ​formally document ​the ​terms of the contract. If you ​wish, I can provide ​a ​lawyer ​for ​Elian’s ​side as well.”

“I ​appreciate the ​offer, ​but I will ​appoint ​my own.”

“…Very well.”

After tilting the ​glass once ​more, ​only ice remained. ​As ​he ​stood ​up ​and walked ​toward ​the bar, ​Lorenz crafted a flat, monotone voice to ​ensure his emotions ​didn’t leak out.

“Tomorrow, ​come to Dr. Carver’s ​office in ​my car. We ​need ​to schedule the ​Pheromone Exchanges based ​on his ​consultation.”

“I ​will.”

“In the ​meantime, ​I’ll have ​Elian’s ​belongings moved ​to ​my ​bedroom.”

“……Excuse me?”

As expected, ​a ​stiffened voice ​sounded ​from ​behind ​him, but Lorenz did not look back.

“If you prefer to move them yourself, feel free to do so. I’ll tell Margaret to clear out some space for your things in advance.”

“Wait, just a moment. Why do my things have to be moved?”

Lorenz stopped pouring his drink and turned to look at Elian. He narrowed his eyes as if surprised that Elian would ask such an obvious question.

“Because, of course, we’ll be sharing a bedroom from now on.”

“I mean, why… why is that the case…”

“It’s only natural for a couple who is going to marry, isn’t it? Especially a couple who fell in love at first sight with a passionate romance and promised marriage within a few months. Do you think it would be convincing if we lived in the same house but used different rooms?”

Lorenz laid out his answer calmly and without hesitation, then swallowed the liquor in his glass with a relaxed motion—as if savoring a cup of smoothly scented coffee.

Elian’s eyes couldn’t stay fixed on one spot, wandering through the air. Lorenz simply watched Elian, who had fallen into a state of bewilderment, while swallowing the strong alcohol.

A couple who fell in love at first sight with a passionate romance. It was clear that this specific setting made Elian uncomfortable. However, since he had accepted the contract, he had to become a perfect fiancé to the outside world. Lorenz had no intention of backing down just because Elian felt awkward.

“Is… such a detailed setting really necessary?”

“Elian, I’m not suggesting we play house like high school students.”

Lorenz’s voice and gaze were utterly serious. It felt as though he were almost angry.

“You are becoming the fiancé of Lorenz Lockhart. This isn’t [visit our site]a unauthorized copygame where we simply deceive a few people around us.”

“……”

“We are performing a play for Manhattan—no, for the entire United States.”

Step by step. Slowly, with weighted strides, he approached Elian. He returned to where he had been sitting and sank into the leather sofa.

“Aside from Margaret, none of the employees in this house are my people.”

“Are you saying we have to deceive them as well?”

“Of course.”

“But everyone working here must have signed non-disclosure agreements. Just as I did. So, you don’t have to go that far…”

“I said it was a play for the entire United States, didn’t I?”

Lorenz cut Elian off. His cheek twitched.

“I have to deceive an opponent even more formidable than the entire United States.”

“Who is that?”

“Evelyn Lockhart. My grandmother.”

“……”

Tension tightened around Elian’s lips. It was a reaction that showed he already knew of Evelyn Lockhart, Lorenz’s grandmother. Unless someone lived completely isolated from business news, any American would have heard that name.

“To deal with her, acting alone isn’t enough. We must become a real couple. Furthermore, if my grandmother wishes, she can receive reports on every single move made within this mansion.”

“Ah…”

A desperate groan escaped Elian’s lips upon realizing there was no way out. Only after confirming that Elian had accepted the situation did Lorenz leisurely lean his upper body against the backrest and cross his long legs.

“And, practice your forms of address thoroughly.”

“Forms of address?”

“It makes no sense for a couple who fell in love at first sight with a passionate romance to call each other by their family names.”

For someone claiming to be in a passionate romance, Lorenz’s gaze was exceedingly cold. It recalled the coolness of a businessman sitting at a negotiation table, weighing gains and losses, numbers and probabilities. Then again, this situation was no different from that.

“From now on, you must call me Lorenz without mistake.”

“I intend to, but it’s not easy to change it now.”

“And yet, back then, you called me that so many times even without me asking?”

“……”

At the ambiguous expression ‘back then,’ Elian looked up at Lorenz, and his face instantly flushed red. He had realized what Lorenz meant. The nights they spent through the Heat and Rut. After the reason that had struggled so hard against the Pheromones finally collapsed.

Scanning the rose-red face several times, Elian averted his gaze.

“I will make sure there are no mistakes.”

“Ah, while we’re at it, practice a nickname too.”

“Even… a nickname?”

“Ren.”

“……”

“That’s my nickname. Though almost no one has called me that since I was ten.”

Lorenz gave a small snort and tilted his long neck back to swallow more liquor.

“You don’t need to call me by my nickname every time in front of others. But if you call me Ren once in a while, the credibility of our relationship will increase.”

“I understand. I’ll practice.”

In Elian’s stiff response, any trace of embarrassment had vanished from his face.

“Elian, you’re a clever person, aren’t you?”

“……”

“I expect you to complete this contract perfectly and without mistake.”

“As long as I’ve agreed to the contract, you don’t need to worry about that part.”

His tone was simmering with hostility. Lorenz gave a faint smile.

It seemed that to Elian, he had become the perfect enemy, a barbaric invader.

“Then, shall we have a toast?”

He reached out and held his glass toward Elian.

It didn’t matter what Elian thought of him. As long as he could keep the Cypress Mosaic by his side.

“To our marriage.”

He believed it didn’t matter. And he had to believe it.

■

A skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass, the grey Hudson River of early winter and a dense cluster of skyscrapers looked down. However, none of the people in the conference room spared a glance at the scenery.

Only four people sat facing each other across a long, heavy hardwood table.

The parties to the contract: Lorenz Lockhart and Elian Bellotti.

And their lawyers.

All the documents were already organized on the table. The contract containing the terms of this bleak marriage agreement was now awaiting the final signatures.

“Upon the termination of the contract, both parties will proceed [unauthorized copy]with stolen contentthe process of a mutual divorce.”

Lorenz’s lawyer continued the explanation in a calm voice.

“All expenses incurred during the contract period will be borne by Mr. Lockhart, and immediately upon the finalization of the divorce, Mr. Lockhart will pay Mr. Bellotti a lump sum of twenty million dollars as alimony.”

Lorenz’s lawyer, wearing thin silver-rimmed glasses, looked across at Elian. Her impeccably groomed hairstyle further emphasized her cool image.

“Mr. Bellotti has also agreed to the twenty million dollars, correct?”

Her tone included a reminder that he must not demand any more than that.

“Yes, he agrees,” Elian’s lawyer answered on his behalf.

Lorenz’s lawyer gave a short nod and continued the explanation.

“Both parties will actively cooperate in Pheromone Exchanges for therapeutic purposes. If necessary for the maintenance of the other party’s stable condition or treatment, Pheromone Exchanges cannot be refused without justifiable cause. As this stolen contentclause is a core visit our sitepurpose of the contract, both parties must implement it in good faith.”

“Confirmed likewise.”

After answering, Elian’s lawyer leaned toward her client and shared a brief whisper. Then, she reminded the two people across the table of Elian’s primary condition.

“Please confirm that after the contract is completed, there will be no approach to Mr. Bellotti’s family in any manner, and the physical safety of the family members will be fully guaranteed.”

Lorenz’s green gaze, which had been fixed on Elian, wavered minutely for a moment.

Elian’s interest seemed entirely focused on the safety of his family. Throughout the process of the contract, he never mentioned the fame he would endure as Lorenz Lockhart’s fiancé and spouse, nor the massive sum of twenty million dollars he would receive after the divorce. Only family, family, family.

But it didn’t matter.

Once he signed these documents, he could legally bind the man before him to his side.

And yet, why did he feel so distant, despite being separated by only a single table?