“Good.”My jaw aches from how hard I’m clenching my teeth.In my mind’s eye, I see Inara opening her townhouse door and collapsing over and over again.“It’s my fault.”
Hamish says nothing.
“If only I—” Could have what?Rewind time?There are some mistakes no amount of money can undo.“We have to catch him.He’ll make a mistake, and we’ll get him.”
“Indeed, sir.In the meantime, you should know the news is reporting that New Rome’s most eligible bachelor is now a married man.”His brief pause speaks volumes of censure.“Is there something I should know?”
I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell him.“As of ten a.m.this morning, Inara and I are married.The paperwork went through this morning.”Technically, there’s a thirty-day waiting period between getting a marriage license and tying the knot.The bride is also supposed to be present to sign the forms and actually have knowledge of the impending nuptials.But no problem is insurmountable with a big enough bribe.
“Ah.Does she know?”
“She does now.”
“I shall instruct our lawyers to draw up a postnuptial agreement.”
“No need.What’s mine is hers.”She might accept me if she realizes how much fun it is having billions to your name.The thought fills me with satisfaction.Gives a new meaning to golden handcuffs.
“Then I shall order her a signature seal, as well as some stationery.”
“Hold that thought.She might not be too keen on taking my last name.”I smile as I scroll through her annoyed texts.
“Trouble in paradise all ready?”Hamish does not sound surprised.
“I’m working on it.”I’ve spent much of my courtship with Inara pissing her off.Why stop now?
My phone lights up with an incoming text from one of the Fraternitas twins guarding Inara.
Kaiser: Wifey is on the move.
She’s going to hate that codename.I look forward to her blowing up at me when she finds out.
“If you’ll excuse me now, Hamish.I’m off to hold a press conference.”It’s time to make it clear to this city that anyone who messes with my wife messes with me.
Inara
A swarmof reporters beat us to City Hall.My blond bodyguards hustle me past them and into the quiet depths of the grand old building.I go to wait in line, but once I show my ID, an official rushes over and escorts me to a private room.Someone flagged my maiden name, and I’m recognized as the newest Roy.It seems my association with the wealthy family is enough to award me special treatment, whether I like it or not.
I sign and figure it will be faster if I take advantage of the quick service than if I insist on waiting in line.Maybe I can reverse all this today.
“There’s been some mistake,” I explain to the official.“I haven’t actually gotten married or changed my name.”
The man fumbles with his computer, his brow creasing as he clicks and mutters to himself.“It says the forms were filed this morning.”
“But not by me.”
“Is this your signature?”He shows me the screen, and I grit my teeth.
“It’s a forgery.”But a perfect match to my own.Maybe there’s a journal of Rex’s somewhere full of practice lines.I take a moment to imagine a page filled with schoolboy script and “Inara + Rex” decorated with little hearts.The absurd image makes me bite back a laugh.
This whole thing is absurd, so I might as well let it amuse me.I was annoyed at this distraction, but it’s nice to have something to smile about, even in the middle of a case.
“But that’s fraud,” the official gasps.“Do you have any idea who would do such a thing?Or why?”
Apparently, to mark me in a way society will accept.I won’t wear Rex’s collar, so he went with something more conventional.
Now everyone will know you belong to me.
“It doesn’t matter.”I don’t want all this getting out.Rex makes headlines by walking down the street.This sort of scandal will be gossip fodder for years.“I think it was supposed to be...a joke.”I wince when the official gasps again.“I just want the record corrected.”
