Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

Fighting for justice I spent that short night lying in Aren’s arms. There was something bittersweet about it. We were hugging each other without our desires exploding within us or driving us to the edge of sanity. I took pleasure in feeling Aren’s warmth covering my body, his strong arms keeping me from falling off the sofa. His heart beat at a soothing rate, allowing me to sleep soundly

until the merciless alarm woke us up.

He already had his suitcases prepared and was ready to go straight to the airport. I went there with him, watching him get on board his private jet and fly off. My chest suddenly squeezed as if I was saying my final goodbye to him, at the same time knowing that the day I would walk away from him could feel much worse than that.

I wanted to shake off that depressing sensation as soon as I could, and there was only one way I was able to do that: by planning Operation Blue Dreamland. I called Jack and told him what we had and what we could get if we went to Blue Dreamland. I was glad when he agreed that getting into that company fast was our only chance to find the undeniable evidence of their crime.

“But there’s a problem, Cora,” he said reluctantly, “I can’t help you with that. I’m already working full speed on Lan Liling’s reopened case, and today I am taking a group of agents to hunt down former Chief George Richardson. That bastard got tipped that we were trying to get him, so apparently, he escaped from the state.” “I see.” I sighed, and of course, naturally, thought that my next move would be to call Chris. “Chris won’t help you either, I’m afraid.” Jack seemed to be reading my mind. “As far as I know, he would be joining Aren in Paris.”

“Great,” I groaned as my temple vein started to throb. “So what now? Should I just sit and do nothing while those bastards get rid of all the evidence?”.

Jack let out a long exhale before asking, “How close do you have to get to their equipment to get the proof we need?”

“A few feet would be nice, but if we modify our devices it would be enough to be further away but on the same floor,” I explained.

Jack muttered, “Aren is going to kill me for this…” Then I heard him taking a deep breath. “I heard that Bleu Dreamland organizes open tours to attract potential employees. You can use it to get in and out without raising suspicion. But remember, in case Aren asks, it wasn’t my suggestion.”

I chuckled. “Of course, I would never snitch on you.”

Jack’s suggestion sounded reasonable and fairly safe. All we needed to do was to blend in, follow the crowd, and check the readings on our devices from time to time. It felt like a piece of cake, but I still needed a partner in crime, and there was only one name that came to my mind: Norton

***

The Blue Dreamland’s open tour for future employees happened two days later. The tour was about to begin in two hours. In the meantime, we have made the necessary preparations. I wore a brown wig I borrowed from Monique and my grandma’s old pair of glasses, saving only

so as not to go blind in the process. To complete my geeky look, I put on my old grey suit, the one I bought when I was looking for my first job in New York. Surprisingly, it took a lot of effort to look good enough to be labeled as “nothing special.” For most of my life, I was labeled as either a babe or

was to be. His grey-slash-green suit, matching his eyes, and his usual neatly combed brown hair, had already given him the perfect disguise. Who would have ever suspected a guy looking like that of being a serious

go there with you?” he mumbled fearfully, watching me put our

one eyebrow. “He is the complete opposite of the blending-in type. You are the one I need, and believe me, all you have

say.”

widening his eyes. I prodded his elbow and chuckled. I knew that he would loosen up once we got inside, but currently, if he was shaking a bit more, he would have fallen

felt more relaxed after we entered the building where Blue Dreamland had its offices. He

Norton. You’re like a pro at this,”

his

the company representative greeted us with a plastered smile, urging us to join the group that had already gathered in the center of the Blue Dreamland’s corridor. I smirked inwardly as we quickly collided with the mass of greyish people, not only blending in but looking more like clones. I found the sight of our group a little sad. I bet that

we entered the long corridors of open space offices on both sides, where the programmers and graphics sat in front of their computers in their little cubicles. I slid my hand into my purse and activated

way.” Our tour guide pointed at the corridor on the right, but as we passed the turn, the device showed a weak reading coming

my eyes. “What’s over there?” I pointed at the

gave me a cocky smirk “The executives have

my breath before asking again. “Is that all there is? It looks

with my questions. “You

company. Now, let’s

some distraction.” “D-distraction?” He glanced at me, terrified. “Yes. Ask about something,

I clamped my mouth with my hand, trying to resist a chuckle. The guide went pale while all eyes went on Norton, who stood confident, crossing his arms over his chest. “W-where did you hear something like this?!” The manager laughed hysterically, quickly shifting everyone’s attention onto

someone from the

plagiarized by Blue Dreamland. I grinned wickedly before slowly stepping back and turning to the left side of the corridor. As the commotion in the group arose, nobody noticed me walking away from them. I hid my visitor’s pass and confidently strode toward the spacious offices that were supposed to belong to the executives, but as I glimpsed through the glass doors I passed, the rooms inside resembled high-tech computer laboratories. I reached for the device in my purse and saw it shining brighter than a Christmas tree. I smirked and turned