Chapter 8 The Game

• "Taylor?" A shrill voice pierced the speaker. "Where are you? Get back here right now!" Mrs. Ess' voice was enough to cut glass.
• In the background, Mira’s panicked voice bled through the call. "Mom, where is she? Stan just told me she broke up with him! What is she playing at?!"
• "Taylor, I know you can hear me. Get your butt home!" Mrs. Ess barked.
• Knox stared down at Taylor's sleeping face, unbothered by the screaming coming from the device.
• "She is safe now," Knox said, his voice instantly silencing the chaos.
• "What—"
• Before Mrs. Ess could even process the male voice, Knox ended the call.
• He stared at the phone for a second, then looked down at Taylor, who was still fast asleep on the cold tiles.
• He sighed and scooped her up from the floor, laying her gently on the long leather couch.
• He stared at her for a moment before tossing a soft throw blanket over her shoulders.
• "Troublesome," he muttered, grabbing his car keys and walking out.
• ***
• The morning sun poured through the windows of the penthouse, hitting Taylor directly in the eyes.
• She blinked against the glare, groaning as she clutched her throbbing temple.
• She looked around the room.
• "Did I... sleep here?" she whispered, her eyes wide.
• "What do you think?" a deep voice answered from behind her.
• Taylor spun around. Knox was standing near the kitchen island, his hands casually shoved into his pockets.
• He turned around slowly, his gaze locking onto her. "Good morning."
• "Good... morning," Taylor stammered, smoothing down her wrinkled gown.
• "Come have breakfast," he said, gesturing to the spread on the table.
• "Thanks, but I really need to go back now..." Taylor started, but her sentence was cut short by a loud, treacherous growl from her stomach.
• Knox’s lips twitched slightly. "I think we should stop pretending. We'll be dating soon."
• Taylor froze. "What?"
• "Fake dating," Knox clarified smoothly as he layered a piece of ham onto some fresh bread.
• "Is that a yes?"
• He held the prepared sandwich out toward her. "Take it."
• "I will, then," she said, swallowing her pride and took the sandwich
• "What happened to your hand?" Knox asked, his eyes dropping to the cut on her finger.
• Taylor stopped chewing. "Nothing... just a cut."
• She looked down at the table to avoid his gaze and noticed a thick manila folder resting near her plate. "What's this?"
• "Open it."
• Taylor’s eyes widened as she slid the documents out.
• Printed across the top page in bold, elegant lettering were the words: MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
• A slow, victorious smile spread across her face.
• "Go through it," Knox said.
• Taylor flipped through the crisp pages, her eyes scanning the legal jargon. "We will present ourselves as a genuine, committed couple in all public settings..." she read aloud.
• She reached for a pen sitting on the table, her hand poised over the signature line.
• "You're signing it just like that? Aren't you going to read the rest?"
• "I have nothing left to lose," Taylor said.
• She signed her name at the bottom.
• "Thank you. I will make sure this saves you from that arranged marriage."
• Knox didn't say a word.
• "We will be leaving soon," he said, setting his plate down.
• "Where?"
• "The gym."
• Taylor blinked. "What?"
• ***
• "Hello, sir... you're back..." The receptionist at the front desk greeted Knox warmly, but her smile completely froze when she saw Taylor standing beside him in casual athletic wear.
• "What... why are we here?" Taylor asked, confused.
• "To exercise. What else does one do in a gym?"
• He turned to Taylor. "Go find a machine. I'll be right back." He headed toward the locker rooms.
• Taylor looked around and wondered why on earth he had brought her here, of all places, instead of taking her to face his family or hers to declare their relationship.
• Exhaling to calm her nerves, Taylor walked over to the cardio section and stepped onto a treadmill, starting a light jog.
• A few minutes later, Knox appeared, walking over to stand at the edge of her machine.
• "Your phone."
• Taylor handed it to him without thinking.
• Knox took the device, quickly dialed his own number, and waited a beat until his own phone vibrated in his pocket. He slid hers back into her palm.
• "Now I have your contact," he said, his voice smooth.
• Taylor blinked, clutching the phone.
• She walked over to the weights, picking up a light set of dumbbells to start her reps in front of the massive, wall-to-wall mirror.
• Suddenly, Knox stepped up behind her. His massive chest nearly brushed her shoulders, his towering warmth completely enveloping her. Taylor’s breath hitched.
• "Slowly," Knox murmured, his deep voice vibrating against her neck.
• His large hands hovered just over her wrists, guiding her form.
• He looked through the mirror in front of them.
• "Good... he's here," Knox whispered.
• "Who?" Taylor asked, turning her head to look at him, but his face was already so close to hers.
• Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
• Knox looked down at her lips.
• "Relax," he murmured, his voice a low, hypnotic command. "And smile."
• Before she could ask anything else, Knox’s powerful arm slipped fully around her waist, pulling her flush against his solid frame.
• "The game has just begun," he murmured.