AMARA'S POV
Lights go out. I scream.
Footsteps.
Lights blaze on. Gabriel in the doorway. Amara!
I run to him. Someone was here
Circuit breaker. Someone tampered with it. He holds me tight. I shouldn't have left you.
I'm shaking. He's safe.
The stalker is escalating.
I know. New security tomorrow. Cameras. Guards. His voice is firm. Interview is in three days. We're ready.
That night, I can't sleep. Gabriel pulls me close. I've got you.
For the first time in days, I feel safe.
Interview day. Conservative dress. Platinum wedding ring Gabriel gave me yesterday.
How did you know my size?
I notice things.
Immigration office. Cold. Sterile. We wait.
Mr. and Mrs. Stone? Officer Martinez. Severe expression.
Small room. Two chairs.
How did you meet?
Gabriel: In court. Three years ago. She destroyed me. Won brilliantly. I've been interested ever since.
Ms. Okoye, when did you realize you had feelings?
Six months ago. We kept running into each other. Getting coffee. He's different than I expected. Kinder.
Gabriel squeezes my hand under the table.
Where did he propose?
Italian restaurant. After a pro bono case. He said: 'I've never been more sure. Marry me.
Gabriel's eyes darken. We never discussed this. But he nods. Exactly what I said.
Officer Martinez separates us. Takes Gabriel to another room.
Alone, I'm terrified.
What side of the bed does your husband sleep on?
Right. But he migrates to the middle. I wake up tangled in his arms every morning.
What's his mother's name?
Elena. Brazilian. She died when he was fifteen. Suicide.
Officer Martinez's expression softens. And your parents?
Killed. Nigeria. I was thirteen.
So you're both orphans.
Yes. We understand loss.
More questions. Rapid fire. I answer everything truthfully.
Because I've actually learned Gabriel Stone.
Finally, she brings Gabriel back.
One final question. Why should I believe this marriage is real?
Gabriel speaks first. Because I've spent three years trying not to fall in love with her. And I failed. She's brilliant. Brave. She talks in her sleep. And when she smiles, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
Tears burn my eyes.
That was romantic. But you're a lawyer. Words are your profession.
Gabriel shows his phone. These are texts. Six months. Late night conversations. Read them. Tell me that's fake.
She reads. Her expression shifts.
Ms. Okoye. Your turn.
I look at Gabriel. Because he sees me. Not what I can do for him. Who I am. The parts I hide. And he doesn't run.
How do you know?
I've seen him at 2 AM with nightmares. Held him while he cried. You can't fake that vulnerability.
Officer Martinez closes her folder. Decision in two weeks. If approved, you'll get your conditional green card.
Two weeks?
Standard. You're free to go.
Outside. Exhausted.
Gabriel's quiet in the car.
Did we pass? I ask.
I don't know.
The things you said
Were necessary. To sell it.
My heart sinks. Right. Business.
Silence.
You were convincing, Gabriel says finally.
So were you.
Was I? He looks at me. What you said. About me seeing you. Was that real? Or performance?
Does it matter?
Yes. Because if it was real, we have a problem.
What kind?
The kind where I'm not sure this is fake anymore.
I lean closer. What if it's not fake?
Then we're in trouble.
Maybe I like trouble.
Gabriel's eyes drop to my lips. This is a terrible idea.
All of this is terrible.
True. He leans in. But I'm done fighting it.
His lips touch mine. Soft. Then the kiss deepens. His hand in my hair. My hands gripping his shirt.
Fire. Need. Three years of denial burning away.
We break apart. Breathing hard.
That wasn't for the interview, Gabriel says.
No. That was real.
So what now?
We go upstairs. Figure it out from there.
He looks at me like he's memorizing my face. I meant what I said. I've been trying not to fall for you since that first case.
Gabriel
You walked in confident. Brilliant. Eviscerated my arguments. I thought: 'This woman is dangerous.' The kind that makes you forget why you built walls.
And now?
Now the walls were pointless. You found your way in anyway.
I kiss him again. Slower.
His phone buzzes. He goes pale.
Shows me: Congratulations on the interview. Very convincing. But I know the truth. Liars always get caught. Tick tock. -A Friend
They're always watching, I whisper.
Let them watch. I'm done being scared. I'm finding out who they are and destroying them.
We take the elevator up. Kissing until the doors open.
I need to make calls. Security. Private investigator.
I grab his hand. Gabriel? What you said. About falling for me. Did you mean it?
He looks at me for a long moment. Every word.
Then he's gone.
Everything just changed.