“Cole, I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m frustrated. And I feel like I’ve been backed into a corner.” She slammed her pencil down on the desk. “Don’t push me too hard right now or you just might find out how hard I can push back.”

Cole wisely chose to remain silent.

After several seconds ticked past, Darci nodded her head, accepting his silent agreement. “Did you need something in particular?”

He placed a sheaf of papers on her desk. “You need to take this to your lawyer, then sign it.”

Darci glanced at the first page and felt a wave of cold dread sweep over her. The contract that would define their lives as husband and wife. It was all written out neatly in black and white with plenty of legalese.

“Basically, we’re agreeing to equal shares and equal control in the business, unless the board changes our positions. All personal assets will remain the sole property of the current owner and there will be no settlements owed by either party when we choose to end the marriage.”

Darci forced herself to speak through cold lips. “In other words, after our divorce, everything returns to the way it was and it’s like the marriage never happened.” He nodded. “It sounds like you’ve got it all neat and tidy.” She clutched the papers tightly, a wealth of emotions churning through her. “I’ll have my lawyer look it over and get back with you tomorrow afternoon.”

“We don’t have that much time, Darci.”

She raised her gaze to meet his, silently waiting for him to continue.

“The wedding is scheduled for five o’clock tonight at the courthouse. You’ll need to have the papers completed by then.” He paused, then continued as if his words hadn’t almost stopped her heartbeat. “Do you want me to pick you up or should we meet there?”

“The—” An unsettling combination of fear and desire coursed through her. She cleared her throat and tried to focus her thoughts on what he’d just announced. “Don’t you think that’s a little fast?”

His mouth flattened into a grim line. “One thing we have very little of is time. This is Monday, that will give us a few days to get acquainted, set a game plan and be ready for the meeting next Monday.” He studied her intently. “And it’s the only time the judge is available this week.”

She pulled a slow, calming breath into her lungs, trying to force her mind to come up with an argument. She needed time to think, time to work through all the pitfalls of the step they were about to take. But Cole was acting like the world would end if they didn’t get married fast.

And maybe it would. At least her world, the world she’d built around the company, the only world she knew or wanted.