Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 33: Orders

[174 Days Left to Live]

Zephany stirred awake at the sound of her phone vibrating relentlessly on the nightstand. With a groggy groan, she reached out, squinting to read the name flashing across it.

Sophia Sparkle.

She sat up, the persistent ringing only adding to her confusion. It wasn’t even 6 a.m. yet. Why would Sophia be calling her this early? Heart pounding slightly, she answered.

"Hello?" Her voice came out hoarse.

"Zephany, morning," Sophia’s crisp tone cut through the line. "Wake Kendrick up. Mr. Varen has your first instructions. You’re both expected to attend the charity gala hosted by Varen Enterprises. As a married couple."

Zephany blinked. "A... married couple?"

"It’s part of your contract," Sophia continued matter-of-factly. "Appearances are important. You’re to maintain the image of a loving, committed couple. Expect public displays of affection. Subtle but convincing. No exceptions."

Zephany’s thoughts raced. She was barely awake, and now she had to wrap her mind around pretending to be head-over-heels in love with Kendrick at a high-profile event. She swallowed, her throat dry.

"Got it," she mumbled.

"And Zephany," Sophia added with a faint hint of amusement. "Good luck."

The call ended before she could respond.

On the other side of the apartment, Kendrick’s phone buzzed with the same call. Unlike Zephany, he was already half-awake, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sophia’s words echoed in his mind.

"Married couple."

He sighed heavily. He had been so focused on preparing for the mission from The Archive, already formulating his approach, that this sudden task blindsided him.

Why now?

Still, orders were orders.

An hour later, the black luxury car sped through the city streets. Inside, Zephany and Kendrick sat side by side in the backseat, both staring out their respective windows. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken thoughts.

Zephany fidgeted with the hem of her dress, stealing glances at Kendrick from time to time. His sharp jawline was set, his eyes dark with contemplation. They had barely spoken since getting into the car, both too consumed by the sudden shift in their day.

"Of all the tasks," Zephany finally murmured, her voice soft, "they had to make us pretend to be a couple."

Kendrick’s lips twitched in what could’ve been amusement, but he quickly suppressed it. "It’s just for show. We’ll get through it."

She nodded, though the pit in her stomach remained. She didn’t tell him, but another worry gnawed at her.

Obscura.

She hadn’t mentioned to him that she would be attending the gala. It wasn’t necessary, she told herself. He’d be monitoring the event anyway, watching from the shadows. He didn’t need to know that she’d be present, let alone pretending to be Kendrick’s loving wife.

Better to keep her real-life identity protected.

As the car weaved through traffic, both their phones buzzed simultaneously. Zephany and Kendrick exchanged a brief glance before quickly grabbing their devices.

Their screens displayed the same notification.

The Archive: Mission Null39st - Additional Instructions Received

Kendrick’s eyes narrowed as he opened the update.

Mission Update:

Take a photograph of the authentic paintings hidden in Mr. Lody’s basement.

Expose Mr. Lody during the charity gala for keeping the originals while selling counterfeits.

Zephany’s heart pounded. She could hardly believe it. But she had her job to focus on.

She didn’t want Kendrick to notice anything unusual about her or discover her secret identity as Eclipse. She glanced at him, relieved to see that he was absorbed in his own thoughts, his jaw tightening.

"Mr. Lody..." he murmured under his breath, low enough that Zephany couldn’t hear it.

He had spent the night researching the man. A powerful businessman, revered in the world of antiques and art. His influence reached far, with ties to politicians and other powerful figures. As the President of the National Art Association, his word was considered law in the art community.

Yet behind the facade, he was nothing more than a criminal.

Kendrick’s thoughts raced. He had spent hours researching Mr. Lody, uncovering the businessman’s elaborate schemes. Yet, even with all his skills, there had been no solid evidence. Mr. Lody was too careful. Every trace of his fraud was meticulously erased.

But The Archive knew.

Kendrick couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling. How had they acquired this information? And more importantly, how could he carry out the mission now?

"How are they so sure?" Kendrick murmured, clenching his phone.

Meanwhile, Zephany shifted uncomfortably, her mind spinning. Should she inform Obscura? He was probably already monitoring the gala. But she quickly shook off the thought. No, Obscura didn’t know what she looked like in real life. She could keep it that way.

Her fingers hovered over the app as she typed.

Eclipse: How are things going?

A moment passed.

Eclipse: Do you need me for anything?

Kendrick’s phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen, recognizing the familiar alias. Eclipse. He shot a quick side-eye at Zephany, noting how she was focused on her own phone. His shoulders relaxed slightly.

He didn’t want his wife to know his secret identity.

His mind raced. Should he ask for help? Having Eclipse on standby could be useful, but if something went wrong, the risk was too high.

Instead, he sighed and replied that he would handle it.

He needed to figure this out on his own.

Minutes later, Kendrick’s research on his phone pulled up a map. Mr. Lody’s basement, the supposed hiding place for the authentic paintings, wasn’t far from the gala venue. That gave him a slight advantage. But the lack of equipment weighed on him. His laptop, gadgets—everything he needed for the mission was left behind.

Sophia hadn’t exactly deemed hacking gear appropriate for a gala.

Kendrick clenched his jaw. He was out of options.

Maybe it was time to reconsider asking Eclipse for backup.

The question lingered in his mind, unanswered, as the car pulled closer to the venue. The gleaming facade of the luxurious hotel loomed ahead, the golden banners of Varen Enterprises swaying in the breeze.

The mission from The Archive and the orders from Mr. Varen had begun.

But would they succeed?

Especially after their previous mission’s failure. Failing another mission was the last thing they wanted.