I unlock the door of my vehicle and

I unlock the door of my vehicle and am about to slide in when something occurs to me.
I have just declared that Mari is my wife. This means that I’d better damned well make it true, or we’re both dead.
There’s no way in hell that that woman will agree to such a thing.
“Do vows need to be said at a wedding ceremony?” If John is startled by my seemingly random question, he doesn’t show it beyond a single blink. “Or is it enough to sign the paperwork?”
He pauses for a moment, seeming to think things through.
“I would imagine that with enough cash to grease the right palms, that the paperwork would be enough.” There’s no judgment in his tone, but there is a hint of curiosity. Also something else that I can’t quite identify. This is strange, because the man in front of me rarely shows emotions of any kind.
Briefly, I outline what needs to be done, and authorize him to use as much cash as he needs to make it official. I don’t care what it costs to forge Mari’s signature and make that paperwork legal, but I am going to protect her, no matter what.
“Forgive my saying so, boss...” I flinch at the word. I know that John just means that I’m his employer, but it’s far too close for comfort. “But I have to ask... you’ve known this woman for a day, and now you’re fast-tracking a marriage? With no prenup? This doesn’t seem the wisest course of action.”
I stare back at John until he looks away. No, perhaps it isn’t the wisest course of action. The business part of my brain is screaming at me, in fact.
The truth is that Mari could be a gold digger and take half of everything, and I would still be a billionaire.
And the dark cloud of my conscience would be less gray for having saved her.
I don’t reply to John. It’s very strange that he would question me in any way—normally his control is absolute.
I can’t worry about him at the moment, though. I have to go home and inform Mari that she is now my wife.