The Valen-Maddox Clause
In Brooklyn's most prestigious law school, love is illegal—especially when your last names are war.

Sky Valen is the daughter of a corporate shark—lethal in the courtroom, feared in the boardroom. She's got jet-black hair down to her knees, a mouth that could make devils flinch, and a plan to rip apart the Maddox empire piece by piece.

Ray Maddox is the golden boy of law school. Biker. Football captain. Heir to the rival firm that made her father’s life hell. He’s clean-cut on the outside, chaos underneath, and trained since birth to never lose a case—or his heart.

When Sky and Ray are forced into a high-profile mock trial together, sparks fly—and not the good kind. They’re enemies. Rivals. Forbidden. But behind every sarcastic insult is a dare, every stolen glance a risk they’re both dying to take.

Their fathers have blood on their contracts and secrets in their vaults. There’s one clause written between the lines neither of them expected:

Fall for each other—and lose everything.

My heels click against the polished floor of the moot courtroom like war drums. Blazer buttoned. Hair up. Red lips. My game face could slice steel.


Professor Andrews is watching from the gallery, clipboard in hand. The entire upper-year moot team is gathered. Eyes on me. Mouths ready to whisper.


And I don't stumble.Sky Valen doesn't stumble.


I glance down at my notes, every line memorized, before glancing up—calm, composed, cruel. My eyes scan the audience once more, and then—


Front row.Spread legs.Undone tie.Jet black hair.And that fucking Maddox smirk.


He leans back in the chair like he owns it. Arms draped over the backrest like a throne. Wearing black slacks, rolled-up sleeves, and an expression that says he already knows what color panties I'm wearing.


I inhale sharply through my nose and lock my jaw. Stay sharp, Valen. Don't let him get to you. This is your arena.


I start my opening argument. Every word measured. Confident. Delivered like a goddamn courtroom goddess.


I slide a glance down at the lectern, where my phone is hidden under my outline.


You look so innocent in that little suit.I'm gonna ruin it tonight.Blazer stays on. Panties come off.And you're gonna beg.


I shift my weight, clenching my thighs under the podium and forcing my voice to stay calm.


"In the case of State v. Delaney…"Another buzz.


I'll leave one button on. The rest? Gone.Want your mouth around my fingers again.You made the prettiest sounds last night, princess.


Literally.Choke.In front of the professor.


Silence falls over the room. I blink. Eyes wide. My voice—gone. The courtroom gods laugh.


I swallow, heat crawling up my throat. Not from embarrassment—no, from rage. From lust. From the need to drag him out by his collar and—


"Miss Valen?" Professor Andrews prompts.


"I—yes. Apologies." I clear my throat. "In the case of State v. Delaney, the defense has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt…"


But my hands are shaking. And Ray knows it.


Say my name. Just once. In that voice.Say it when you're on your knees tonight.


I finish the argument on autopilot. Barely. Applause trickles in politely, but my head is ringing.


The second I step away from the podium, I don't look at him.I don't.


But he brushes past me in the hallway. Leans in just enough to whisper:


"Told you you'd stumble for me, sweetheart."


He smells like soap and sin and the memory of last night's moan in the backseat of his car.


"Touch me again during trial prep and I swear to fucking god, I'll castrate you with a fountain pen."


He grins, slow and infuriating."I'll bring the ink, Valen."


Chapter 9 - Mock Trial, Real Problems