len

ning arrived

as silent, but not the ordinary kind. It felt deliberate. The kind of quiet that only exists because someone decided it should. Somewh

ady sitting up, staring at the wal

nings still belonged to normal peo

because there w

se was

the stairs. Not beautiful. Not impressive. Just too big. Big enough that my body

ed staircases flanked the space, perfectly symmetrical. The flawlessness made my skin

nded wrong, too

meone who no longer saw wealth. He

e formal li

y, not comfort. Chairs angled toward each othe

aligned so precisely that it made my teeth ache. Someone must car

food. Stainless steel and stone gleamed under warm lights. A man in

. "Chef. He'll handle m

nowledgment of a routine change. I nodded back, feeli

, packed with books, some worn, some untouched. A ladder leaned against a section.

his schedule allows," he said softly, his tone shift

like dark glass. A gym with equipment arranged as if no one ever sweated here. After

selves tomorrow," Sebastian sa

," I e

s. Security rotated in shifts."Elaine was Mr. Fenmore's personal ass

st rooms and offices, spaces for quiet meet

Quieter. Insulated. The carpet muffled my

said. "Mr. Fenmore's suite is in th

ough to watch, far enou

door and s

rger than my e

A sitting area with a couch and chairs spaced too far apart. A desk near

fectly, toiletries arranged like decorations. Everything in soft blues and grays,

on the luggage r

flicked to it.

tomorrow," he said. "A s

what I own isn't e

nued. "Breakfast at seven. Mr.

t me at every

is schedule allows. He trave

unsettled me mor

id. "Tomorrow we'll discuss

sche

s, family obligations. You're a Fe

he

y, loud, oppressive. I stood

*

s, and traffic. Sometimes it annoyed me, but it also meant I wasn

out of habit. Smoot

one b

i

you. Is everything

. That I traded my life for my mother's heart

answer honest

t well. I'm dealing wit

: Okay. Love you. H

than I intended, wishing

ck at

e door, Ald

ndone. It made him look almost hum

ome in?"

e. The question

," I

, remainin

set some gr

cou

oom. I won't enter without permissi

erst

alls, we're a legitimate mar

t mean?" I ask

ed. Not excessive. Just enou

rfor

u may pursue interests and friend

ould

said. "Just

ss card with a privat

, ask Sebastian. If it

riefly, controlled, w

otional. We're not a real couple. Don't

flared

"I'm not interest

omething quick, gone

"Then we'll coe

y si

"There must be hu

esit

tible with mine. Rarely. It make

I asked. "C

No entanglements. No motive

Of course, I

I could trust not to manipulate the situation. You're

aled s

thing,"

ne sha

said. "Four years ago. An

yed s

ieved it," he said, voice tightening before he maske

orry,"

d. "Just explaining why I keep my dis

him," I w

t's why I chose you. Yo

ith me longer tha

regret this, Ca

e he used

ed, because I could

nce. Paused

dnig

dnig

t, the room

arrived

a tray, coffee, pastries, fruit,

s at eleven," s

was legal. This w

clothes, my hair, my face, until I

looked like som

as the

nt, two attorneys, Sebastian, a photograp

own the ai

re, take Caelen Ryn a

d

t

rs, I t

d

e simple plat

warm, real. His pheromones f

hesitation. Just enough for proof, enough

mera c

adn't expected anything from it. That didn't st

ted toward Aldric li

at the ring

sparkle

e a lock cl

dn't go back, even if I didn'