Contract Marriage To My Boss's Rival

gs clean. It just made the grime slick

ch coat. It was a freezing, relentless downpour that numbed her skin, but it couldn't touch the burning knot in her stomach.

d her watc

A text message demanding her presence for a crisis, a lost fi

he doorman, Ralph, straighte

. Klein. Nasty we

nded like it belonged to someone else, someone whose hea

rivate elevator. She pressed her thumb against the bio

This wasn't an oversight; it was a leash left dangling, a silent dare for her to c

e last

0... 50... Each number was a layer of skin she was shedding. This steel box had been her confession booth, h

id open with

of expensive leather

lue in Green. The melancholy trumpet notes floated throu

, marble hallway, her wet heels making no sound on the r

danced in the reflection of

of amber whiskey in his hand. He looked relaxed, h

lap sat A

me, the cuffs rolling past her fingers, the hem barely covering her thighs. She was traci

physical impact of it was like a punch to the solar plex

h Aimee away. He just looked at Darian, his gaze da

, Darian," Grant said. His voice wa

Grant's lap. She pulled the collar of the shirt tighter around h

breathless. "We didn't hear the e

e walked past the wet bar, past the fireplace, until she

pocket. Her fingers brushed th

taying," D

y. It opened everything: the office, the safe, the jet, thi

d it on t

ic

the sudden silence of the ro

against the glass. "What is this? Another negotiation tactic? You

twenty-four hours of termination," Darian recited. The words were automat

is shoulder. "She's so professional, isn't she, Gr

ached scrutiny she would give a balance sheet that didn't add up. "

stoo

a weapon. He loomed over Darian, blocking the light from t

pped closer. Darian could smell the whiskey on his breath. "Where will you go, Darian?

o fists at her sides. He kn

to a cruel whisper. "Without my salary, without the Charles Foundation su

sical reaction to his cruelty. He wasn't just her boss; he had been

didn't know she was the heir to a fortune that dwarfed his ow

r concern, Mr. Charles," Daria

be back. Three days. You'll be back begging for your

to Grant's arm. "Don't be too mean,

to leave. Now. Before the mask crack

Grant,"

She walked toward the elevator, her spine rigid. Every

voice rang out, sh

She didn't

hifting to casual arrogance. "Pour Aimee a

wer move. He wanted to see if

saw a woman with wet hair, dark circles under her eyes, a

to the steel doors. "That falls un

ed the ca

he clock," she

open. She stepped inside

ance was gone, replaced by a flash of genuine shock. He took

ls slid shut,

t, and she slid down to the floor, crouching in her wet coat. She didn't cry. She couldn'

buzzed in

The screen lit up

ID: Aun

ared at t