al document, a dry, incredulou

nce between herself and the marble cou

cked up a heavy Montblanc fountain pen from the cou

ability my investors will accept,"

do this!" Elenor argued, her chest heaving.

Christian's eyes, but he masked it instantl

thlessly. "You have no powerful family to co

r like a physical b

ntrol. No

d to destroy her last night. She was nothing b

e. He saw the exact moment the pain registered

"and for the duration of this two-year contract, you will have the absolut

d enough to taste copper. He

self. She didn't want a mar

nal page of the document, p

you walk away with an eight-figur

the massive windows at the sprawli

how she had twisted herself into knots trying to fit into

ly sever all ties to her pathetic past. She woul

er resolve. He picked up a glass of warm

eath ghosting over her ear. "And you will neve

, most wounded part of her soul.

ok violently as she reached out and took

k paper. The scratching sound o

nt of the pen, his breathing slowin

ed her f

ment off the counter. A flash of raw, unfiltered fanat

and locked the agreement inside. The heavy meta

lt empty. She felt like she was trap

e intense predator was gone, rep

per's emergency stock for you," he commanded, checking his platinum

in horror. "City Hal

nt," Christian said flatly, adjusti