ia's

eyes, I saw Ashton Blackwell's business card on my

everything. That

here I'd been staring at my laptop for the past hour. "Please tell

egative four hundred and seventy-three dollars. "The foreclosure

cus can take the couc

for the rest of my life." I closed the laptop before I threw it. "I'm thirty-one year

t do this. You don't know thi

ering me

prostitution with a

ney, just in a legal package. "There wouldn't be anything

ated you at your lowest point." Sophie squeezed

uzzed. Unk

ng. Have you made y

Sophie tried to

typed back: *How did

I get what I want.

already moving. *I need guarantees. Legal

to my office. Now. We'll go thro

r my shoulder.

we lose the house, he'll have to drop out and work full-time. Everything Mom sac

to be ano

ugged her. "I'm not stupid. I'll read every word of that contra

re selling

door. "But at least my b

*****

t building in the Financial District. The elevator ride to the pen

met me. "Miss Chen? I'm Natalie Price, Mr.

than most people's dreams. Ashton sat behind a desk that probably cost more than my

him. "These are my attorneys, David Chen and Reb

cross the desk. It was

me to read a

nd negotiate terms." Ashton leaned back. "

ut. "Public displays of affection as reasonably required... Separate living quarters within

losure extending beyond termin

th family, friends, therapists, or journalists. Ever." She tapped the claus

everyone I know for

cretion," Ashton correcte

rectly to creditors within one week of marriage. Two million dollars upon completion of the twelve-month term, deposi

dollars." My voice sound

are performance clauses. If the marriage appears fra

u measure

ts. Show appropriate affection in public. My grandmother will expect regular dinners. The board will

in pr

penthouse. Your own schedule. As long as you're available w

ting? Can I se

nfidelity destroys the entire arrangement. Same for m

for wardrobe and appearance maintenance. Even a clause abo

ought of e

fter twelve months, we file for quiet divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Yo

ur inhe

e. The full year is to avoid suspicion." He

Why does this feel like I

ed out a pen. "The question is whether tempo

hree jobs until I collapsed. About my mother's hospital

want one addition

me

enses until he graduates and finds a job." I

n. "David, add an education clause. Full coverage for Marcus Chen's remain

another two hundred t

he pen across the desk

s heavy, expensive, the ki

happens if one of us ac

lent. Ashton's s

won't

if it

l the contract expires." His eyes were cold again. "This

pen open. "Whe

g in three weeks." He stood. "Welcome to th

he line and watched m

pen. "We're having dinner with my grandmother to

signed. I haven't e

ours. I suggest you come up with a convinc