e door to another private room. "M

Elena a brief look bef

is gaze toward h

tation, Elen

ehind them as Ash

other. The air around him shifted the moment he settled in. His prese

have felt the pre

ace and took the seat across from him. Fear didn't touch her, but

last night, I owe you an apology. I went too far, and leaving the way I did wasn'

se, almost indifferent. "I wasn't sober either. If I gave i

ion" made heat r

ping with me, you walked out and left money

d known who he was, she never w

from me?" she as

studied her in silence, as

r face warm, even though she kept her expression

ence stretch, he fina

d, she thought she had heard

heck. Weren't they supposed to settle a problem? How had this

m and firm. "You'll marry me. It's only on paper. T

s plan. A cont

to piece it together. The int

ied Henry

-that Henry's family had always pushed him to settl

nted her to deal with his family

ht, she looked straight

Do you really need me to

f color crept onto her face.

uld say

h unfamiliar women. After what happened,

o men earlier. The ones who tried

w

dn't been

own to it, she had started everything. She was the o

per tied to it. What he asked for wasn't out of line. It still beat having him come

face made things a whole lot easier. Two years with

efully, she spoke. "I

mall nod. "Let

econd, when you need me to cooperate, I will. Outside of that, my pers

n necessary. Two years later, she didn't want

Henry said wit

r came to

ight nod. "Then

school tomorrow aft

ws lifted.

ng felt

epeated. Then he added

ouldn't change the outcome. Elena pus

hey reached th

nced at her. "I'll reach out befor

a recited it. Her phone

the call. "T

and saved the contact, labe

ore she stood. "If that's

lowed her. "Asht

campus isn't f

d took a couple of steps when h

lose. The pressure around him felt immediate. He raised his hand, a che

k, turned away again, and left. Her s

hed the dorm buildin

ut and checke

offering a huge payout to fin

y, "Not this time. I've

d of work's got you turning this down? You

ped back

ur boss that good-looking? Don't tell

out warning, Henry's fac

, and slipped her phone away bef

an ended his call, his e

refused t

nyone walk away

, only Chloe Wa

n Elena walked in

Elena offered

'd you leave so suddenly last night

left early." Elena glanced toward th

out with her rich boyfriend. I d

ough Elena's eyes, but s

ed to keep her expression steady, though a flicker of unease showed fo

yed both sides, acting one way in front of her and another behind

s your

ut she forced a confused look.