woody cologne-something like cedar and aged tobacco-filled the air. Emma sat huddled against the door, her breath hitching in small, jagged shudders. She was acutely aware of the water drippi

oned an arrangement," Emma said, her artist's mind beginning to process the sharp lines of Simon's profile. He was a man of absolute angles. There was no softness in him, only strength. "I did." Simon tapped his fingers rhythmically against the armrest. "I am currently in the middle of a merger with the Sterling Group. It is a multi-billion-dollar deal that would solidify Mayfield Real Estate as the primary developer on the West Coast. However, the Sterlings are... traditional. They value 'family stability.' My status as a bachelor, even a successful one, is a point of contention for them." Emma frowned. "You want a wife." "I want a partner who can play the part. Someone who understands the value of a contract and the weight of a name." He turned his head to look at her fully. The passing streetlights cast long shadows across his face, making him look like a dark god carved from obsidian. "Tyler has spent the last year telling me about you-the talented, beautiful artist he 'tamed.' He was proud of you, Emma, but only as a trophy." The "trophy" comment stung, but Simon continued before she could speak. "Imagine the look on Tyler's face when he realizes that the woman he thought he could throw away is suddenly the one who holds the keys to his inheritance. If you marry me, you aren't just his ex-girlfriend. You are his stepmother. You are the matriarch of the family he so desperately wants to lead." Emma's breath caught. The sheer audacity of the plan was breathtaking. It was more than just revenge; it was a total takeover. "You'd use me to get your merger, and I'd use you to... what? Destroy him?" "Not destroy," Simon corrected smoothly. "Educate. Tyler needs to learn that actions have consequences. And you... you deserve a life where your talent is funded and your beauty is respected. I will provide you with your own studio, a limitless allowance, and the Mayfield protection. In exchange, you stand by my side for one year. After that, we can quietly dissolve the union, and you will leave with enough wealth to never paint a commission for a stranger again." The car slowed as it approached a massive, wrought-iron gate. The sensors recognized the M