sia'

into mine gaug

like I had been stripped to my ve

esperate woman whose family had nearly lost everyth

do." I gulped, "I don't know what impression

kled. My cheeks tinged red I lo

ve misunderstood my intenti

ut." I managed to get out b

aid casually as he tucked his han

Then blin

ion, a demand, even a clarification that I'd misunder

for

agazines. The man who could buy those magazines if he wanted to. The ma

y I could feel the tension ache bet

rom someone like me. He had entire floors of assistants. He had people

he stood there so casually, hands in his pockets, as if he'd just

and steady my voice. "What could I po

e any special qualifications th

pletely ignoring my previous statement. "You will

ugh interrupted our conversation.

e my vision sharpen. Every detail of her mocking smile burned itself into my brain. The way her perfectly tinted lips curled. The smug t

country, in the world even." She cast a mocking glance at me. "Why

arkened as he l

you

stretched out her hand for a handshake

tween them. One second passed. Two. I watched the confidence drain from her face in s

you can just walk into a conversatio

type of woman you're dealing with." sh

n't suit you." He threw the insult so casual

comeback, a flirtatious remark, some way to salvage this but coming up

er embarrassment evident. "I thought you should know what type of wo

s you the right to advise me?

ry." She

e ordered,

ore hateful glanc

u." I sai

arissa turned her venom on someone, people found somewhere else to look. They studied th

st began planting seeds of doubt about my ability to give them an heir, no one corrected her. Not his mother, who

way. He didn't shift uncomfortab

fende

years begin to crack. I looked away, afraid

e, I just dislike people w

of my own. I don't think I'm the right fi

you are th

argue again but he lifted

to pay me back or you give me

e ye

ded over to a stranger. Three years of living under his

ve with them? Would I have days off? What about my parents,would I still be abl

surfaced, I already knew

ad a savings account with maybe four thousand dollars in it with no job. My parents had n

them. He'd saved me from

as the

on magazine covers. I looked at the man who had just completely destroyed Marissa without even raising his v

small price to p

our terms,