t day, Ina stood on the sid

r armor. She took a deep breath, pushing the heavy glass door open, and stepp

h a practiced smile. "Welcome, m

voice was steady, but her he

tantly became deferential.

the restaurant. They stopped at a secluded booth, completely sh

rk charcoal bespoke suit. He was looking down, read

head. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto In

ed out the chair opposite him and

e tablecloth. He leaned back against the leather booth, studying

ing two glasses of expensive red

d toward the

t here to socialize. Name your price. Wh

held no humor. "You are in no position to n

If you release that recording, the scandal will hit

t jacket. He pulled out his sleek black smartphone.

he phone on

dio clip played. It was a soft, d

ing shame crashed over her. The sound of her own loss of

the table, her hand shoo

ly dodging her hand. In the same fluid motio

s palm burned her cold skin. He forced her arm

d chest hovered over the table

" Buren warned. His voice

n on the inside of her wrist, right over her racing

ty days, you will be my companion. You will attend

r. "You are disgusting. I w

contract, not an affair. And you

eased. The humiliation and ang

ed her hand out of his grip. A red ma

et. It was filled with ice

, she threw the water di

hed across his sharp features, dripping down his strong ja

corner fell

water away. His dark eyes locked onto hers

ndkerchief from his breast

," Buren whispered. Th

cally ran out of the restaurant, her heels cl

ainst the inside of his cheek. A slow, dark smir