pte

efore the question finally bubbled up.

with a heavy, silent intensity. His gaze was unnerving-it w

e had given her in the

r flashed through her mind. Was it possible t

ed away, her mind racing to

d after the soul-crushing end of her six-year relationship wit

could present the most powerful man in the city as her partner, and the pressure to g

ults with needs. Most men's stamina began to slide afte

ional arrangement, at least the 'benefi

emained secure, she c

eting his eyes with newf

onthly allowance of 50,000 dollar will be wired to your account," Das

n flinch. She felt like a piec

she read, CEOs usually threw millio

ional. "The money isn't the point, Mr. Da

. "My attorney will bring the formal ag

ders

s phone to scan h

eorge Chandler. Only the inner circle had his private one. His profile was minimalist: t

changed his contact name to "Fifty Thousand."

, Aunt Maye, approached with a glass of wa

nstructions,

ion. A pregnancy would turn this

to the hospital for a full screening," Aun

uren lied. She didn't want anyone she knew se

e toxins from the spiked drink were stubborn, requir

hospital bed, the res

drizzle. As he passed a 24-hour convenience store in the CBD, he slowed to a cra

rifted back

with a golf club over a trust fund dispute-and had stormed out in nothing bu

she wal

ked with mud, but she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever s

thinking he was a starving begga

he'd said gentl

about being a struggling orphan. And the

Their last interaction was her h

himself. She's been obsess

don't want to break up. Can't

ry her. Would she still love him if she knew he was

w the phone onto the passenge

s a 20-square-meter space she had shared with Tray for three years. Every corn

a long time, letting the

he had a contract to fulfill. Tomorr

up and be

club, Tray was surrou

"It's been three days. Has the 'Instant Noodle Pr

speaker shrunk back as Tr

iate. "Look, why don't you just throw her a bone? A

alm. "Letting her stew for a few more days isn't a bad idea.

or you. She even saved up for a house! There's no way she's

is face. He wanted to believe that