a's

rry

older. "What... IsIs t

age. "You become Mrs. Adams. Get unlimited access to all my resources. We take down everyone who b

re in

No money. Your accounts are probably frozen. Your fathe

ought about the

ck. Beg them to take you back. Accept whatever scraps they're willing to give you a

O

ight way. You teach me everything you know about the Hales

n't know what to say. "Thi

nths. After that, we divorce, split assets, and go our

tions? We j

ed any emotion. "But don't mistake physical attraction for emotion. You're not going

than it should have. "Y

pulled out a contract. "Read it. Take your time. But dec

the contract

t of this?" I asked

he Hales fall." He looked at me. "But mostly, I get to wat

ich

gero

ands. It was detailed... exactly all he

" I said slowly,

g they built on your back. I teach you corporate warfare. You

is i

'll call you a car. You can go find a hotel, figu

. At Dominic Adams standing there lik

s nothing without

them

y father's voice echoed in my head: "Yo

t matter... like I was just a

do I

e places on the contrac

gnatures, and set it aside like we'd j

t's

pulled out a black card. "This is you

t the gold design on

pile. "East wing is yours. I'm in the

ce? We

rrence unless we mutually agree otherwise. This is a busi

me. Instead, it was almost refresh

happen

e checked his watch. "I have meetings all day. Ther

y n

era in Manhattan will be on you." He moved towa

ill I b

." He paused at the door. "I'll be b

he wa

and a key to a stranger's penthouse, wondering

phone. "Eat," he said, setting the food on

first

he phone. "Cal

it. "Why wou

you're broken." He leaned against the counter. "They nee

gging him f

he'll get careless. He'll think you're not

move he was suggesting. But I'd sign

ered on the second ring. "Dad?" I st

va

hating every second of it. "I made a mis

rassed thi

he words tasted like poison. "I just... I ne

ink you can throw a tantrum at your own weddi

owhere to go. No money

ont of three hundred people and every camera in Manhattan." His

ase,

ne wen

s which were shaking. Not from fe

phone from me. "Perfect, actually

e I'm going

ontainers. "He thinks you're broken now. Tomorr

rrow

rts. I'm still working on getting the det

en't in

ed me an email draft. "I'm sending this to your father in an hour. A formal

d. "You're going

is desperate for capital. The merger with Hart Enterprises is barely keeping

.. show up?

ounce our engagement at the dinner. In front

heart race. "They'

t house as someone they can't touch. Someone they can't control.

they thro

ce dropped. "And everyone in that room knows wh

ld have bothered me. Instead, it fe

ke," Dominic said. "I'll have