y

d seen the desperation in her eyes yesterday, the kind that only comes from someon

atters. I've always preferred my women with poise, sophistication, and class. And it was obvious she had none o

oke to her like she was nothing. I knew she'd understand the terms. No emotions. No inti

terday, somet

ectly, just the kind of length I could imagine threading my fingers through if I let my

thout class and it was obvious she had none, but her attitude! Oh my God

money? They wanted more of it. So they smiled pretty, laughed when I said something cruel, and swallowed th

women who didn't need anything. The truth? They all needed somethi

r that. Why should I

omance. No illusions. I had long accepted a loveless life;

ier. No heartbreak, no messy expectations, no tangled emotions. Just money i

it stretch forever, so long as we keep things clean and clear. No strings. No demands outside the ones

family image," they've been circling like vultures. My grandfather built the company with legacy in mind; family was the cornerstone of ever

veniently forgetting that I built a thriving company from scratch. That I turned a s

y me the seat that was always meant to be mine. I'll file for divorce quietly, without fanfare. Let the contract dissolve

he closet doors shut. Married? Sure. But perfect? Hardly. Some of them backed me when my father was alive, loyal to his

ide, I had to think for a second. The name barely rang

I said, witho

alked in,

sterday. Maybe I'd tried not to. But today? She was stunning. Confident. Comp

in her that way, or maybe I was just pretending not to be. If we'd met under different circumstance

out lust. This was about

seat," I sa

n, calm as ever. I picked up a pen, pretending to be busy; why, I wa

, she still hadn't spoken. If I wanted this me

lawyer to look over the terms,"

ee the contract now? I'm ready to s

No posturing.

untouched. My lawyer had drafted it, left space for negotiation, and even of

adn't been dem

, and suddenly, I wasn't sure if I

hat was the agreed duration. Within that time, both parties were free to live their lives, travel, work, and eve

the marriage publicly or privately, preventing them from also talking about what they share with any person. If they ever did meet, it would be in the controlled privacy of his

trouble, no tabloid-worthy drama, nothing that could become an issue down the line. It wasn't

, her expression unreadable. She didn't ask questions. Didn't hesitate. Jus

hout ceremony

nd measured. He hadn't even

ed tomorrow," he

Okay," she said. Then added, "How

m when she asked. That irked

though I'm already holding up my end of the bargain before the wedding." He l

e was something about her silence that unsettled him. He'

icker in her eyes. Like she wanted to tell him off, just like she had yest

ce? It was

ire yesterday? The one who stood her

she'd hidden herself away. And strangely, he wasn