drian Blackwood looked at her like he'd uncover

readable as ever. Morning sun poured over the sharp planes of his face, but his gaze was pure ice

early,"

"It's eight o'clock. You s

ecting you to

her I start sh

lmost had a script now: Adrian tossed out a statement like a command, she p

d distracted

ing happen?

N

re st

n from looking

nk this whole arrangement be

. "I got your measurem

ide her chair.

ging your outf

I'd pick my

that. The stylist's just off

o you hired someone just to

o handle formal events and which

nds like a

nt on gett

landed on her face with such raw intensity

ed away

and seemed impatient. Elena caught herself wanting to ask about

ok open and went back

ng to work all

ually how

or. Once the engagement's public,

terested in a w

aying stop

organize my life around

ng will be there and so will some investors who've been doubting m

bout your o

he words slipped out befor

an f

al. Their deal was simple: six months pretending, financial help for

arrangemen

king it believable instead of pre

alculations, but the s

na's feelings on the

man brought three beautiful dresses, explained everything wi

irt, subtle neckline. The fabric caught the light, but did

s talking to his driver. He turned at the s

ay anything

self. "Something wr

N

are you

ring

forgot y

xcused himse

rom the gown to her face. She expected a comment

beautiful,

ine she almost for

nk y

ve said th

've sai

dress su

ld've complimented me without sounding l

ny smile. "I'm

otic

d out

then at him. "Is t

rtl

e other

rmal dinner, Elena. I'd rather not spe

erself and slipped he

for my safet

get out. I hav

outine gesture-one they'd repeat countless times-but she noticed every detail. The clean smell

d herself:

r doors closed, she

hotels. Crystal chandeliers, shiny floors, guests decked out

of the car, photographer

, is the engag

Elena

w long have you

nd on Elena's bac

spered. "If you don't

up, surprise

nfirming the engagement but saying nothing about their private lives. When someone asked Ele

before he c

I actually li

ers la

ackwood think about t

Adrian. "You'll

is eyes flashed with amusement. She

decide for herself what

k about control, and he was signaling he wouldn't use her independence as

overed her h

the powerful man whose personal life had gotten unpredictable. Some welcomed El

she was restoring. He didn't paint it as charity or a business proj

hat more than

chard Sterl

nce of someone always let in everywhere. He hugged Adrian-

ard said. "You've

e stayed poli

lingered on her face and then drop

inally convinced you to giv

nd. "Elena Hayes. Pl

ok it

u own a hotel, right

es

is ruthless, especiall

o anyone listening, but w

It takes patience, hard work, and lea

is admirable. But confidence

replace good ju

's grin

im to scold her for confronting a big business ally. Instead, he loo

a business," he said. "If you want to talk

ened just a moment,

. No offen

we a

another group before Ric

e to defend me,

t defend

sed an

correct

ds almost

don't know th

u should

, a smile fightin

other

ealizing she could be herself in the crowd, no acting required. She talked to a

just li

keeping, and hopes for the restaurant. She brightened talking about the future, and the stre

shiny new buildi

to build

ey at them, thinking it'd earn gratitude or smooth over arrangements. But

pected

arder to ignore the fact thei

when Elena went to get

r with a chain of family restaurants. He was charming,

azing architecture. Would you partner

ng as I keep ownership

e. Maybe we could

like

fiancé doesn't mind men who

think he's got exclusive

to hea

toward Elena, watched her smile, the way s

burned in

ent looked real, Elena flirting with another man cou

lked over, he

ian said, sha

ith Elena about her hote

ve not

ena. "Hope we can c

se," Ele

e was normal for the cameras, but felt differen

wrong?"

thi

k like someone took

chuckle beh

es narrowed

u d

uld head back

at Marcus. "Ni

d. "Looking forwa

ing it polite until they

pulled

was

om full of pe

barging in on a bus

. You were done wi

lanned to

still

itude, Adrian? Why act li

arching for an answer

se they lacked restraint. He never understood the appeal of worrying about where a

ot it-and

interpreting our engagem

we can talk about that. But you don't get a say in my

not what

me what y

ause he wanted to be the one to make her smile. He hadn't liked her planning t

explain it to hims

unreasonable,

tened, but she d

me responsible fo

harder than

alo

on't pretend you're protecting our arrange

ward the ballroom,

a off as his fiancée, but the moment another man showed interest, he acte

fference between a co

lize knowing wasn't th

. She chatted with another guest, accepted an invite to a hotel d

rn between admirat

anted to say Marcus made him uncomfortable, but couldn't justify the

he didn't reach for him until he offered his arm, and the gestu

n as the ca

ry," he

yes w

r w

conversation. You wer

pher nudged

away. She looked at him, thoughtful, weighing whether hi

her face toward th

u for say

sh we

powerful billionaire and captivating woman, smiling

see the distance

alked Elena to the car, she took his

, but he carried the w

beside him for

nt her beside him even aft

ore dangerous than