n my throat, a secret so dark that i

pered, his face inches from mine, his bre

h the mouth. I couldn't let him see me break. I couldn't le

surprisingly steady. "I was twen

pped the ground you walked on? Terrified of the million-dollar wedding I had planned

ped, the old fire flaring up inside

he mahogany table, and the sound echoed like a gunshot in the empty boardroom. "Five years, Maya. For fi

y throat. "You were perfect. You were

cold mask completely shattered. He looked

"Explain to me how bei

disappear. My father had gambling debts so massive and so dangerous that his creditors had threatened to kill Lucas if I didn't le

myself in design school, changing my number, and hiding in plain

looking down at the fl

s voice dropping to a dangerous

, Lucas. Just give me the contract. Let me save my company.

back to his chair, sat down, and pulled a file out of his

completely devoid of emotion now. "I have more money

business contract. The title at the t

I asked, my st

esigns. The board is looking for stability. They want to see that the CEO of Vance Ventures has settl

onfused. "Your image is spotless. Y

drove his fiancée away," he said sharply. "The board wants a

widene

mile playing on his lips. "You a

file back toward him. "I am not doin

is going to touch a failing design firm with a mountain

I hated crying in front of h

s, you will live in my penthouse. You will attend every event on my calendar. You will

thirty days?" I asked

ll sign the contract for your company, I will pay o

f I sa

mine. "Then you walk out that door, and you

of the table to keep from falling. I had no

, my voice barely a

e pushed a gold-plated pen t

could barely write my name. I signed on the dotted line

efcase. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ve

ur hand," h

. He slid the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, just a

wering over me. "No kissing on the lips. I don't

, the sting of his words igniting my own

ep in the guest bedroom. It's down the hall. Don't come into m

a child

earching mine. "You don't lie to me again. If I ask you a question, you answer it honestly. About anything

secret burning a hol

your new keys and the address of the penthouse. Be there by seven. We h

d the doors, his long stri

?" I c

d on the door handle, b

, the words escaping before I could stop them. It was a

lit by the harsh lighting of the boardroom.

don't break your heart the w

one in the cavernous boardroom, wearing a diamond ring