ree hours in a stat

od news (leaving out the part where I had basically sold myself into indent

lobby of The Vantage, the most exclusive,

to reach the top floor. When the doors opened,

f the glittering city skyline. The floors were polished dark oak that reflected the dim,

eum. A very expensiv

a voice said fr

ding a glass of amber liquid, whiskey, no doubt. He had changed out of his th

softer. But the cold, calculating l

a greeting. "The bathroom is attached. There are fresh towels in the clo

Lucas," I said, my voice tight

," he muttered, takin

ive four-poster with crisp white sheets, and the walk-in closet was larger than my entire apart

told myself. *J

e day. When I came out, wrapped in a plush robe, I realized I h

pping onto the hardwood floor, and headed towa

ith his laptop open, the blue light illuminating his

fridge," he said, typing furiously. "I ordered Thai f

ised. "You order

creen. "I don't want you passing out from hunger durin

. Of

container of Pad Thai. I was starving, so I gr

ike a stray cat, or are you going to sit down?"

mouth. "I didn't think you wanted

urniture with wet hair," he

I forgot my hair dryer. I was actually

nap, stood up, and walked past me into his master bedroom. A

said, hol

atic electricity, or maybe something much more dangerous, shot up m

s," I

n my floor," he sa

a small puddle was forming a

said. "I have

ed with that intoxicating sandalwood scent. His gaze dropped from my e

hitched.

suddenly, stepping back, the

oblem?" I asked,

sa," h

. "Who is

ent associate who believes she has a claim on me. She saw your name on

e're pretending to be engaged

y biggest investor. If she gets upset, she can sway her father to pull the funding for the m

spark of defiance igniting inside

everyone. Tomorrow night, we need to be the most sickeningly in-love couple in that room. We nee

to do that?" I asked, m

s hand coming up to cup my cheek. His thumb st

"You let me touch you. You look at me like I hung the

me standing in the kitchen, clutching a hai

ty d

days in this house, i

the massive bed. I lay there in the dark, staring at t

fear of the secrets threatening to tear us apart, I couldn't

And I was terrified that