real to even be here, in this pristine office with its towering windows and minimalist design. Ethan sat across from her,

e silence, "I want to be clear abou

almost laughing. "That's

ment. Nothing more, nothing less." "Right," Maya murmured, her voice trailing off as her eyes darted to the thick

han asked, gesturing

She couldn't believe what was happening but desperati

time you will fulfill the public duties of my wife. In return, I will pay off your debts immediately and provide a monthly stipend of

onth?" Maya asked, h

imply. "Do you find

choked on the word. "It's.

nded on him. Anyway, it depends on him. "I believe in paying for quality. You'll need to attend public functions, maintain

tions? You keep saying this is business, but marr

both of our needs. You need financial stability, and I need

So this is abo

nterprises. My grandfather built this company from the ground up, and his stipulation was clea

uying a wife?" Maya a

"You can call it whatever you like. The fact remains: I ha

sing her arms. "And wh

ers. You don't have many options. The people you owe money to aren't known for their pat

in the debt collector's eyes when he'd shown up at her apartment l

fingers twitching. "This is... a

was a note of impatience in his voice. "But not

at's hardly enough time to make

wning in debt, Miss Ayers. This is a lifeline. I

er and shame. "You don't know

I know desperation when I see it. And I know you're smart en

and tense. Finally, Maya let out a sha

. Clause one: no personal relationships outside of the marriage. Clause two: no unsanctioned travel. Clause three: all public appea

ng, no freedom, and I have

," Ethan sai

ate? What ha

. "You'll have your own room, your own space.

c," she muttered

ing to a smile she'd seen from him. "

any crack in his perfect composure. But Ethan Carmichael

of all the people you could have

use I trust you to honor the agreement. You strike me as someone who keeps their word. "Just

ff guard, and for a moment,

k the contract?" she as

forfeit everything. Your debts will remain unpaid, and you

hard. "And if

" Ethan s

dening. But it was als

tract tightly in her hands. "

tomorrow," Eth

nger. Fear. Hope. Despair. She thought of her mother's tired face, her sibl

. Her hands trembled as she picked up a pen, her thoughts racing. Cou

mother's overdue rent. She thought of the looming threats from th

to Ethan's office the next mor

said, handing him

is expression unreadable. After

rmichael," he said, his v

hand, her sto