the mercy of his company's stakeholders, who had grown increasingly restless. They wanted control. They wanted stability. And they wanted it now. Th

ss his desk, and his thoughts were clouded with the impending crisis. His company needed a solution-one that would quell the

stakeholder, a familiar name was mentioned. "A marriage to a woman with a reputable background might calm the waters, Do

. Then, his thoughts drifted to her-the woman he had met at the gala months ago,

about her-something unassuming yet sharp, innocent yet intelligent-that had intrigued him. She had di

needed to convince her, somehow, that marrying him was the only solution f

-

café and trying to put the memories of that night out of her mind. She had no time for distractions, especially n

-dressed man stepped out, and Sophie's heart sank. It was him-Dominic Hartley. The c

more out of place in the small café. She braced herself for the awkwardness,

e deep and commanding. "I need t

. "Important? You've got

xpected. "But I need your help. My company... is in trouble. And the

You're serious? You expect me

need a marriage, Sophie. I don't expect anything from you,

t she had left behind that fateful night was hanging from his hand. Her pendant. The

she said, her v

found it after that night we met," he said quietly. "I didn'

rward, her heart poun

hand. "I'll give it back to you, but in return, I need s

r desire to walk away from this mess and the strange pull of this complicated

barely above a whisper. "Why

cker of vulnerability in his eyes. "Because I trus

f what to do. "This is insane. You're asking me to sign a c

l be a partnership. A way for both of us to move forward. You

an she barely knew? But the temptation of security, the

nd of emotions inside her. "But not because of your company. I'll ma

r of relief passing through hi

that this was only the beginning of something much