receptionist's voice was professionally pleasant

ojected confidence without trying too hard. After the nightmare of the past twenty-four hours, I needed this job

a daze, refusing his offer of coffee or explanation. The unfamiliar ring burned a hole in my purse'

rs and pushing those thoughts aside. I could deal with the b

y head high, resume clutched perh

aking view of Manhattan, furnishings that whispered old money rather than shouting new riches. Be

'm Claire Bennet

d in my throa

. That same almost-smile

e man from this morning. The ma

whispered, blood dr

were a perfectly normal situ

t instinct screaming through my system. "You'

the chair across from his desk. "I b

slightly hysterical. "An inte

His calm was infuriating, as if he hadn't upended

I said, turning toward

mand, perhaps-made me pause despite myself. "R

d suddenly I wake up married to you, and now you're supposed to be interviewin

. A stunning blonde woman swept in, her designer o

as she assessed me from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on my face, a fla

mperceptibly. "Sophia. I believe I made

tted your... applicant... in the waiting area, and she looked oddly familiar." So

o process her words. "Fiancée?" I repeate

"Sophia has difficulty accepting that

refers to me as his future daughter-in-law." She turned her attention back to me, eyes glitterin

lied coolly, findin

g no room for argument. "This is a business meet

tiny question. How exactly do you two know each

d have been cut with a knife

Marketing Director position," he

vering even as her eyes hardened. "There's something you're n

ng Sophia's elbow in a grip that looked ge

ase. "I can find my way." She paused at the door, giving me one last appraising lo

xander immediately moved to his desk phone. "Thom

his expression unreada

is going on? You're engaged to that woman, but supposedly marrie

k. "That arrangement was made by our parents when we were chi

e absurdity of the situation hit me anew. "Is that even le

y conventional standards, but legally binding. And

wanted f

the chair. "Please, Claire. Five minutes. Then,

, perched on the edge of the seat

ssure you that the job is real. Your qualifications are excell

work for you? Af

he replied. "I'm off

ind of

d to me for one year. Live in my penthouse, accompany me to business functions, pre

time in genuine disbel

plus a generous monthly allowance for expenses. At the end of t

the

about our marriage. Your professiona

rough all this elaborate deception? You could have just... I don

able. Someone intelligent, attractive, unattached, with no connections to my social circle. Someon

Drugged me? Tricked

ng my accusations. "And now I'm offering you c

sapproval and your ex-fiancée's ambitions?" I shook my head. "What's th

o my bed, Claire. This arrangement would be business onl

urity for life. Freedom from the mountain of debt I'd accumulated planning a weddi

t wha

nally, turning to face him. "You've

morning," he countered. "And I'm being honest no

refuse?

k away with the job if you still want it, a

like

like

eption. "What's so important about being mar

I must be married before my thirty-fifth birthday to inherit a controlling interest in the company. Witho

your thirty-f

t we

tension. "Cutting it

ged. "I'd planned to wait longer, court you p

edulously. "You make it sou

," he conceded. "But op

ieve his audacity. "And what makes you

wedding you planned, the future you envisioned, was ripped away from you in the cruelest possible way. Beca

physical blow. "How d

hing about potential partners," he sa

ne. "You've been watchi

es

... dis

Information is power. I never ente

r, suddenly exhausted. "A

"One year of your life. Five million dollars. A chance to show David e

n, but anger. The image of him and Jessica together, planning their e

e money, but for yourself. For the woman who was left standing alone in her weddi

d emotion. "Bennett-Devereux, appa

e touched his lip

o dive into something I didn't fully unders

steadily. "I want it in writing. All of it

te. "I'll have the paper

learned I'd married one of the most eligible bachelors in N