m

pt checking on Jace, just to make sure he was really there, safe in his bed. By morning, dark circles sh

grabbed my purse. I'd told him I had a job interview-technically no

ce said, rolling his

I said, ruffling his hair.

the way it always did when something upset him. "Just

t eventually, but not today. "There's leftover past

ow, I

Just as Vincent had promised, a sleek black car waited by the curb. T

at the passing buildings. Each mile took me further from my old life an

e sky. I'd seen it in photos, of course-everyone in New York knew the

levator that required a keycard. We rode in silence to the top

along with a thin, severe-lo

his massive desk. "Punctual. Good. This is Ms. Chen, my personal

fingers flying over her tablet.

s from his desk. "Sit, Miss Wynters. Let's fin

papers Ms. Chen placed before me. "I'd

s face. "Of course. Though I assure you

impatient stare. Law school had taught me to never sign anything without read

equired. $20,000 monthly allowance. Five million upon completion. Jace's education funded th

r's alleged debt, or any connection

ut clearing my father's d

y been handled." He slid a folder across the desk. "The loan sharks have been paid in f

l documents confirming his claims. It seemed

ther's safe

red finger against the desk. "Now, if you're satisfied, please sign where indicated. My gr

t of Jace, of the fear in his eyes when he came home yesterday, of all the opportunities he'd

ract. "Welcome to the family, Miss Wynters.

nt a chill d

throat. "Sir, Mr. D

ion shifted subtl

ffice swung open, and I got my first gli

ly tailored charcoal suit, he moved with the confident grace of someone who never questioned his place in the world. His da

ught me-piercing blue and u

proached his grandfather's de

ipped precision of someone who

hly, "I'd like you to meet A

slightly. I felt stripped bare under that gaze, ex

?" Lucien asked, his t

problem, grandson. The trust requires marriage within the m

what makes you think I'd ag

ed. "I've already explained the situation to Miss Wynters. She understands this is a business

der than before. "And what do you

intimidated despite the hammering

ips. "At least you're honest

y expression neutral. "And you

eyes-surprise, maybe-befo

he papers are signed. The wedd

and I spoke in unison, t

ony, close family only. We'll announce it to the press afterward." He turned to me. "Ms. Chen wi

hed into fists. "I d

aid flatly. "Unless you're prepared

n crackling between them like electricit

nters. This changes nothing about my life. You'll stay out of my way, play

e me, Mr. Devereux, the last thi

y before he turned back to hi

Ms. Chen will send you t

direction, Lucien stalked out of the

th I hadn't reali

nt said, sounding almost amused.

hat wasn't

get started, Miss Wynters. We have

us, bringing outfit after outfit for my "new position." No one specifically mentioned what that position was, but th

unreality of it all kept hitting me in waves. By the time Ms. Chen dropped me off at my apartment buildin

ed in, surrounded by empty snack package

mira! What ar

d I wear home-a cream silk blouse and tailored black pants

uely, setting down the shoppi

is game. "Fine. What job gi

m, trying to figure out how to

he game and turn to me, suddenly wary

ne for good. That's part of what I need to tell y

attered to the fl

wincing at his shocked expre

"The billionaire guy? The one whose face is always in those bu

that sounded. "It's a business arrangement, Jace. He needs

eyes. "This is how you got t

g off the debts and setting us up financially." I reached for his hand. "Your education wil

y. "So you're selling yo

t of me wondered if he was right. "It's a co

with anger. "And what happens when

words. "You don't understand. It's just

bts? You always said we'

hing else..." I hesitated, unsure how much to tell him. "I think Dad mi

"What do you m

Vincent-he had photos. Documents. Dad mi

lling me this now?"

rying to make sense of it myself." I rea

people who might have had something t

ound even worse. "I don't know that they had anything to do with i

re going to play detective while p

protect us," I said, my own te

shouted. "I need my sister, no

to his room, slammin

ady everything was falling apart. My brother thought I was making a terrible mistake. My futu

d with a text

only. Everything else will be provided at Mr. Devereu

th a stranger tomorrow. Beco

is voice when he called me a gold-digger. Maybe Ja

when I told him the loan sharks were gone for good. I remembered the stack of unpaid b

g for one year if it meant J

d discover the truth abou

new life-including the envelope of documents Vincent had given me about my father

be Lucien Devereux's wife, but I