ed the contract that this was not driven by love. It was a commercial agreement, one that demanded her whole dedication to his universe and involved mo

ises universe without incident. Every day, though, seemed like a fresh trap closing in. Her words, deeds, everything had t

the men surrounding her speak in tones of power and authority, as though she belonged nowhere. Not essent

er of who really possessed the authority in this marriage. Rylan's impact was felt everywhere: in the way he kept her at hi

sessions, he had said, "This is what you're here for, Amaya," his words slicing through her ideas like a k

ed her opinions on the course of the company at meetings. Rylan had first only lifted an eyebrow, obviously startled by her unexpected

lly fixed on her. That was abundantly evident: he disliked her independen

slicing through the subdued buzz of the office. " Yo

. Rylan had constructed between them an emotional barrier. Every time she tried to conne

ed his past, the little pause in his voice when he addressed his father. He was simply a man, broken in his own mann

t part of himself off, and she was left with

ife and for his seeming belief that he could control her every action. She felt

while she struggled among the wreckage of her past choices. Perhaps it was also because s

his behavior? Did it cl

o dislike him part-time. But another side, the side that wanted to connect with him,

the game. Though his comments were precise, targeted, and still she could sense tension in his voice. He was someone

sessions scheduled. She had never thought that business could move at such a rapid speed. Now Rylan's world

ade him wealthy; now it was her job to negotiate those seas. He turned to her, his eyes sharpening as he gave her a th

corporation Rylan knew all too well, one she had once relied on most of all. Now, it appeared they wer

hadn't expected this. She was not ready to make such kind of judgments. Rylan, thoug

it," he said frigidl

validation. But right now the work felt like a stab to her chest. Harm a major business partner? Was her life now actu

became low and deliberate. Your lif

als, were placed too precisely. overly flawless. It came out as a trap. Her instincts were

she had ever wanted to get in touch with. Murray Milton Bernard Amaya had never trusted Rylan,

alm as he responded. "Amaya," he continued,

urbulence. "On Rylan. He is not sharing with me something. Something about h

llness on the other end of the telephone. "I cannot divulg

hing more fundamental was under control. "Bernard, I need the truth," she said, her voic

game you could find costing more than you are ready for between you

beginning to fit together, the picture remained hazy and unfinished. Rylan had bee

, even if it meant facing the gloom he was concealing. She was unable to ignore, though