The Billionaire's Bargain :Shattered vows

bills like they were vultures circling her last breath. A calculator sat in her lap, i

Click

ked back at her

" she muttered. "For thirty days of

the wall with a hollow crack, fell to the floor,

ling. "Take the lights, take the sh

ights buzzed in

eyard. A half-stitched dress lay limp on a rusted sewing machine. Thread spools had rolled off the shelves and collecte

r creak

k. No w

chime of the bell

stif

in for days. No

tainly

p-and her bl

el like stage spotlights. His suit was tailored to perfection. Dark grey with a crisp white shirt u

d further in. When his shoe clipped the edge of a wo

and waved the air away w

boutique with detached precision. "What a

The man hadn't introduced himse

ph T

as the tabloids called him. A man known for buying failing

mother's boutique like it was an

t before I call the cops," she grow

't blink. Just took an

smoothly. "But they

punched

ou want?"

to buy t

not fo

not a

he hissed. "You can take y

terest has tripled. You have thirty-two dollars in your checking account, and your sister is seven months pregnant, uninsured, and

parted, but no

w ever

Single.

her life and dissected every cor

spered, fury and humiliat

ed. "Like I do every failing i

storming behind the counter and grabbing he

aid, stepping forward and placing a folder

pa

kind o

arri

le

Not amused. A loud, broken, almost deranged lau

hink you can waltz into my life, into my mother's dream, a

ssion did

we. I'll fund the boutique under your name. Your sister will receive the best medical ca

folder-then hurled

ead birds, fluttering l

ng?" she screamed. "Do I lo

ou look like someone too pr

her palms on

ot for

said, stepping toward the door. "Y

the knob b

e until

g open and sh

i

as g

ng, fists clenched, chest

kroom door o

me Lena's s

quickly. "I'm fine.

d eased onto a stool. Elara grabbed her a bottle of w

ught h

al care for the depen

ands

again-but she b

, stacked them neatly,

nk carved a piece

he si

or he

a. For