ed with framed awards and magazine covers. I
dusty reminders
s empire. His fingers tap the surface, steady and slow. Every tap
the decisio
ired, but his
n't loo
s at my
t
io
rry Adrian
like
quest. A
rosses her legs, raises one
heard
ou say you're marrying me off to a
rumpled. He hasn't shaved. This isn't th
fifty million into Vaughn Corp. In return, we
iora snaps. "You're s
this? We're drowning, and I finally have a lifeline. Dona
u offer
ld. You know how
o
to the desk. The con
it. Or you'll pack your things and leave
you won't,"
Trying not to take sides even thoug
nds, fists
My life's just
r doesn'
s answe
r room, she throws open
walls. Zippers rip. H
going through w
he says. "And neither do y
ould s
ed? No thanks.
blouse, but she
to. I'm marrying him because Dad fa
the family," I say, t
m doing it because he l
an alliance. His son, Adrian, doesn't need a partner. He needs a wife to keep the Donavan legacy in the bloodline. Eli
happens two
ments. A blur of
t a wedding. They
ide her in
pensive kind. Lace slee
kay?"
clips in her earri
the aisle like a ma
powerful. Imp
ks if she
ne c
ver. His expression is unreadable-controlled, reserved, perhaps detached. He says his vows like
ey don't kiss. T
era
t a lov
trans
is worse. Stif
ching. He speaks only when spoken to.
k when I sneak up
brain trying not to
s halfway throug
no one
nto the suite t
agne unopened, Two chairs sit
n't a h
an
for breakfast in a sleek black
well?
ft after midnight. Didn't say a
he's ne
e doesn'
ps her
' Like we're business partner
all he wants,"
He's stuck
out the way she says it
t the Donavan estate. She leaves without
he car dr
side her. A future that's alrea
dow like she's heading
ke of a father who sold her future to save h