A'S

er's office, my heart wouldn't

It was insane. But

e near me if I were legally married

umors about his love life or his ability to

ore how crazy it was.

hat night and now we were sup

king about it, I even dra

ould leave

n some level

boost Xander's

ability, he'd off

was with

ve to preten

if I was

I shoved it aside. I hadn't taken

ning, I made

: "I'm in. L

"Come to my place tonight. W

id out everything lik

s: we would remain married for one year, maintain p

ess both parties agreed. He offered a month

contract

id. He nodded. "If yo

ine. Just.

. "It'll be fine. We

ed that

happened wit

guests, some of his business associates, a few PR c

ious, elegant, and

s assistant picked out. He

ished. We posed for the cameras,

Xander Kendricks Off the Market" and "Sur

topped calling. He stopped showing up at

Xander's hou

ng the city, clean, modern,

everything. My room was on the

st together sometimes, talked a little abou

water when he walked in, half-dressed in

ked. I nodded. "Y

moment. "You still h

. I've been... p

d. We need

ok the water

ing, I went t

. When I told Xander, h

not what

. Me

. It means no surpr

we had routines. Shared space w

ten coming home late. I

e. Not with lust or coldness, but something

e couch watching a documentary

g well," he said. "You

The wedding.

een... weird, b

ormal. I just wanted you to kno

uard, that tiny fl

come," I sa

ted to say more, but

nod, turned, a

ath and sat down on

nding for reasons I di

flipping it open jus

eplied to. I was about to put it

wn Nu

then answer

nse, then a voice spoke from

ying him makes

"Who is this?" I

is world now, Kaia. But you don't understand the

hard. "What

safe," the voice hissed. "Because he

dead, I stared at the screen

phone lit

opped up, no send

ened

eaving the building after lunch, my face turne

dn't, I neve

e had been

ey wanted m