a's

passed sinc

the stranger with hands like fire and lips that

.. really trying.

me feel. Like I had finally lived for once, only to crash into the morning after. He linger

ds and blurry memories. Life demanded rent.

I bought during a hopeful "starting my life" phase back in college. I even brushed out my hair until it gl

was im

t prestigious firms spanning finance, real estate, and tech. The kind of p

by some miracle-or cosmic prank-I landed an intervi

thing to pull me out of this fog and remind me that I w

on a new beginning, I wouldn't feel the ghost

evator

n carved out of ambition itself-glass walls, black marble floors, and silence so clean

nails looked up from the desk. Her eyes s

said, forcing my

then handed me a clipboard. "Fill th

e CEO h

of thing to HR. But I didn't question it. Maybe that's ho

d the pen tighter. Around me, other applicants came and went. A man in a tailored navy suit who smell

in slow, sh

Miss D

s and abstract art hanging like secrets. We stopped in fro

," she said before

ath and push

fr

the city like a silent ruler surveying his domain. The air smelled like clean leather and polishe

take in much

on the man stand

hat fit like it had been stitched by angels. One hand tucked into his pocket,

en he heard

dropped int

breathe. Co

nd of raw masculinity and quiet danger. There was something

he night I swore I'd forget. From the bed I'd left

hat mouth. That quiet

inside me s

couldn

ke. CEO. Billionair

ispered, before I

ened as they

d, each syllable slidi

"How do you k

isitor log. Though I should thank you for the

roat

gh it came out as more of a squeak

eliberate steps. "Funny, isn't it? The girl who left me a hundred-dollar bill and

o melt int

the one you are talking about," I

said, voice sharp

I sat stiffly in the chair opposite

gers steepled under his chin. "Yo

idn't know it was

what makes this.

t want any awkwardness. Let's just pretend it never ha

he said coolly. "And

d. " S..

mpetent. Smart. Overqualified, actual

rin

ot the

wha

eaming with something I couldn't na

ed. "What are yo

d out a sleek black folder. With a flick of h

d before o

fr

crazy." I breathed, staring at the el

need a wife. You need a fresh start

his is insane. What do you mean by "I nee

I do,

od ran

my rea

. The name I hadn't written

w do you k

knowing. "I told you

oking for me?"

out of my bed with

his couldn't be real. This was s

This is business. Personal reasons. Family matters. I need a wife on pape

f I sa

ed to a low mur

r. Hotter. Like the

me, really?" I asked,

ant a contract. I want control. I want you by my side-for the

undered aga

after

teady. "We walk a

re we pretend thi

gh me. "We don't prete

ng away slowly. "

ave 24

. I need more time? And if I refuse??!

whisper that slid

onder what could've h

again. My fingers trembled

e choice. On

thing cou

estions, doubts, fear. But just as I reached f

and E

top

ed b

e said, eyes unreadab