A ring for a lie

st her chest, her fingers aching from the weight

fficially

tment building. Her landlord hadn't even given her the decency of a final warning. He'd simply sh

nowher

d in months, and the single photo she had left of her mother. Everything else she'd sold or lef

wled, but she i

r head, she turned and walked. Not toward

nights unless they were necessar

o his driver. He hated this neighborhood, hated the noise, the smell, the chaos of it

the building when so

her, s

ray hoodie, dragging a cardboard box along the

pe of her shoulders felt familiar. The

va

lights. Her wide hazel eyes locked wit

ht. She tried to shift the box to her other hip

rward. "Are you..

ragging all my worldly belongings throu

dn't

, slower now.

for seven months, answering his calls, managing his calendar, and generally trying not to breathe too loudly in his presence. Juli

at her differently now.

nally. "Apparently electricity and food

ou tell anyon

ne of your busin

the tone, she a

at too long. Then, to her

with

inked.

I'm not letting one of my em

t your

nd currently on my sidewalk

ure somet

crash on with someone who barely tolerates you, and an application

clenched.

flinch. "Get i

old him to go to hell and walked awa

feet mov

ed-stunning, modern, but cold. All glass

word, and she dried off in awkward silence. He disappe

"You look like you h

it warily.

couch. The silence stretched b

ou to... care," sh

don

t s

ay you mean. But I don't let people who work for me fall

ard. "So this i

r for a long moment.

, confused. "What

htly, his voice quiete

ked. "Ex

heard

need a

es

what?

y married within the next sixty days, control of the company transfers to my cou

.. you're propos

dded

e, but tha

ousing, clothes, expenses. You'll be comfortable. And after th

y m

et. You don't ask questions,

Wow. You really know

m offering you a solution.

ding. "You want me to

ant a contract. Marriag

er head. "I

he

fr

" he repeate

uldn't

g personal. I'm asking for your signature. In exchange, you

rembled. "And

aze. "I get

e fell

o was sleeping on a park bench with no coat. And

think," she

ce. "You have tw