h the city, but inside, the air between Cl

her lap that her knuckles had turned white. She kept her gaze fi

the leather seat, his long legs stretched out as if he had just taken he

, Clara

ger. "You can't walk into my life, throw money around, and decid

pression didn't change, but there was a glint of something dangerou

ed," he s

" She stopped, biting her lip hard. "You man

one maddeningly calm. "Your father would've lost

flaring. "And you think that makes this

't a smile. "No. I don't care about being

painfully. "And what

rs, unblinking,

he air between the

, she couldn't think, couldn't move. But then

now me," she said

slightly, still watchin

gain, nails digging into

n his seat. "But I always get what I want,

hat he would do to her, but because a part of her, a very small, traitorous part, couldn't stop re

he thought

tive. He's a cage w

..

driveway lined with manicured hedges. At the top of the hill sat a sprawling moder

It was beautiful, yes, but it didn't loo

first, adjusting his suit jacket as th

s door, but she hesita

a brow. "Are you coming, or

e audacity of the quest

ile spread across his

ignoring the way his gaze lingered

aircases, gleaming marble floors. But Clara didn't let herself admire it.

immediately, bowing

drian ordered, his deep voi

d, startled.

row raised. "Did you think w

he quickly looked away. "

is voice dropping low. "

head toward him, g

n, as if amused by her fury. "Goo

irst

cream-colored walls, and a balcony overlooking the city. It was the kind of room

ge of the bed, st

y life. This

at there before a soft knock o

ing for permission, his tal

rising again. "You could at lea

aid simply, s

u want?" sh

nd him, his gaze steady. "W

ul

now. That means certain thi

iling for your business friends while

l attend events with me, you'll play the role o

y. "So I'm just a pro

ightened sligh

she echoe

here because you owe me. I saved your family, and in return, you'll play your part. Do that, and your

ded painfully. "Yo

calmly. "But I alwa

chest rising and fallin

he didn't look hurt. If anyt

over it," he

on it," she

the cool night air brushing against her skin. The city stretched out below

approach until his vo

re aw

didn't turn. "Don'

said. "It's mine. Every r

whipping in the wind. "Congratulation

y railing, his dark suit catching the moo

"What's that su

y, almost too intense. "You're s

for you to admire

"No. You're not. But you are m

something else she didn't wan

rs," she whispered

ould feel his warmth. His eyes softened just s

ee," he

g the tension. He pulled it out, glanced at the

d, frowning.

ned. "Nothing you n

ned on the phone told her i

sed, but he was al

ra," he said, h

eaving her on the balcony, the

him, unease curli

ut for the first time since marrying him,

was, she knew