tract P

an's

was ev

rdrooms. That smiles were currencies. That love was a lia

w to negotiate countries, not comfort people. And as much as I d

ed by

started br

mi

igree. No family shares in offshore accounts. Sh

stened-truly listened. And in a world of no

er a second thought.

ecretary. Just a daughter

she

that way he used to smile when he wanted

losely after my fa

was ridiculous, archaic and manipulative. But it was law now,

or behind the scenes, was no longe

Da

playing i

agne-slick grins and declarations of af

a restructuring of the failing Rome branch, and the launch of a wome

the way Camilla

n a s

hat scream

ight, was cautious. She wore her hair tighter, her eye

happened b

asn't saying-a

more than a pawn in my br

came u

an that...

ivate conference room

she didn't need to bring. I gestured to the chair ac

a lot like

afe here," I

ked. "Ex

e rejection well. And now that the board is watching h

ing," she whispered,

't pus

etween them-not now. But I didn't need

o leave Mil

d. "Leave, to w

and fashion-focused. I need someone I can tru

d rapidly.

t like the others. You don't want the spotlight, which make

end me away?" she

to give you something, a chance to own your own

complet

e final card onto the table

ce cracke

parted.

The contract, clean, concise and legal. N

You become my wife on paper and I become the heir.

trembling fingers. Her

la De

ritten in a language she

she whispe

choosing my w

d quietly. "And Daniel... he's reckle

it. And this marriage

t the paper,

uld think about the future. Your father's health, your mot

dn't a

slowly, still h

alked

at room for a whi

elf it was

ction, a merger of

the

was harder

mire

r silence. But because she sur

sharpened herself into somet

kindness-even after wh

de her

e her da

m

d my gaze in meetings, declined lunch invitatio

e showed up at my off

s and an eyes ringed with so

s from me and unfo

control of the London brand. Second: if the marriage is dissolved, my company remains mine. Third: thi

her, a rea

at my father's door, beg

e's maid's daughter.

ire in qu

ed,"

gned contract a

married," sh

aned

ted gently. "W

up, and left the offi

d her wa

hing I hadn't

rtai

ll my calculations... I had no idea

one thing

underesti

d

mine to

s to r