PTE

tever I nee

ing the contract flying. Papers scatter

T your p

ed the papers fall, then raised his co

ke

eal emotion she'd seen from h

air crashed backward. "And I won't! Not like this. Not whil

the table. "Your uncle sold you to save a failing company. I bought you because you

ater glass and hur

against the wall behind him, water d

His voice was d

t interfere in your personal life? Who won't ask for love? Then

ed toward

ny of investment from Jones Constructions. By Monday, you

her hand on

y grace. "You think throwing tantrums changes anything? Your uncle brought yo

around. "I

s arrangement besides a name and a failing legacy? You're twenty-two years old with no b

to work against me!" The words expl

ure in the r

solutely blank. Not an

how worse than

" he said

adl

s were chips of green ice. "Before

his arrangement? Hope. Dreams. The belief that business should be built on mor

" William poured himself another coffee with steady hands. "And beliefs?

eliefs! And he b

rim. "He came to me three years ago, begging for an investment. Actually begging. Your belo

world tilt.

ut his phone, scrolled,

g in this same room, his face lined with exhaustion, his h

ate's voi

oard seats. And eventually, when not

t herself on the back of a chai

wo years ago, your father suggested a marriage arrangement. He said once you graduated,

Tears burne

he'd built." William picked up one of the fallen contract pages. "So don't stand there and pretend I'm

screamed. "He can't defend

n keep your perfect image of him. The loving dad who would never make hard

ct-a crystal paperweight-and

dge. He caught it one-handed

row something else at me, and I'll have you remov

can

wned it since your father's last investment round. Which means

shook. "I'l

r your parents' estate until then. And every single board member has already signed agreements supporting this

. I'll tell everyone

ling to marry someone with no assets and no experience out of respect for your father's

t. No one would believe her. She

ou have everything already,

l flickered in William's eyes. So

hree days before the plane crash, he called me. Said he was worried a

h caught. "H

be bought or intimidated." William turned back to her, his expression hardening

ept

have a future. That's mor

were bruta

her had arranged this. Had *wanted* this. Had seen something in Willia

m what? From her un

somethin

me," she s

e until

s two

jacket. "The wedding is scheduled for 4 PM. I've already sent th

confident I

t a moment, she saw something

hat confident you're smart enough

-

room, her vision blurred with

ed with Mr. Carlo

it-" he

ed past him. "Don'

be reas

something in her expre

bt. About everything. And you let me believe he

protect

through the marble halls. "All of you. This whole fa

hardened. "Watch

orce me to sign away my life?" Kate laughed

look like you'r

flee, to disappear, to start over somewhere William

ouse, begging William for help. Of him making p

thing, Kate. No matter what h

hing. Maybe this-all of this-was his way

figure out what

is with my eyes open. And when the time is right, I'm goin

ndulgently. "Of cou

't beli

was

ve them a

-

evious

ach churned

ned. "Or you l

seated, acting like everything was norma

ands on the table

slow sip of his wine before lookin