he didn't want to be found vulnerable. She pinched the bridge of her nose, balancing her cell

at her chest tightened. She almost hung up. Then came th

on Ste

at charity events, whispers of how the Sterling empire swallowed smaller businesses like a storm tide. Now his

efensive, though she knew very well people like Jackson Sterling c

e late on your mortgage. The bank

er bare feet hitting the worn carpet with a thud. "Exc

"No, Ms. Montgomery. Let's not play games. I deal with numbers, propert

what? To buy my house after the bank takes it? To add anot

ness was infuriating. "I don'

the phone harder against her ear as if pr

all playful cadence. "Marry me, Savannah. A contract marriage. You get to

ng the meaning of his words. But no, Jackson Sterling was the kind of man w

with disbelief.

smooth as ever. "Bec

. She paced to the window, pushing aside the thin curtain to look out at the street where shadows

Just to get out of debt? Do you

ride is the only thing standing between you and ruin. You can wear it like arm

e slip. She hated how precise his words were, like sc

ut of her before she could stop it. "You could have

use I need someone I can trust. Someone desperate enough not

ll him he was wrong, that she wasn't desperate, but

hispered fiercely, even as her throat

, yo

ngered, soft

the sound of his voice, the arrogance of his offer, the way he spoke like he already owned her sou

u can just call me up and... and buy me into y

"But your circumstances are. And r

and fear twisting togethe

he cut in, unflinching.

aving only the hollow echo

s with a muffled thud. She stood frozen at the window, heart po

ght was too qui

th, Jackson Sterling had thrown her into a cor