a's

egotiations. Maybe even threat

t

out of darkness and control. His study was silent except for the low hum of fire crackling in the co

sat a sin

asual piece of paperwork instead of t

ooth and deep, a command disgu

ck print stared back at me. Lines of legal jargon blurred as I tried to process what

s the exclusive partner and girlfriend of Damian Blackwe

. My throat went dry.

ed faintly, and I hated how it made the air fee

d to be your girlfriend?'' ''No,'' he said, leaning forward slightly. His eyes

berate, they chilled me more th

the desk. ''Absolutely not. Yo

k. ''Then your father's empire burn

e was right. My father's desperate face flashed in my mind-his hands shaking, his voice breaki

n Blackwe

voice low, shaking with anger. ''Money. Share

and deliberate, and circled the desk until he stood only a breath away. I cou

g around me like smoke, ''Power isn't just about money

the corner. ''And nothing makes a man more untouchable t

at's all I am to you? A tro

No, you're leverage. A symbol. And for six

em into fists at my sides. ''And

pend the rest of your life wondering if a little

e was the calm certainty in his tone. He wasn't bluffing. D

o think. My chest rose and fell too quickly, my

blackmail.

'You came to me for salvation. Thi

e contract into the fire and storm out the door. But my father's hollow eyes h

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on, even though every nerve in my body told me to look away. ''You're a monster'' His eyes darkened, but the smirk

s empire? No tricks, no games?''

er now, but no less dangerous. ''Every debt erased, every en

year. I could survive that...couldn't I? But when I opened them, Damia

etly. ''Not a day longer.''

desk toward me. The fire crackled behind us, shadows dancing across the walls, and I realized somethi

here was n