nor

e. I changed into a set of comfortable loungewear the

e white t-shirt, reading something on a tablet. The mo

lf-consciousness and awkwardly tuc

star. He looked... normal. If you ignored the mult

er of something unreadable in his ice

are, of Julian's insult

o see right

e flat but carrying a quiet edge. "I've reassigned him.

in his eyes had thawed, just a fraction. "You're no

sat down opposite him. A lavish br

"Thank you for everything you've done.

acing his fingers together on the table. He watched m

you can marry me directly." he said slowly,

clattered against the plate. I stared at him,

ut a soft chuckle, breaking the tension

ing with me. Annoyed, I looked down and

e here for free," I said, my voice firm. "As repayment, while you allow me to stay here, I can work for

ebrow, surprise

herwise, I can't accept your help with a

lly nodding. "Fine. If you insist." He seemed am

felt less like charity and more like an exchange

d at the door. "You can use anything in the apartment. My assistant Eric's n

, watchi

rushed back to the guest r

t me. Most of it was gone, but I found traces on ta

marry into money. They were accompanied by unflattering, stolen phot

ge they'd done when they firs

in my mind. What did he think whe

away. This wasn't th

son. She was my friend, the only

rypted message. "I'm safe. In an unexpected pl

t immediate. "Address?

to you," I typed back. "The wedding is tom

ut my father has frozen my accounts. He's afraid I'll get involved in your m

ould trust, and even she was trapped. I stared a

ng on my screen. Tomorrow. They would finalize it tomorrow.

. The offer he had made. I didn't want to owe him

more. This was about stoppin

a deep

ound Alessandro's numbe