y. I opened my eyes to unfamiliar shadows and the heavy, expensive scent of cedar. I was ta

ened. Steam billowed

te dress shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. His dark hair was damp. He l

s voice was a flat, emotionles

t night flashed in disjointed nightmares, Vanessa's cruel smile, the violent spin of the room, fal

came out as a broken

ictim. You begged

ked up a silver money clip. He tossed a thick s

I make it a strict policy never to see the same woman twice. Take the money. Sign t

ction. A corporate spy or

My father raised a fighter, not a victim. I dragged myself out of his bed, wra

d rage. "I did not come here for your wealth. I came here to surv

r behind me, fleeing into the cold, unforgiving morning. I had

weeks

ing rhythm. I sat beside the hospital bed,

the sterile hallway twenty minutes ago. "If she sees another tabloid headl

wealthy family publicly denounced us. I was currently living in a cramped, f

nk lines changed my destiny forever. I was pregnant. The fathe

Her eyes fluttered open. "You

g a smile. My stomach rolled with a

ortfolio everywhere.

fight. Do not let Vanessa and Preston win. You

lipped down my cheek, hitting

seven rejection emails in my inbox. No prestigious architecture firm w

i

flashed acro

Chen, Chief Ope

terling Ar

ptional. We do not care about the media circus surrounding

. Monday.

a billion-dollar shark tank that chewed up the weak and spat them out. It was my only li