clicked shut, sealing them off f

with leather-bound books that looked actually read, and a massive mahogany de

g returning to his throne, and sat, lacing his fingers togethe

it fireplace, her ebony cane resting against the

harp and direct. "Your terms

eakness now. "I require fifty million dollar

ward. A humorless smirk tou

e my mother's company from a hostile takeover. It is also, if you will, my dowry.

hiding her desperation behind flowery language.

h skepticism. "Your word? The word of Jory Black's fiancée?"

s for the guarantee, I will sign any document you put in front of me. A prenu

pped away another la

her hand. "Jayce, leave us. I wi

dn't argue with his grandmother. With a final, lingering look at Elen

two of them. The q

, Lillian," she said, her tone warmer. "A fine woman, though perh

Middleton," Elena

n, "Middleton money is not given away li

ped, pointedly, to

within one year." She paused, letting the weight of the demand sink in. "If you succeed, a trust fund in the amount of f

sure. This was the price. A child. With the man she had loved acr

and," she

you need now... that must come from Jayce. He must choose to invest

tly. She had to earn Ja

nto the room. Jayce enter

losing a business deal. "Jayce, you will escort your fiancée to y

le feathering in his cheek, but he held his tongue. He knew be

vere-looking man in a butler's uniform. "Mr. Jennings, arrange for a ful

find the public story-the broken engagement, the str

d on her. "Let's go," h

c seemed to falter. Every eye was on them. The sight of Elena Craig leavi

lls-Royce waited, the

d her, his hand lightly on her

d, his voice a low warning, "you will live in my penthouse. You wil

a gilde

dded. "P

out the world. She had her foot in the door. Now