pierced the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The sun glinted off the glass facade, forcing

vy suit she'd bought specifically for this meeting. It

d. A receptionist with a polite, profess

help yo

Mr. Carter. My na

later, her practiced smile faltered, replaced by an expressi

As the car ascended, the city skyline falling away beneath her, Alyssa mentally re

icient young man was waiting. "Ms. Kirk? I'm Luke M

massive double doors

his back to her, looking out at the pan

he door,

encasing them in a profound, unnerving silence. The

desk and placed a file fold

er voice steady. "This is

bold letters printed on the folder's label: STRATEG

et him, his face registered an e

epling his fingers beneath his chin, his stormy gray

en my engagement to Eddie," she began

ly gestured for

lly, someone more powerful than them, to protect me until I turn twenty-th

en in this city willing to bear my child would stretch from he

I know your secret, Mr. Carter. I know you've been diagnosed with severe asthe

hal stillness emanated from him, a silent, murderous rage t

lm sea before a tsunami. It was his most closely guarded secr

back down now. "I have my sources. That's not what's

hysical health, along with a medical journal article on a rare genetic compatibility th

that, theoretically, gives us a significantly higher chance of

to see the intricate gears of her mind turning. This wom

hat she started to think she had miscalc

humorless stretching of his lips

ransactional. He would provide protection. She would provide an heir. After the birth of the

d scrawled his signature

ce," he said, his voice flat. "But understand this. If it tur

e immense weight that had been crushing her ch

stood. "A pleasure doing bu

'm not curious how you found out about my

in New York," she said softly, "you are the strongest. And