e Alayna. Fluorescent lights glowed

ising a hand, she touched the neat gauze taped over her brow a

ece together the cr

harcoal suit. He didn't ask how she was. He checked his g

nthouse and assaulted your own assistant over some ridiculous jealous fit. Now the girl is in urgent care with a sprained wrist. If the p

n bed with her, Father. In the home we

convenience, not grounds to blow up an alliance. Legal is drafting the girl's non-disclosure agreem

fiancé," Alayna said, her voice dropping to a fre

utor while you're under the family umbrella. If you don't fix this by five o'clock, I will freeze every operating account tied to y

ead and freeze them. But I will not be

er sneer. "You'll be calling

lked out, letting the door s

ed back against the pillows, closing her eyes as a slow, steady tear tracked down her cheek.

k sounded a

the storm s

over a dark t-shirt. He moved with a quiet, groun

le and pulled a clean napkin from

s. "Thank you... for last night

resting his forearms on his knees. "C

yes held a calm, unshakeable stillness that felt remarkab

hands-the hands that had cut her free

from her mother's trust do

dependent under the original family umbrella. The moment she entered a legal marriage

her into a corner. Jordon assum

he quiet man si

are you

es, a faint, unreadable stillness flicker

replied

need a legal spouse to protect my mother's estate from my father, and I will pay you five thousand dollars a

the absurdity, or walk out the door. A normal

as the low hum of the air conditioner. His dark eyes remained completely steady, holding hers with

ave a single,

ea