oman named Claire walked into the living room as if she had every right to be there.

r having to worry about rent or hospital bills. Dark hair fell in a perfect wave past her shoulders

voice smooth and cool. "Th

even. "Claire, th

ceived a call an hour ago that you had signed a temporar

ea how she knew so quickly. The c

ightly. "Ellie, this is Cl

d weight. I had assumed board member o

ly unemployed. Mother in treatment. Eviction notice on the door this mo

he had looked me up alr

dropped low

ng, Ellie. Did my brother explain why he needs a wife so urgently

ined enough. Ninety days. Publ

ather's will is very specific. Full control of the company requires a marri

he terms of the will

lic, the board will not only take the company. They will make sure everyone knows the girl

en us. I felt the ring dig into

windows and poured a measure of something amber in

he said. "You have ma

already suspects this is a rush job. One wrong step at the gala tomorrow and the questio

vator, then paused and gl

s, Ellie. Men like my brother do n

without waiting for a reply. The doors close

h I had not reali

. He stared at the city lights fo

s believed the company should have gone to her

the entrance. "She knows a

e me. "She will dig. She will watch. At the gala she will

ter than I intended. "

ment you do not speak to her alone. You do not answer her questions about the

odd

y i

derst

ction, though the control never left hi

Order food if you are hungry. The staff will brin

to a bedroom larger than my entire apartment. Soft gray walls. A bed that looked like it

the mattress. The diamond caught the light every

nfirming the balance was zero. Relief and guilt twisted together in my ch

k sounded a

od. "

ot step inside. He held

d makeup at one. Briefing at four. Car leaves at six. Read it.

d again. This time the contact laste

the slight pause before

ll

oked

is temporary. Do not start to believe oth

rief moment I thought I saw the same carefully hidden thing I had noticed i

back. "Go

d ni

oor c

ean black ink. At the bottom was a short scripted version of our meeting: mutual conta

, then set it o

ad never known eviction notices or late hospital bills. Somewhere in the penthouse Alex

y finger and tried not to thi

onged there. I would smile for cameras. I would answer questions with the careful

d Claire would be watchin

and forced my b

ty d

than a single night

oss the ceiling, I could not shake the feeling

tsteps. Then the low murmur of Alex's voice o

at

s stopped ou

hed for severa

der the door and stopped i

red a

r as I left the bed, crossed

ng was sharp

line

smiles at you tomorrow.

again, the

city kept glittering a

erythi

ully and slipped it int

no longer

pson had just broken his own rule ab

that meant for the ni