THE WIFE HE NEVER CHOSE

e doorway, clutching my handbag, just staring at that thick envelope like maybe if I didn't touch it

d myself to read every word. The loan was still unpaid. My request for another extension had been shot

ther's old chair and

thing beautiful. Every hallway, every room had her touch. I can still picture myself trailing behind her as a little kid, watching her greet guest

lose it. Because I just

her investor's name. For a second, hope f

awson, I'm gl

your proposal." He soun

ghtened

e won't be mo

Can you tell me why? I could revise t

property needs more work than exp

has so much poten

ut our decision

ore I could sa

ee weeks: seven investors, seven polite no-thank-yous,

oreclosure paper

kitchen running. Sold my car. Postponed every personal expense. I'd taken

ent division had agreed to review my proposal, though their re

ng together: numbers

reception area. Marble everywhere, expensive furni

th the folde

der?" Som

in a fitted grey suit

es

r will see

gave a we

ing some department head,

cer," she

r, feeling out of place, straigh

ndows. Broad shoulders, tailored black suit, on

they promised. The agreement isn't chang

urned. For a split second,

magazine-handsome, dark hair, sharp jaw, and absol

s Ca

was deep

Mer

e chair across

set my f

for meeti

agreed to a

ght me o

a detailed proposal-current hotel status

across

amy H

es

up, declining guests, high main

ose are the problems,

d at me.

oyal customers, a great reputation, incredible location. The building's histo

re at thirty-eight

re closed for re

outpace yo

nded for years. I've prio

the d

kno

documents. "No collate

le. "That's why I'm requesting a structur

pour money into a property that

y to help a property that can b

very con

deter

"Determination doe

a solid p

in his expression. H

are you as

him the

, then leaned back. "

truggling hospitality properties. You

e site is better as a red

I walk away. I won't sell to an

es with me.

House. Her life w

y to lose everyt

"I'm ready to

ugh my proposal, stopped

ft you with a t

tel worth saving.

sn't change th

make you automaticall

the door lo

. For a second, I wondered

. "You're either stu

, pro

face. Twenty minutes picking apart my plan, and I still d

said, not turnin

month

d t

osure s

to settle

old

e renov

him tha

as if he al

asking f

kno

strict financi

yes-but I need to sta

cour

nded a

ocuments. It felt like a

thank you. I'm happy to se

re le

sumed you'd mad

hav

mach d

s

is seat but didn'

rangement we could

back

do you

ncial problem, no convent

ated. "

ight in the ey

ed. "Ex

heard

? His face wa

me kind of

es

ess nego

's ri

. Mercer, I'm here about my hotel

that's

ack. "Are you asking

pora

ent a chill

pora

ve mo

an explanatio

y m

, smart, and unde

t much of

s en

ou propose to every wom

N

why

at. "Because we could strike

ou haven't even tol

l events, a shared home-th

hat do

debt, fund the renovation

started

e were discussing

. I only step in if your decis

er twelv

-unless we both wa

He'd pay for everything, protect t

ou get out

Someone to stand next

ey way to poli

not a p

ours

. All those projection

ect me to f

N

e you

. "That's not p

y, embarrass

nd of marria

ip. Duties s

man

mise romance,

asking for love. He needed a wife-someon

him my freedom wasn't worth

the empty rooms, the foreclosure notice. Remembered

welve

that's wh

f I sa

d we never spe

reatening, just offering a

he terms bef

olut

d prepared it all before I got her

it acros

ARY MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

ted m

wrote this before

es

e sure I'd

you need a

ld my

accept-it's

he contract,

ed back,

" he said. "Tha

lamy House wasn't the only thin