oe'

pacing around my cramped office. "We barely know eac

haos of my life-coffee cup rings staining the desk, file boxes overflowing with resea

ed billionaire asking me to be his wife. The absurdity wa

" he repeated in that deep, soothing

"That's just it-even for a strictly practical partnership, marriage is...extreme, don't

ps. "Are you objecting on moral grounds? Or are you

eeks heat up. It was clear this man hadn't spent

using air quotes. "I'm an oncologist. My work researching cures for cancer is my entire li

e my heart skip a beat. Unlimited resources to fight

t asking you to compromise your life's work. In fact, I'll ensure you not only

y sincerity and...empathy? Sympathy for the losses that had fueled my obsession? His own mother's tra

a, if only for perspective. "Okay, let's say I somehow agree to t

"We'll present ourselves publicly as any normal engaged couple - attend even

ye was exactly the kind of distraction I wanted to avoid at all c

rtners, colleagues if you prefer. You're free to date, carry on personal relationships...whatever you wish, no judgmen

too good to be true after my years of constant struggle-unlimited funding, no controlling interests, comp

believe you're just some generous philanthropist. There must b

only grew more amused. It was starting to be

you that," he chuckled. "Very well, let'

ing onto mine in a way that made me shif

timate marriage contract would provide powerful legal protections, preventing any hosti

ng his company. I had to admit, it seemed like a pretty small thing for him to do in exchange for all h

me then. "Does this proposed mar

ul act fade a bit, showing something mo

ted carefully. "Though the exact timeline would be flexible, give

had everything, the thought of a real marriage still made him unsure. We both seemed t

nd uncontrollable. Even if we planned to be practical now

th the impossible decision being placed before me. I kne

ox union with this total stranger without some part of

jah said the words that determin

s into your cancer research program, Dr. A

at number hit me. 1.5 billion dollars...it was enough to fully fund decades

o realistically cure cancer

insidious disease that had haunted me for so long. All for the pr

actually

mystery. He knew he had just given me a challenge t

ut how big this decision was. But at that momen

breath and met Elijah's burning gaze w

ord...you've got

e everything, for both of us. Elijah's full lips curved into a sa

e of that control for a business deal without much emotion. But even as I got exc

tforward the stated rules, would prove far more complica

w which of us wou