Trapped in his Shadow

y of the gold letters mocked me in the dim light of my flat. Aiden and Selena Graves cordially invite you. It didn't

to reality. She plopped down on the corner of my couch, munc

the card to the coffee table.

invited you. That practical

oincidences. No one meant anything to him, including me. The man was the embodiment of cold. But this did not explain t

Worst case, you get free champagn

boss tried to fire me for accidentally spilling coffee on his shirt, I knew it was only a moment

at. "I'm going for a walk," I mumbled. I

nd that forced me to tighten my coat over my body. Manhattan's streets were

ocket. When I took it out

ce the incident at the office a few weeks ago, and it was barely a chat. He told my boss to g

deep voice filled the line, smooth and unaffected. "We

I stammered and looked at m

" he said, and th

k. Why did Aiden Blackstone ask to see me? So, wh

b despite my

t The Plaza. Eve

in. He was as imposing as I remembered-tall and broad-shouldered, with a tailored suit perfectly sculp

id smoothly, pointing to

nadequacy beneath his look. "You wante

r you," he said, his voi

s stare fixed on me. "I need a wife." My mouth dropped open. "W

You're barely making enough to buy groceries," he added, his voice sharp. "M

I couldn't dispute that he was correct. I was drown

You can't just offer someone a

a legitimate marriage. It's a business deal. You marry me, remain

had collapsed beneath m

mera, and act the part. You will live in my home and share my lifestyle. However, there will b

ued, his expression darkening. "Some people need to believe I'm settled." My wild days are behind me. A wife brings stability. You

without looking back. However, the total cost is 10 million dollars. It was more money than I'd ever

one like Aiden Calloway? Col

get much sleep that night. I tossed and turned, my thoughts obsessed by the offer. I couldn't get over how he treated me as if I

tower loomed above me, representing everything Aiden stood for: imposi

n was already seated behind his big

aid without asking any questions.

il."And one more thing," he whispered softly, leaning down with his face inches from mine. His gaze was fixated on me, cutting through every barrier I tried to construct around myself. "Reme

iden's phone rang. He spoke without hesi

eyes darkened. "What do you mean?" His tone was

t the entryway, a cold c

d. He didn't say anything, but the tension in the

ntrolled, "it appears that our arrangement m