allery. The building was modest, a two-story brick structure tucked between a laundromat and an empty

space that had become her second home. Framed canvases lined the walls, each piece carefully curated to tell a story. Her fath

s than she liked, a consequence of her inability to afford new pieces from promising artists. Worse, the ut

ough the silence. Elena hes

her voice steady despite th

replied, warm but tinged w

he counter. "Hi, Marta. Let me gu

e months," Marta said gently. "I can't

t tightening. "I'm working on it.

I'll give you another week, but aft

e phone and stared at the stack of bills. The weight of

crossed the room and peered through the glass. Her breat

n Bla

rhood, his tailored suit and polished demean

xpression wary. "Mr. Blackwe

he asked, his ton

e surveyed the gallery with an expression that was diffi

," he said, noddin

ied, folding her arms.

er, his expression seri

ght off guard. "My

is facing a hostile takeover, and my lack of a stable personal life has be

s involves me," Elena s

steady. "Someone who is independent, intelligent, and capable o

e whether to laugh or scre

"In exchange, I'll cover all your debts and

lery, but she shook her head. "This is insane. Why

ons," Adrian said bluntly,

el, but because they were true. Elena open

arrangement entail

relationship," Adrian explained. "It would only last six months. After that

I refuse?" Elena as

nd you'll never hear from me again. But you'll s

th strings she wasn't sure she could handle. She had spent her entire lif

she aske

y. "Because you're not like the others. Yo

ed her. She turned away, her gaze

said slowly, "I'll

drian said wit

ol over the gallery," Elena said. "No

" Adri

she continued. "A clear contract outli

e," Adria

face him, "I reserve the right to

rved into a fain

ght of her decision settling

took it reluctantly. His grip wa

t this," he said

ena muttered, pull

and retrieved a business card. "My assistant will be in touch to work out the det

lked out the door, leaving

er, and cautious hope. This wasn't the life she had envisioned for herself

he door behind her, the sound of the

rse, her life wa