st hum in her ears, her body responding to the electricity in the air, even though her mind screamed at her to stay grounded. This wa

ance of control. "When do we start?" she asked, trying

h deciding something. He stepped back, his posture changing, and for

ped. "I'll have the contract ready,

ange mix of relief and ap

ceptible. "You'll need to pack a bag, too.

rrowed. "Yo

e to the life you'll be living as my wife. It's important that you look the pa

he power in his words or the force of his gaze that made

derst

unreadable. "Good. I'll have a car r

about to sign her life away to a man who treated everything-including her-as a transaction. The thought should have made her recoil, but inste

her heel and heading for the door. As she reached

e said, her

is expression s

nable to stop herself.

hed her, as though considering her question caref

nly one who doesn't w

ompliment or an insult, but there was something unsettling about

the office and into the night, her mind s

hands moved automatically, but her mind was far from the task at hand. She couldn't stop thinki

had no other choice. But something about the way he'd looked at her, the way he had spoken

m her mind. She didn't have the luxury of overthinking. She had ma

n was nothing short of spectacular-an architectural masterpiece that spoke of old money a

even more imposing. His eyes flicked over her quickly, assessing her outfit-an elegant

said, his voice as coo

stretch forever. The estate was more than just a home; it was a fortress.

al a sprawling sitting room with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlo

ipped as he gestured to the room. "You'll have everything you need her

fighting to keep her business alive. Now, she was part of a world she didn't underst

s presence consuming the room. His eyes held hers, and for a flee

his voice softer than she expected. "B

ned. She waited fo

unwavering. "I'm here to make sure we both get what we want. B

ng was clear. There was no ro

her voice steady despite t

ce more before t

Mia was left alone in the room, the we

feeling that her journey had only just begun. And somehow, in the depths of her heart, she couldn't q