just one-where I co

rm, deliberate shake, I could have told him no. Could have turned around, walked

I di

lackwood had som

had somethi

ht of our agreement settled be

just signed up for," he s

ld his gaze. "I could

uite a smile, but close

ly, the intercom o

cut through the silence. "Your legal

I'll be the

ominous warning. Instead, he simply picked up a sleek

en-he

e said without

ted. "Ex

e said, his voice calm b

that moment, tha

wer

if I would hesitate,

lders, grabbed my brie

ce Room: A G

nto the room, every pai

table-Blackwood's senior legal team, top executives, and the kind o

y noticed

the table, her arms crossed, wat

ia Bla

s half-

e only person in the world who could truly get under Damian's skin.

s not happ

ng her head slightly. "I c

I asked, keepin

't reach her eyes. "For

the head of the table and ges

idn

the empty seat

f silenc

utives cleared his th

him. He was watching me now

en and opened

, my voice st

irst

ragged on for

tracts, discussing international expansion, the kind of high

h it, there w

ng fought betwee

k on a clause or pointed out a loophole, I saw the flicker o

ere

through the meet

k in t

Jonathan Hale, was droning on about contr

gnor

zzed

tly silent, finally spoke.

s jaw t

uzz. Then

steady

ark and unreadable passe

-he

s phone from his pocket, glanced at the scr

he said sharply, alread

im go, her express

was gone, she turn

sm

d lightly. "You lasted lon

ed. "Hi

ring her voice just enou

're not his first fake fiancée. You're just the fi

od ran

n't r

oul

I did, sh

t courtroom smile, and said, "Then I guess you'll ha

smile did

curled slightly

like th

I th

ting finally ended, I stepped into the

wasn'

idor, his phone pressed to

his

ce was

Damian Blackwood

ething in his expression t

was saying, his voice clipped, low. "I don't c

lammed int

ld stop myse

ho

an t

a fraction of one

t like that-

mportant,

li

en, with abso

alked into, it was so