mi'

arply,my he

here

nd Mo

had just cha

shouldered, dressed in a fitted black shirt with the top buttons open, and carried an aura o

e to remain in composure." I

ere I am." The air between us grew heavier as he stepped

uched papers in my h

gement is purely business. You get to play the devoted wife in public

arms. "And wh

"I have my reasons, Reasons you do

rovocative arrogance "You ex

ing. "You agreed to this Erica? Or are

just like to know what

. Consider this a temporary partnership. To the public we are a

uneasiness battled wit

smirk. "Until I

wer I expected, but

omething appropriate."he sa

was left al

That E

Samantha had picked out for me. It gave me a perfect look while huggi

barely unable to recogniz

was naive. Too tru

omi wa

I must accomplish. And nothing,

eath and made my

g mahogany table set with delica

a glass of red wine. His eyes went o

lean u

s remark and

tered asparagus, a side of truffle pot

was el

bout Raymond. About Ale

nd. Why did you choose me among others for this arrang

twirling the wine in his gla

cause I needed

"Then let's say

my eyes. "T

ce almost a whisper. "And yet,

what all this

ould play

was in tense silence wi

he hallway , I barely noticed the sh

oice that sent shiv

e looks f

rply, my bre

in the dim light

e of confusion and something else-some

trembled

figured

nst my ribs as I tried to

xan

man who betrayed me. And now,the man wh

e asked with a lo

"I don't believe we

suspicious expression. "You

hide the quiver in my voice. "I sup

t look c

voice ca

at the top of the staircase, wa

?" His tone was

I was just heading

der, sharp and assessing, before

turned and left the roo

lexander one last time. His eyes were still fi

lowed Raymo

ond'

bout her wa

s darkened whenever she thought no one was w

ty to read people. It was necessary i

ing,my mind kept circling back to

gnit

ted something was wrong. And

across the room. She was brushing her ha

hought." My voice w

rror, offering a faint smile. "J

e elbow. "Tell me, Erica

for a fractio

t someone else might have

me, confusion in her ey

fully. "You just s

r head in decline. "I think I would rem

. "Someon

"You're not exactly f

ave dismissed the nagging feeling

them ever lingered in my thoughts. B

that believes in f

my thoughts. That Erica Ray was more

I was r

was far more dangero