her. The same girl who had pretended to be her best friend, the same girl

, that's... that's hilarious! You're joking, right? B

nch. His jawline looked carved from stone,

e stared at him, wide-eyed, while h

on me for years. You are different. You don't simper, you don

er knees weaken. This w

hink you're mak

othly. "And I don't waste time. I'll have m

saw marriage as a contract to

d at him. "Y

" he correc

a groan. How was she supposed to get out of this wit

inted to the bathroom, locking herself into a stall b

ked up cheerfully.

er voice echoing in the tiled r

owed by a shriek so loud Jessica

You're k

and he'll have his assistant draft paperwo

se than I imagined. My father will kill me if he

me. Or both!" Ha-ri moa

a beat, the weight of

uttered, "You hav

ried! He doe

. Just stall him for now. Whate

he stall wall, muttering,

in the sprawling family mansion. The elder Maverick was a man of imposing

ne?" the chairman said, his

han answe

me abo

yone else. Bold.

. "Sounds like she al

I'm simply making the most efficient

! Arrange a family dinner immediately. I must meet this

rossed Ethan's face. He had no idea just

han, ducking behind filing cabinets and faking errands t

, his expression unreadable. "Miss Jessica R

d around in unison, eyes wi

he stood shakily, followin

nts as though the fate of nations rested on his pen strokes.

ther," he said evenly. "He w

w dropped. "

pick you up

ath sentence. If the lie unraveled, her career-and h

le. "Mr. Ethan, don't you th

t, dangerous smile. "On the c

wanted t

tage was set for disaster numbe