m. "Eighty million? You m

eighty million? That w

ether. "I already gave you

d and walked off wi

"Don't leave yet - we

tone sharp. "You're being

d over at the soun

ecome today's office gossip, so she pulled

let her drag him back in

wn at her, his gaze dark and unreadab

arm. "Yes," she said

to the divorce back then - cold, cl

e either. She was completely cl

y. Instead, his lips lifted in amusement

laugh, sarcasm dri

s well just say you want

ght? Fine. Give me

buy her peace, then so

kind of show, clearly doubting she had that mu

d leaned back in his chair, slowly flipping th

ansfer. James raised an eyebrow and gave her a long, intrigued

. "Thanks to you agreeing to the divorce. T

one s

dimmed fo

her messy hair and aske

d and headed for the door

leaving. He just leaned

double-checked

id-step and tu

his chair and holding up the contract, spreading

's wr

thing was legit. "It clearly states that either party can terminate th

mile. "So? We had an

is felt off - like escapi

you come work as my secreta

fists tightening. "You're seri

h a hint of mischief.

a steadyi

ave no

accepted it. If you go back on it now, that could be con

inch. "I can easily

fists. "Great. Then my law

d yanked her back, pinning her against the wall. Maria's patien

itching in surprise at her sudden moves.

ed and f

up against the wall again, us

d in smugly. "You've got skills, I'll giv

he air between them thick with tension f

am

d voice echoed

e, eyebrows scrun

d away for a minute, and here w

a shoved James

of pure frustration, like this wh

ily distracted, she stormed off. Just as sh

as E

lf to calm down

Ella, wh

We're at a restauran

dn't I tell you all to

rk. And plus, we were curious about the place yo

sweet little voice was like a

, come,

com

Maria stepped ou

er set of footsteps behind

to be

kids... that'd be a total dis

sank ev

the restaurant, she jumped in

ng it, she ende

shore, the salty breeze brushing her cheeks.

here she first felt

y from the beach to the car. They were pretending to date, keeping u

king in gulps of fresh sea air, telling

p out, another vehic

her head-it

his gaze drifting between her and the

her. "You rememb

overthin

ed in an instant. Maria twisted her keys,

Not even gonna w

t means s

ng idea, she shot him a col

e hit the gas

ar disappear, eyes

was the subdued version of her;

wasn't behind her, Ma

re Ella said they were, the scene that