Bound by Contract, Freed by Love

with a gilded headline: "Mrs. Blackwood Revealed as Gold Digger." My heart tightens. I turn to the feature. The story

tillo, brin

s,

nized. My computer monitor is dark. The sunlight streams through the window

seconds, tie undon

e article.

brows knit together. "This is libelo

penthouse reading this. I feel something like

the paper. "Wha

Call Mar

loane arrives. He is wearing a crisp suit and a

and recline in my chair.

opposite me. He clasps his hand

cross the desk. "You

n me. "I had nothi

charming, and ambitious. You are

am not your pr

you didn't leak this, then who did

eposterous. She's smiled in public

desk. "She is nothing to y

"I do not unders

working on the Astell merger. You are to re

ists. "You c

it done. From now on,

e making a mistake. She wi

my gaze. "You

its. I observe the

comes bac

a press conference. I

speak to the publi

hoever wrote that article. Go

think of Elena in her bedroom. I think of her shaking hands as she closed the suitc

ie slices more deeply than I expect. I want to prote

or. "Sir, the press are

ave them

e are cameras with their flashes lighting up the lobby. Journalist

a Hart. There is nothing to them. They are the product of ma

out, "Mr. Blackwoo

n will be taken. My wife is a well-respected researcher and business part

ueries, "Do you int

e will pursue tho

ls, "Is this an inte

at Blackwood Industries is above the

continue to yell, but I tune them out. One per

sprint upstairs two steps at once. Th

nd pajamas. Her hair is loose, eyes red fro

tabloid. "Did

s away.

close the door.

can't. My face

ide her. "

ks at m

k. "Because someon

over mine. "I am not

"You are

he squeezes my hand. "Thank

head on my chest. I can feel h

ers, "I'm

ou have nothing

"I almost wan

loser. "Not

a breath.

head against he

ard meeting, the comma in the clause, the hospi

nd I drop to my knees beside her. I

I will not let

nerability and trust in

I will issue a restraining order on

ste so much time on this. I do

on't get me into troubl

ought I could mean so mu

"You mean more

n my shoulder. I wra

oject Marcellus left behind. I assign the merger to Percival

g out at the river. I stand besid

"Will th