Contract Marriage: The CEO's Silent Shield

y. It required a push, a commitment she

fell below her knees. A shirt buttoned so high it choked her. No

with Mr. Jareth tonigh

er temple. It wasn't a memory; it w

taurant hit her, smelling of brown butter and

lingering on the scuffed toes of her shoes. She looke

er. Her fingers were shaking

s tone suggested she should

weight. Laughter. The clink of silver on china. It was a sea

he corner. T

k was to her. Broad shoulders. A

osed to be a loan shark. A thug. Th

ees hit the table le

an tu

He was... sharp. His jawline could cut glass. His eye

his gaze dissecting her. It felt like a medical scan. He sa

stand up. Wro

" he

voice was low, vibrating through the oak

Her throat closed up. The fa

. A large man in a flashy, ill-fitting suit was scanni

didn't turn around. He s

it whispered something. The waiter went pale.

poke urgently. Jareth looked confused, then furious, then d

opened, but only silence came out. The question scream

she hadn't asked. He slid a me

ugar is crashing. Yo

ncern. It wa

inst her ribs like a trapped bird. This man was dangerous. More dangerous than Jareth. Jareth

on the table. H

sitio

in his eyes. There was only the satisfaction of a hunter who had just heard

ng she could afford if he decided to leave her with the bill. A

m her hands. He hand

. And a glass of wa

l," she said. Her voi

. "You don't look

ements were precise. Surgical. He cut his stea

a pathetic sum that couldn't even cover the appetizer. The rest of her earnings, the real money, was locked away w

card on the tray. It was

e word scraped her t

et. He towered over her, blocking

d I need a wife. Since the loan shark is o