The Billionaire Contract Bride

He stole a glance at Vivian, who remained quiet beside him, her thoughts clearly racing.

but she refused to fidget. She had already shown enough

at," Nicholas said abrupt

e, looking at him from th

e'd worn since the beginning of the night. He tapp

doormen stood at attention as Nicholas stepped out. He didn't wait for Vivian to catch up; he strode inside, his long coat swaying b

kind where the portions were small, the service silent, and the prices astronomical. Vivian had never been in a p

orry, you won't be paying for this. I wouldn't wa

altered under the realization that this arrangement was fast becoming real. She wasn

her. Vivian felt a pang of annoyance but bit her tongue. Nicholas wasn't the

efore them. Vivian looked down at the meal and then back at Nichol

'll need to get used to my generosity. I don't

es. "Generosity? Is th

e corner of his lips. "Call it what you

ut her mind was too distracted to fully appreciate it. She felt like she was maki

ion unreadable. After a few bites, he waved the waiter ov

hat for?"

er I drop you off. Get used to this, Vivian. You're going to be my wife, an

she was an object to be maintained. Still, she needed this. If marrying Nicho

holas leaned forward, his eyes suddenly more seriou

is was the moment she had been waiting for-the

k away. No attachments, no complications. We'll end this marriage cleanly, and I won

ing his head. "There's no end to this marriag

dened In sh

be no divorce, no annulments. We will stay married for as l

ened her mouth to argue, but the intensity in Nicholas

room. Same bed. I won't have a wife living separately from me, ev

signed up for. She had expected a marriage of convenience, a transacti

d to," she managed, her

yielding. "If you want my protection and the resources to recla

arriage, but the idea of being tied to Nicholas with no escape terrified her. And

regain some control of the conversation. "If we're doing this, then

ime for drama. If there's an issue, we d

want time before you announce ou

gaze sharpe

just throw this at me. I need tim

Kate mentioned something at the party. Apparently, your stepmother plans to visit my moth

waste time. She should have known Kate would dra

this engagement public soon, Vivian. The sooner we announ

e the logic in Nicholas's argument. If they didn't act fast, Evelyn and Kate would manipulate the

oice barely above a whisper. "But

nutes, they were back in the car. The ride to Vivian's apartment wa

nded her a business card with his personal number.

her pocket. Nicholas watched her clo

Vivian," he

of the car, her mind still spinning f

lutching the takeaway box in one hand and Nicholas's card in