Twisted Hearts, Billionaire's Game

ou willing to

n the air while his deep voice rent through the stillness of t

hering, another acting-the-part-of-being-a-married-couple sort of thing. The room was in semidarkness-the only light therein that coming fro

playing-certainly not one to which she'd signed up-closed in around her. Every move she made wa

xiety tightening her chest, though her voice itse

u say that now, but the game we're playing has

ind her with a soft click. "Then tell me what you expect from me. You have kept

. "That's the thing about this game, Charlott

ated. Her eyes narrowed. "I did

And in doing so, you chose to be part of t

weight settled in. "You keep talking about enemie

ly carved box revealed a set of documents and photographs. Despite her better jud

er of people," Richard explained, handing her a p

ace staring back at her. It was a woman she did not know, elegan

is

One of those persons who would think nothing of

"Why? What does s

. All these years, she has been just waiting for the most perfect

e's mind reeled as she tried to digest them

self up to people like Isabella, who will stop at nothing. You are

art racing with every wild beat.

try. And when she does

t some marriage of convenience anymore; this was a bat

-

prises-much like the giant building that loomed over the city: cold and forbi

Richard had insisted that she come for a meeting, though he wasn't being very forthcomi

lift and jabbed the button to the top floor. Whatever game Richard was playing, she needed to go prepared. No more walki

iling windows let in a great view of downtown. The space was not very full of furniture, and

courteous smile. "I'm Victoria Miles, Richard's assi

g. Richard had never indicated he would be meeti

nd indicated a set of heavy double do

he pushed the doors wide and stepped inside-to be surrounded by those she had never see

he sank into a chair, having the strange feeling that she was just about to wade

ery formal. "Let me introduce you

run businesses but ran power unto themselves. She instantly recognized several of their names from news articles: chief executives of huge

keeping a close eye on you for the coming months," Richard fi

ife to the world at large-she was on trial, under scrutiny by these people who held her future in the

heard quite a bit about you, Richard's decision to marry came as a bit of a surprise; the les

s as Charlotte replied, "I am quite sure that I will do

You'll have to do better than that, dear. There are great expec

ides. But she wasn't about to show them a crack in her composure. If she had l

said smoothly. "And I am

uld not shake off the impression that this was some kind of test-a trial by fire meant to ascertain whether she could h

darkened room, the events of the day replaying over and over in her head. Every word, every

hardships. But now, it would appear that the cost of security was going to come at a much greater price than she could ever have dreamed of.

rom manipulations, intimidations, and controls, and not from some rich, influential, powerful persons.

es latched onto hers that very second he stepped into the room. His perpetually well-conducted

as it was possible to get with not an ounce of welcome in it. "

how him even a speck of weakness.

ou are not. Yet, let us not forget-this is only t

er eyes narrowing. "Because if it is, you'

at, Charlotte. This is a warning. You'll have to

" she said, her voice ch

ndeed, weighing her up once more. "Good. Beca