Beyond our deal

en's

ld me in place as I entered the room where I had been called.

ising his eyes from a folder on h

d the door as directed. Mr. Ca

his face was unread

armrests. I was apprehensive. Was the leak at iss

epared for wha

hair and added, "I have

ion? I repeat

ss the desk. I pulled it up, looking at the b

rned over. "W

y, almost medical tone.

him, I blinked. "Pardon me?

s." "A short-term, formal agree

ncredulity, I demanded. "W

is under threat from a buyout bid. To protect the company's reputation, the board is putt

This isn't possible. And you believe that

importantly already here." "I have faith in you to

ssional role may m

I gazed at the contract in sho

stayed stern.

elief. "You want me to pose as your wife, tell l

The arrangement would be simple." No feelings

ded my arms and put the contract back on his desk. "Why me? Why

something vulnerable in Dennis's eyes as his eyes

diately ignored the emotion. "Trust is not the issue here. The goa

otected." both monetarily and in other way

othing to do with money. It has to do with my ethics. H

d, his voice hardening. "Working for this company

nd shook my head. "I

s tone leaving no room for negotiation. "A

ntract was menacingly resting on his desk. I hadn't slept mu

countenance as serene and cold as

a seat. "If you expect me to agree to this, I

Lauren. I've constructed it from the ground up. I can't allow it t

y head. "You're asking me to give up my li

le with himself for a while. Then he spok

ant to him than people. He left this business in disarray when he passed away.

d by the unadulterate

out demonstrating my capacity to establish stability to the

doubts that were eating away at me. And after all is over,

ou need to start over will be with you when yo

s comments, but they didn't. They

, the room grew silent. My mind was racing with

inscrutable face. "Lauren, I

. "You're requesting that I alter every aspect of my li

His voice was deep and forceful as he stated, "Because this isn't ju

I swallowed hard.

ed. Then, Lauren, you'll lose everything. Your work.

as the room began to enclose me. I felt co

I'll give you until midnight." "I'll

office. I had the unshakeable impression that accepting his proposal wo

oked at the screen and read the message, "Don't trust him,

d at the letter, my hands shaking. Wha