Beyond our deal

en's

was being reminded of what I was about to agree to by every word. Once mor

were hesitating, his t

aturally, I'm hesitant. Pretending to be your wife is more

rward and looking directly into my eyes. After this is over, y

at the line that should have been my signature.

ong voice. "You either sign and move forward, or you walk away. But k

expression for any trace of compassion, any sign that he realized how

lose my future, my work, and my stability if I didn't do this.

n the dotted line

his eyes. He took the document and filed it away after

wave of relief and fear p

e as husband and wife," Dennis stated as

l part of the gala, which exceeded my expectations. Despite wearing the

s hand on the small of my back and said, "Calm down." T

e. As we entered, we were followed by looks and wh

l there? Someone

with him?"An additi

gnored the whispers. It made me feel l

as we made our way through the crowd. With ease

y hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you," I

d sense their interest. "Mrs. One of them re

pped my back a little tighter. "We would

ng, but I faked another grin

nding close to the room's edge, gasping for air. I felt like I was b

by a voice that

ding behind me when I turned around. He

seem informal, "Clif

ery. "Are you aware of the situ

what he said. "What

id softly, "Dennis isn't the man you think he is." Lauren, y

t. "That's not true," I answ

o. He'll do everything it takes to defend his compa

crutable look, came up next to me. "Cliff," h

customary demeanour. "No issue, sir.

little, but he remained

by him? Dennis turne

ded looking at

ennis nodded. "All right. Spend t

ff's admonition replayed in my head, I nodde

ight air a nice change from the stuffy ballroom. As we passed the ga

hand around my wais

s were so intense that I couldn

s. Among the photographers,

ure. Dennis moved in close and pressed his

that only I could hear him. "I have y

more, catching the acti

hers had captured something else, someth

t at us as Dennis led me to the car. He had a triumphant expression on

turned to face Dennis.

nquired in an un

murmured, shakily. "H

the car while scowlin

us as we drove away. Whatever the photographer had managed t