The Deal We Never Made

son

space between us. I quickly looked, surprised, to my right to find a photographer taking pictures. Those eyes were now pointed at

t we'd attracted a crowd. Cautious murmurs began to sprea

is

with Bla

r seen her

ning into an unreadable mask. My pulse quickene

around my waist and held me close against himself, as tightly as he could. The

, his voice low and c

asked, sti

t to make this wo

oulder; to anyone looking at the photo we would definitely appear to be a couple. I gav

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eporters on queue, they arrived. People asked questio

of them asked openly "Mr. Bl

his myste

the latest rumors of your acq

st the entire time. "There wouldn't be any comments on business tonight. Regarding m

I was about to argue with him but Ethan's grip on my

presenting a united front to the cameras. The repo

-

e away from the crowd, moving me to a corner of the room. The sound of the gala faded

" I hissed as i pulled m

, even though his eyes were still sharp. "i su

r as I am concerned, you had no right to dr

ow up uninvited," he snappe

ly. "You think you can just play around with people's emot

elcome, by the way. The pressure of feeling that you could h

ched. "Worse

e, Ms Russo, you don't want to witness how the press beh

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that part of me; the frightened woman. "This isn't over, Blackwel

gleaming with a dangerous mix of amusemen

ovements. It was late and the temperature outside was much lower than I anticipated, th

the gala, I caught him staring at me with those intent eyes a

unspoken tension. Then, Ethan's expression shifted, h

r you," he said his voice

ht off guard. "

closer range from the girl,

"Why would I want to

us both," he finally

ut tried not t

s mouth smoothly like a deceptive politician. "Since it bothers the media to think that we'

hesitant but knowing there

lean up my image. In return, I will withdraw this lawsuit against you and open up the door

e but for whatever reason, I was ready to

y, which made my chest uncomfortable, di

angement," Ethan said. "You're getting yo

was genuine or not. The idea was ridiculo

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you after all that have happened be

," he said in return. "You

was a part of me that could have just said no, to hell with him and his offer. But another part,

n me weakening beca

le. "It's time to face it – Your career is in shambles and you and I both know

eyes. "What's stopping you from using and then

f you're smart, you will ensure that you a

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d with the decision. It is important not to underestimate the fact that the deal was very ri

rmation, to learn the truth about Blackwell

d stood right in front of him my determination g

s face was a kind of surprise which wa

ocus on my words, "No lies. If I have to be

nstantly "Done," he rep

"I want this engagement to b

back but he n

, "This is done on my terms. Wh

I saw the look in Ethan's eye-appro

ly have shifted to my shoulders. This was a big risk on my part;

inally. "You've got

the moment our fingers locked, the intensity of his gr

welcome to the game Madison." His response wa

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s all over me. I had just struck the agreement with who

than Blackwell had invited me into was