The Bound Flame

op

ght to be about my art, my ticket out of debt, out of obscurity. Instead, I was standing on the

asked carefully, try

's Bennet. I didn't invite you here to discuss art, heck I don't even find it intere

t the confirmation still sent a pang of disappointment through

ng himself for a difficult n

lia

sely. The flicker of disbelief in her eyes, followed by a

hout question. I needed someone who would hold their own; someone who wouldn't

e she wanted from my world. She didn't carry the entitlement or

That would require p

again, my tone

ulous; was almost enough to

ing? Right"

t," I r

s negotiations. "Because you're perfect for the role, you're intelligent, capable, and most imp

; her frown deepened, and she folded her arms

op

rp with disbelief. "So, what- you pick

on't doubt your circumstances make you uniquely perfect for this arrangem

me with anger. He'd done his research

ffering?" I asked, fold

gement that will leave you comfortable for years to come, enough to clear yo

pretend to be your w

er, maintain the appearance of a happy marriage, and uphold the image

aping my lips. "This is insane, peo

ered. "You'd be so surprised how often

lia

ing from her expression. S

sidering it, that was what made her different from the others. She was a survivor, a tac

rightly so. I wasn't blind to how this arrangement might have come to her. A billionaire pl

keep up with me without demanding more than I could give. Sh

y sign of urgency in my voice. "But know tha

op

ust had with Julian over and over in my mind. Every word, every calculated look, every caref

out of my thoughts; it was Ethan,

ou finalize selling any pa

over the keyboard. How could I even explain t

plicated, I typed back before sho

my legs feeling like lead. As I walked up the narrow staircase of

ut the Blackwells or their world seemed simple. The man h

ing at me. Out of all the women he could h

even smaller in the wake of tonight's event.

ll wasn't a man who left things to chance. If he wanted me in his life, even for a year, it wasn't just