WHISPER A FORBIDDING HEART

slightly as she opened it. Ethan sat far from her, his legs crossed, his eyes fixed on her as if he could see throu

said softly, bendin

prises, its impact on the community, and its potential for expansion with the right investment.

d the end of her presentation, Isabella dared to hope. But when sh

on. "But it's not enough. Your company is too smal

but hearing what he had to say she lo

n't just about the numbers. It's about people families who depend on u

uffs of his suit. "You're passionate, Ms. Gray. I'l

Isabella's desperation boiled over.

ed back to face her, a single brow ra

Isabella's mind raced as she searched for the right words

u want me to invest in your company in exchan

o relent. "I am saying I will do whatever it takes to prove

. Ethan studied her intently, his express

peated, his voice

d, though her heart

hers. "Alright, Ms. Gray. Do you want a partnership? Here's m

her as the weight of his sugges

the part. My board is pressuring me to settle down, and a public engagement would buy me time

. This was insane. Ridiculous. A complet

asked, she s

eople to keep their end of a deal. You have s

u asking me to lie to the world, to preten

ou came to me, Ms. Gray. This i

re for her family's company. Accepting means moving into a wor

s about her family's legacy, and the chance to show

y, her voice shaking but determ

urved in surpri

s a business deal, not a pass for you to

d his sharp features. "I like your spirit, Ms. Gray. Alright, we'll d

hesitated. This was not just a handshake. It was a

ath, she took h

mething she couldn't quite place. "Welcome to th

ing. She had come here to save her company, but she'd walked away w

just begun. And in Ethan Hawthorne's world, the