A DEAL WITH DESIRE

he phone so tightly my knuckles ached. My mind r

believe you're the rig

a short, disbelieving laugh. "Mr. Vaughn," I said, struggling to

eplied smoothly, the confidence in his voice baffled me "And this a

said flatly, finally getting a

y. My grandfather's estate holds significant influence in industries tha

t of some grand chess game and I w

think I'd even con

quickly, despite challenging circumstances. You're resourceful, and, most importantly,

onnections? Was that how the world saw me now? Al

wn your neck... he continued Do you really think that's a sustain

y first name, and the sound o

s this 'better' you're o

e everything you need to rewrite your life, financial independence, a guarante

d t

lk away with a future on your terms, and I walk away

as I pressed it to my forehead. A marriage of convenienc

hese, his words stayed with me. *Freedom

to prove something to people who would never see me as anything more than expen

sked finally, my voice

in a contract. You'll have legal protection, but you don't h

out it," I said, my voic

plied, his tone making it clear tha

leaving me alone with my thoughts and the

d and staring at the ceiling. I slowly got out of bed and began to get ready for the day, I had spent the night agonizing over Adrian Vaughn's proposi

oothbrush , my phone buzzed o

y stomach twisting. Something in me

text

ife, don't show up t

, but before I could process the

who you th

folders on the table. My phone buzzed again,

wn nu

hands, I answ

ce rasped. It was low and unfamili

anded, trying to sou

question. "Do you even know why his grandfather made that stipulation in the first place?

ne. "What are you talki

line w

What did they mean? What didn't

ed again, and this time

led as always, "I trust you've made your decision. My dr

the earlier warning flashed in m

into a web far darker t