"marriage," which fell b

ad misheard, I bli

uggesting a marriage contract. Naturally, it will be temp

acrid laugh. "You

ed calm, staring at me with his sharp eyes as if he we

velvet chair, which I hadn

on of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Below, the city

r agree to somet

posture was as rigid as the tone of his words, and he remained seated. "You

picking his

turned on my heel to f

was all

nded phony this time. "A spouse? Why? For a business tr

. What counts is that I will give you enough money to safeguard your art center and allow you to grow i

ar. All he was requesting was that. It was a minor cost for the lifeline I sorely neede

yelled, "I'm not some

. This is merely a business deal. You'll keep all you value, including your freedom and art

u hear yourself at all? You're asking me t

y. "And it benefits you just

ed, the view outside became blurry. This isn't possible. It must have been a weird prank.

and whispered, "

. However, I'm also giving you an alternative. Are you certain tha

to the belly. I had no one to save me. I could hardl

Nicholas Scott? Dealing with

you?" I asked, looki

e of something unreadable flickering across h

my voice. "If you expect me to even conside

ed to know," he stated in a stern and decisive tone. "You just must make a choice. Your

shocking. Offering options didn't a

ed me as I swallowed hard. When I

r hours," without hesitation. "Afte

se one day if I'd sacrifice my freed

his office without saying another

coffee table back in my small apartment. I buri

t. The bank had already turned down my loan application. My efforts to raise money h

myself with no

orked for, or I marry a man I h

ck on the door. I didn't t

e looking worried and fr

tered without waiting for an invita

uch for her to handle al

dening as she read. Then, looking up at

naware of what to do

firmly said. "There ha

ng over me like a threatening fo

offee table as Sophie pe

the screen, I took it up with

ssage was brief, i

running out. Make th

he impression that Nicholas Scott was wai