THE COST OF LOVE AND PASSION

E'S

am dissolving into the dark liquid. It had been two days since

red, hand in hand, smiling at each other, exchanging gla

LLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT, THE WOMAN WHO TAMES

in a mighty castle, big deal; I lived from trailers to shacks, the only rats I kne

ng. On that, I could say they were right because I

kitchen counter, draggi

news alert, but instead, Jared's

ed before

el

ée," he said sm

led m

d contemplating my

chuc

o another round of the

eat. What is

nterview," he said, his ton

offee. "An interview? A

w those work, yes,

ubbing my te

yed the part well at the gala, but the press will kee

choed. "Right. And what exa

lated edge. "Just be yourself, Kate. The version

nks for reminding me about t

the details. Be

blurted out. "

es

arply. "Of c

ared said before

roan. What have I gotten myself into? This

This time when I opened the box I was surprised wi

bumps goosebumps, I mean-the suit was beautifully made, I hurriedly freshen up, delicately put it on, the

image of affluence, I looked

from the steep collars to t

tement if she saw me like this, but I had

at was the chauffeur's way of signaling that time

tingly, locked up

ffeur said as he gestured

myself seated in a sleek, modern studio with

ecognized this place somehow, that red velvet couch, that futuristic

always one to play things down, now I was getting an u

een made for this level

osture relaxed yet command

was unmatched, such a sharp dressing, I guess Jared saved me from looking shabby on national tv afterall,

was looking

like a wolf eye

Hall, greeted smoothly. "Thank you for s

"Thank you f

a polit

I said interna

wasted

prise. Jared, you've been notoriously pr

"When you meet the righ

plastered on his face as he answered Olivia's questio

line. His voice held just enough warmth to make it believable

turne

must have changed drasti

moment and hoped she d

re, he's still just- Jared. The world sees a billionaire, but I see the man

eeting second, something that rea

r favorite things about each other, wedding plans. I fielded th

ward slightly, her sha

are rumors that this engag

mach clenched, but even as I felt like I needed the ground to open up and swallow me whole, I k

umans have stopped being humans, but rumour

ng out of me flickered as she looked down at the parchment she was hold

ment isn't just for publi

eezing lightly. It was for show, but it

th quiet authority. "Kate is amazing, ambitious and her immense beauty is undisputed. I-" he

I noticed how he reluctan

rgot we were acting. The way he looked at me-calm, steady, as if

't getting anything more out of us.

the time to speak with us. We wish y

me his hand. I took it, my skin still tinglin

re off-camera, I

was in

ked. "You

don't know how you d

. "You get

thing you said- about love

it?" he as

. "It was c

, his expression unreadable.

ened. Why did

de was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. The city lights blurred

of my apartment, I hesita

said, tur

d a brow

words carefully. "what if

ied me for

hat sca

hadn't though

nfuses me." and

hat there was nothing going on between the

, this is a business arr

a small smile. "

e feeling that, for both of us, the lines were already beginning to blur becaus

am I just be