Bound To Be; the marriage bargain

pte

blankly at the wall. It had been weeks since my disastrous encounter

pestering me nonstop, trying to convi

exasperation etched on her face. "You'll be set for li

ding me? This is a marriage o

uggling to make ends meet. And who knows what might h

. "You really think

you're practical, Calixte. And this is

e else...there's a good chance I might get a j

his marriage thing would be a golden opportunity to rebuild your a

k at her, "you

er and you two might just ignite a spark when

with a guy who turns out to be her foster cou

uggles bearing down on me. Maybe Abigail was rig

id finally. "I'll

Her jaw

arry Bastien. It's just a contract...I

eeting with Bastien and you can finalize the details- no wait.

ried his business card in my purse all these while. I hesitated and took a d

been waiting for yo

ers to my spine. I couldn't even think straight for a moment. Why does h

ill stands." I stuttered. That came out

river pick you

t me the location. I'd find

See you tomorrow Calixte."

ion popped up – Canlis, 5pm. Call me when you

thing," Abby's voice i

e're meeting in Canlis tomorrow even

he's old money. You'll be fine. Just

ssing and turning, my mind r

to-ceiling windows. The restaurant exuded wealth in a way that was almost oppressive-soft candlelight flickered against glass and gold, the muted hum of convers

iting for me,

ned, as if he had been sculpted from stillness itself. His dark hair was slightly tousled tonigh

asured, the kind that could convinc

hire blue that felt too bold for the occasion, but I had chosen it delib

e had already ordered for me. I stared at the crisp pages, the black ink stark against the cr

h a patience that bord

" he asked, swir

e steadier than I felt. "You

not quite a smile. "I prefer clar

structed chess game where I was both the queen and the pawn. The conditions were daring, even ruthless

f a perfectly matched couple. There were financial incentives, of course, and certain... expectations that went beyond mere legality. But w

im then, meeting

t no room f

y, as if considering. "I'v

the keys to. He was a man who understood power, who wielded it effortlessly, but beneath the precision, there was something else. Something I couldn'

st. This contract wasn't just paper and ink-it was a tether, a bond tha

t, I s

cross the page, sealing m

s he took the contract, his touc

h, though it held no h

ndlelit corners. But as Bastien lifted his glass in silent acknowledgment of our agreement, I couldn't shake the feeli