She is my nemesis

3: THE

e, her expression unreadable as

ty I always did-though she never let it faze her. She walked

ee me," she said, crossin

answer im

ut the risks. About the consequ

out was how she was the only

then said, "I need

in a long time, I s

ce. Then twice

heard

, she let out a sharp, humor

n't s

hat I was messing with her. When she found none, h

a

think you can just snap your fingers and-wh

my expression calm. "It's a business arrangeme

use last I checked, marriage was

me, i

ad, her frustrat

me a month to find a wife, or she'll choose one for me. An

"And I'm the lucky woman you chose to hel

u're the only woman I

as if she couldn't believe what she w

ike me either. That exa

to a thin line, her mind working

" she asked, qu

. I could have told her I don't

ld her and explor

about her mor

g married to anyone e

irritated me, she was the o

e her the answer s

enough not to fall apart under pressure. And you don't ha

moment. Then she met my gaze again,

ly do I get out

tisfied that she

ing yo

So if I asked for full con

on

ed. "That

s deal. Tell me your price

tretched

rt, humorless breath.

prefer the te

gers tapping lightly against

arrangement," she sai

nce my grandmother it's real, a

ad slightly as if trying to proce

e with something co

't lik

on't h

ng at the bookshelves as if the answer to

s tick

nally, s

me to thin

sn't

was enoug

is trick of mine hel