BOUND BY THE TYCOON'S CONTRACT

ng her fate. Her mother's boutique-the only thing she had left of her-was slipping through her fingers.

tiny apartment. Rent was overdue, bills piled up on the counter, and her las

erse hadn't done enou

set you up on a blind date

nts still thought she needed to be fixed with a husband. Ever since Bra

ype a firm no when

a Grand. 8 PM. Just meet

ome casual coffee shop. T

ust dinner. And honestly? A free meal at one of the mo

-

The Asto

aiters who moved with the kind of quiet elegance that only came with exorbitant salaries. Elen

for her mystery date, when a deep

're l

That voice. Low. Command

her breath caug

in an impeccably tailored bla

-fiancé

hless bi

destroy her with

Damian's piercing blue

Si

ntense, unreadable-kept her rooted to the spot. Against her bet

be a mistake,"

, his expression un

sts beneath the table. "Did my

t waste time on blind dates. But since w

se pounded.

cument folder on the tabl

rry

len

restaurant fad

ure she'd mishear

full financial backing to save your mother's boutique

, her throat dry. "Why on ear

is trying to take my company, and the board is push

rocess. "So I'd just be... a paw

Ye

er screamed to walk away. But then she thoug

x months?" she

alk away with your

e reached for the contrac

Blackwood's cold, calculat

lways kept h

-

f the contract, her mind racing. Everyth

d y

bou

ther's

ancial struggles crush

emained impassive, but there was something in his eyes-an uns

ed, her voice stea

inst the table in measured pr

ffened. "C

plicate this arrangement. And unlike most women in my circles,

. Like

jaw, forcing herself

eal charmer,

the amusement didn't reach his eyes. "Thi

romantic about this. It was a c

ss as it was, the o

Her debt-erased. Six

one thing she

" she asked, watch

t suffocating. "Then you leave here tonight, go bac

coat things. He laid out the brutal tr

h twisted. "And

unctions by my side. Behave as my wife in public. And

it. Like signing away six months of

r fingers against the contract.

Then the deal is off, and

ran down

sk, no

ruggling... or take a gamble

d Mom tell

nd soul into it. If Elena let it go, she wouldn't just be lo

tightened a

Damian. This wasn

as su

h, she picked up t

hed for the contract and slid it back

oice," he said, rising

eady as she stood. "I'l

that might have been a smirk. "Pack

ch flipped

at s

have time

enced her. He wasn't just a man used to getting what he wanted

next six months,

ay, the weight of what she'

herself to a

was no tu