The Billionaire's Unexpected Contract Wife

Regina had imagined- and absolutely

ve her, refracting light like diamonds in the sky. The air smelled of wealth, subtle

she b

stepped through the foyer

sn't s

with a rack of designer evening gowns, the other w

you for tonight. First public appearance. Guest list includes senat

"Board? Of the

ly looking back at her.

ot exactly the Med

ng. "You're worse. Y

if it was an insul

na. Within thirty minutes, she was fitted into a midnight-blue gown with a daring slit

mirror and hardly

ed her more t

stal glassware shimmered under the lighting, violins played softly in the

r champagne glass

side her, his hand settlin

smi

e grim

tilted her lips into a

ssa

s, his tone warm but calculated. Regina followed his lead, offering poised answers, laughing

en cam

too red, and a voic

eiress. Socialite.

e she wa

toward them like a cat with blood

ank's hand tig

id coolly. "You

pt over her like a

r-turned-billionaire's w

s amazing what a woman can

aughed. Sabrina's smi

na, a flicker of amusemen

ust say, you clean up nicely. I almost

recognize you without your usual bouquet of

slightly, and Regina took a v

" someone mu

ring under his breath,

Regina muttered. "

began clearing away the remnants of the evening, Regina kicked off he

e, watching her with

ked, too tired

rised me

t a goo

g on his knees. "You handled yourself

woman's Botox could

ing that might h

tened. She saw something in his expression

sked softly. "You could've had any sociali

ed, and the mom

ey don't ch

"And you like b

now. "Comfort makes a man complace

ee the ruthless businessman or the cold negotiator. She saw the weight

e her ches

an, unsure of what

d sharply, breaking

. His entire exp

it?" sh

jacket. "There's a problem a

, confused. "Now

you signed up for, Regina. You married a man

e that, he w

ounded by glittering emptiness, her he

ess, perfect hair, diamonds in her ears - but all sh

ther from the life she knew. Baking muffins at dawn. Laughing with Ava over spilled batter. Watching t

ck broke h

owning. She wasn'

ed before she

hand. Impeccably dressed, as

ake," he said wi

in a museum,"

. "Fair. I came to go over

midn

when you're a Collier,

, collapsing onto the couch while he rema

unch with a senator's wife, and a press statement scheduled with

ent?" she ask

t and fell in love' story. PR

th. "And here I thought re

ugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're n

head. "You so

d, then curious. "You're not in this for fame.

ned. "You've

fixer. I dig

found Ava. My debt. My dead

ust facts. You made a choice. One mos

e if he was warning her

eally here, El

into? It's not just penthouses and gala gowns. It has t

sank. "You m

marrying you, someone outside their circle, upsets

enched. "And you

. "But I also think you don't kn

r voice quieter now. "

hen Frank pushes you away-because he will

d and left, the door c

owly, heart poundi

than just a

was a

standing in

s la

her makeup, and slipped into silk pajamas that

d-cold, empty, untouched on one

ted to believe Frank wasn't completely unreachab

words echoed

rget who

woul

prison, she wouldn't forg

bakery. H

e a stranger with ice in his ve