Bought by Midnight

had just proposed she marry the moo

is cufflinks like this was the most

marriage. Public, st

led penthouse, dwarfed by steel, shadows, and the

ke a carousel she

could have hired an actress. A

. "Because the board members of WEX Techno

ent. In trust. Which means I need some

. "So, you bought a stra

of opportunists to offer you a choice."

added, voice low. "I want your pres

like it tasted expensive in his mouth."So thi

s war," he

s like a woman the world can fa

hat do

two glasses of bourbon. "L

wed him c

onthly stipend of twenty-five thousand dolla

ightened arou

and your mother. Three, relocation to t

aul-designer wardrobe, etique

s. Damon Wolfe i

""As a merger worth three billion doll

cameras and act like I'm in l

linted. "P

e room felt too bright,

ldn't afford fresh

come his wife and walk into the lion's den

s. Followed by a quiet, amicable divorce. Y

h caught.

small clink. "I don't know whether to be i

"She turned away, pacing

th her, so far below it

ed anyone."He was silent for a moment before respo

want fame

ophia turned to face him. "And w

houlder. "You cam

silence stretch

g," he said at last. "After

nning.As he moved past her to disappear

always get what you want?"His voice floa

guarded-shouted that she was crazy to even

the bills had doubled, and her art care

ion had burned its

uld ma

s, and assistants inside a room that resembled a luxury war bun

led. Makeup applied. Tailors arri

hrough a media rehearsal, comple

People need to believe you're smitt

t have to pretend too hard.Every time Damo

ed. And c

ighten and her mind rebel. The kind of man who w

er with a glance-or make

side at a private dinner arranged fo

distance. She wore a black silk d

cut so sharply it

nd across the table, his t

murmured, low enough t

'm drowning,"

hat you always do? Keep everything buried behind a wall?"D

nal by default?"He didn't answer. Not direct

im, something softening in her ches

, sharp and searching. "

're about t

ood alone on the p

nd her, Damon's world waited

midnight and morning, she had become so

Damon

s signed. But t

e just b