MARRIED TO MR. RICH ASS

NE- WORST

cted the cold, ruthless skyline of Manhattan. The city sparkled bey

ble, tailored suit unwrinkled, gaze fixed. His eyes, the color of winte

hrough the murmurs like a blade. Despite her silver hair and the elegance of age

ave increased by fourteen percent this quarter.

m of war. "Investors don't trust instability. And an unmarried

ot a reality show contes

a Callahan leads by example. Not with tablo

wardly. One pretended to check h

u have six months. Find someone. Marry her. Or I

rian's jaw clenched,

-

worst Wednesday of her life - which, cons

rst-ish," the balding super mumbled, refusing to meet her eyes as she stru

iday," she groaned. "I hav

that to the lock I c

ing open like a surrender flag. "Perfect! I alw

brother, Liam. Don't worry about me.

aightened her thrifted blazer. One charity gala, one night of pretending

–

gold - chandeliers dripping crystal, champagne bubbling in flutes, and

, the head usher, leaned against the wall, check

ld gown, a glass of champagne dangling between two manicured

sighed.

ing dramatic. Just enough to shift the spotlight. Maybe a rookie ser

her brow. "You

ust don't pick someone too polish

lick as something slipp

ked. "Consid

–

ter forming from where it kissed her palm. She wore the standard server attire

mela whose smile had more Botox than warmth. "Don't spill a

hind her back. "Yes, ma'am,

ns and suits worth more than her entire student debt. Her tray hel

's when s

na Wh

decision ever made by inherited wealth. She stood at the center of attention, laughing t

nct told her to t

ocked eyes with her

and stiffened. A flicker of recognitio

fake shock, stepping dramatically

but her foot snagged

ray wo

lute t

f rosé landed on T

len

as

shrill and echoing:

oze. "I-

pped. "Do you even have eyes? Are yo

ter of VIPs nearby turned their h

e in her. She wasn't so

I mean, between dodging your ego and your

ered l

flared. "Do you

her tray. "But don't worry, that stain

someone nearby. Even a s

step forward.

nna said, tilting her head. "Unles

ure you never w

"One less overpriced building I ha

dropped

nor Callahan sipped her champagne with th

through the ballroom's polish

t noise?" she snapped,

side. "Just a minor situation on th

swept over the crowd and narrowed on the ripple f

ian. Handle it. Discreetly. If this ends up on Pag

ow. "You want me to int

the Callahan name," she

s, Adrian adjusted his cufflinks and strode toward the elevator, unaware

d t

nou

cool, sharp,

yone

a bl

en for him personally. Cold, elegant, and impossibly calm, Adrian Cal

m screamed power. The kind you didn't touch. The kind

. His voice didn't rise

her eyes. "D

r, "you lower your voice, Miss Morgan

now what happened here, or are you just another

gasp from

ame tag. It's visible." He pointed to

ed down, ch

hers. "I'd recommend composure. It's

recommend not defending someo

. But he said nothing else. I just turned a

led. "Who

as so

-

bout "rich people's egos needing a diet" - the room falls into stunned

n narrows her eyes at the spectacle. "

ng figure with quiet intensity. No smile, no comment - j

iewing lounge, Adr

er termination file, sir?" his

is fingers again

n pa

ugges