A kiss before the betrayal

say it was some twisted joke. But he didn't. He just

ser

palm as her mind raced. This

asked, her voi

itate. "Because y

rds were laced with brutal

s desp

ing through her savings, pitching to investors who only cared about fast profits. She

And now, he was offering her eve

lay your devoted fiancée for six months,

es

o you even hear yourse

in amusement. "I

nst her throat. "What h

t ways. No strings attached. You get your

ings a

lk away. But his word

e des

she

d away now, how long before her company crumbled? How long before she

she sai

Wolfe. The man who could r

the war happening inside her mind. He wasn't pressuring her. He didn't need

lenched

peration. But more than that? She hated t

h all the logic and fear,

is the only c

tightened

It's just

d it feel like st

ld move from one end of the bed to another. She couldn't imagine being in a romant

is was the only option he's giving her th

Enterprises, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair. T

between them.

an noted, watching he

. "I'm not here bec

ching. "You're here becaus

he could read her, how little effort

thinking-going through every re

truth wa

to survive, if she wanted

g is outlined in clear terms. We stay together for six months. Public a

hard. "And aft

"We go our separate ways. You take

ed easy on paper, bu

fore asking, "Wh

t what we want. But..." His gaze darkened. "If

is words sent a c

unding. No se

bled slightly as she

was all it took to

e. "You don't seem like a man who needs

missed it. "Let's just say," he murmured, "some things a

way he said it mad

eboding. Elena stared at it, knowing that on

rt pounding as she skimmed ove

hs of pr

ntrol, and a level of arrogance that made her want to punch him and

oat. "You never ans

is glass of whiskey down on the

d again, her voice

lready told you. You're desperate, and you're not e

n line. "So you want someon

ing. "I want someone who won't suddenly d

ds. Messy. As if love was an incon

ieve in love,"

ness, Elena. A liability. I deal in power and co

old his stare. "So what happens if people start aski

able, slow and deliberate. "Then

is tone made h

d that involve?" s

ke a predator closing in. His scent-expensive cologne mixed wi

privately-whatever the situation requires. That means interviews, family dinners, galas..." His

lse st

ssing," she

ned. "Would tha

f having his hands on her, his lips against hers, in front of cameras, in front of the

to let him s

ge," she s

. "Somehow, I think you'll be mor

her spine, but s

real. It'

ess, clawing her way up in a world that never h

s. Just s

the pen, hesitating for only a sec

of ink, her hea

, she felt as though she had mad

her signature with a satisfied smirk. Then, a

fore finally slipping

, warm, but dange

the game,"

t, her life was n