Only His On Paper

y Headquarters like a shadow.

y a word. Just opene

hter even though the car was wa

ust sold a ye

raded it,

y sky. Angry taxis. My face staring back a

p sat th

act. Sign

ate t

see the top. All glass and stone. The kind of place th

door. Arms crossed. Lips pressed

. Not warm. Not kind. Not

Marble floors, spotless walls. It sm

f homes like this

ghter. Smells of garl

floors and

me toward a private elevator. "There are seventeen claus

ent

heet of paper. Th

meal expectations. No personal guests. No press inter

owly, barel

g hallway that looked like someth

not permitted in the east wing unless accompanied. That includes

before I coul

ulder. "You signed a contract.

Clothes lined the walls. Black. Navy. G

in-house stylist. You don'

on the rack. I could tell from the fab

wear what you're told. This marriage

pposed to say? That I felt li

m with cream walls and gold

. Tomorrow you'll attend a charity gala with Mr. Kingsle

go but pause

ead Clause Seven

en she

hand. My throat was tight. My c

e. These

Dress code. Event etiquette. Clause Seven was about keeping a public dista

ause Se

ng the east wing, will be considered a breach of contract, su

jail. But with

down. My eyes burned. I didn't want t

up. Quiet

walk would c

hallway, bare feet

ce felt t

. Just looking. Trying to rem

y open. Dark wood. Just enou

ked i

differe

low table. A black grand piano in the corner. Bookshelves

pped

rned just slightly a

Na

ot anyone I'

was

ink, I heard the click

en his

eady. D

read Clause

od in the doorway. No tie. Collar open. Still sha

't mean to

matter," he sa

art p

just, I didn't kno

n this wing." His eye

appeared. Silent f

" she said. "Yo

rapped. My feet roo

an anything,

. Just one step. But

s house says something. Even

omething flicke

er. Not

lse. Then i

ell if it was from shame... or the way

rned

Ava. Break one again, an

door shut behind

A stranger in a house m

t p

in Damia

't just a

ngs I wasn't s

tanding on that desk.

hought that this wa

fest lie I'd tol