BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE: A contract of scandalous love

a C

Voss Tower again, eve

verge of a breakdown. Today, I'm a despera

it knows what it's about to do to my life. I reread it three times last night. Every clause

m ushered into Domi

something on his phone. He doesn't look up when I ente

lost on me. He always

finally lifting his eyes to mine.

reply, my voice quieter tha

rs. The silence stretches as he skims the pages. I hate the way my heart races under

loses it and sta

ere are w

today. We don't ha

ht this was just a formal

rger meeting is in three days. We need to lo

partment,

es, a personal assistant, car. You're the wife of a billionair

," I snap before

ou're my investment. And

de through the city. Dominic sits beside me, legs crossed

line. I haven't told anyone. Not even L

. No big deal. Just saving Dad's l

esn't know," Dominic say

N

ople involved, the

ve a lot of practice lyi

s head slow

lence the res

house is

malist furniture, and art that probably costs more than my entire existence. The wi

round. A tall, silver-hai

ght bow. "I'm Julian, the household

God. Thi

f anything needs adjustment, our stylist is on call. Breakfast is at

prefer his wife to be progr

most into a smile. "You'll

like a slap. Fake. Pretend. Just a mask. Bu

. V

like this. It sh

ot a room. I

eople, draped in cream sheets and velvet throws. My closet is full of designer

riage requires lace b

glaring at it like it pers

hat fo

rl ar

ng in the doorway

ver heard o

my h

my r

schedule in your closet. Events, appearances, charity dinn

And what if I'm n

loser. "Th

se he is. I hate how his cologne crawls und

n," I say. "But I wo

't want a puppet. I want someone who kno

angerous, his words or the

awake in bed stari

bably drinking whiskey and making power play

to dream of Paris, of galleri

m just

r a year. Just long

I can do this. I have to do this. For Dad.

, my dreams are full of ice-blue

I know,

, I'm not sure