steadily as Benja

ll practice preten

his skin. The scent of his clean, glittering skin, mixe

e repeated, he

r the camera, darling. That's w

tening like a bent cord. "I'm not s

learn fast. The board meeting is tomorrow. If they don't believe t

t affect

cause if I lose this deal... You l

Always abou

like a king at ease. "Now come sit, Mrs. Mateo. I wan

cumstances. But a million dollars was a loud motivator

he said,

heat bled through his clothes into her skin. She could

red. "Touch my arm. L

as it landed light

t's all you've got? That's

didn't change. Slowly, she leaned in, her fingers sliding up

e whispered. "Convin

st time, something rang through hi

didn't

d, he

for tonigh

d. "You're

mes, Isabella. I

out another word, his posture

made of ston

__

ying knots in her stomach. Her reflection showed a woman in a crisp white b

d like a

e felt lik

adjusting his cufflinks. "You ready to lie t

ds and loan officers.

at the corner

ed in han

rper eyes. Benjamin's presence commanded instant

wife, Isab

n water. A few board members raised eyebrows. O

"You've kept your personal li

like it," he re

intertwined with his beneath the table. Every part of

rs, once. A warning? A reas

arts, and finance talk that w

, Benjamin led her to the car and

your part we

reath. "So I pa

ice lowered. "Now c

t's

ight... when the world s

__

a sat in the penthouse, wat

ith surprise marriage to unknown secretary. Sources re

s she didn't know. Her social media was exploding

her mothe

sitated, th

You're married?! I

true," she

n't you

fast. I did

d to you? Does h

rifting to the closed d

. compl

id softly. "Even love wrapped in

y. She looked down at her hand the

__

g at the ceiling, when the door t

there, shirtles

doing?" she as

walked in and sat on

ll attend our first charity gala to

handl

you smiling. I'm worr

won

ally looked eyes wonderin

he leaned down, his mouth

test

hed hers softly, slowly, dangerously.

away, wh

like you love me. So let's see