Contract Of Hearts

her's-no, her desk now-as the words blurred before her eyes. Six months. Six months since his heart ha

ionist, hovered in the doorway. "Yo

cause when it rained,

up the phone, forcing brightness into

rs. Specialized treatment. Experimental protocol. Words that trans

rms in its seventy-year history, but this perfect combination of her father's unexpected death, three cancel

lose her mo

every publishing group that might consider a bailout. All crossed off now except one name at

ight Publishing for years, waiting

bbing her coat, "I'll b

staff m

at the door. "And Jane? Don'

knew Alexander Blackwood's reputation: brilliant, ruthless, cold as the steel and glass tower beari

s fair in his own way. M

s reflection in the polished lobby doors looked pathetically out of place-rain-bedraggled, clutching a wor

perfectly coiffed receptionist, using the name from the

anced up. "Do you h

, b

ked today. You can leav

e interrupted, hating the desperatio

e receptionist actually looked at her, then picked up

ight. Someone will b

in an expensive suit appeared. "Ms. Wright? I'm Danie

s elevator that required a key card. Her stomach dropped as

the elevator slowed, "but given the nature of you

Alexander Blac

his eyes. "Indeed. You're quite fortuna

rified was more accurate. She'd prepared to negotiate

eption area where another impeccable as

ood," Daniel announced, the

for a mirror. For different clothes. For any scena

istant said, opening o

London spread out like a kingdom below. Minimalist furniture in black and steel occupied the vas

looked up, and Ell

lored charcoal suit, he moved with controlled precision as he set down his papers. His face might have been carved from marble-all sharp angles and cold

ured, more accustomed to command than

ticed pitch she'd rehearsed ev

d. Thank you

her was a stubborn man. He rejected my offers to acquire

lio tighter. "My father b

l?" The slight quirk of his eyebr

, finding her voice. "We've hit a temporary fin

e slid a folder across the desk. This includes our standard acquisition offer. Forty percent of m

. "That's barely enou

ck slightly. "Your father's poo

built that company from nothing. He published author

s expression remained impassive.

something shifted in his gaze-not softening,

te are you,

ie thought of her mother's medical bills, the thirty loyal employees w

tly are yo

acket in a smooth motion before walki

rtain she'd mishe

proposal. "I'm finalizing a merger with Harrington Media next quarter. Old James Harrington i

ng clarity. "And you think I shoul

g. "In exchange, I'll cover Wright Publishing's debts, maintain its separate operation under the B

at her chair wobbled. "Tha

from a respectable family. "The Wright name still carries

," she snapped, ga

costs approximately twenty thousand pounds per month," he said qu

w could you poss

tential business partners." He returned to his desk, removing a business card from a silv

target with precision. "Why me? There must be countless women w

ory, and no previous connection to me or my competitors. Someone intelligent enough to navigate my w

lications," she

ecked his watch. Think it over. Call that number by five tomorrow if you'

d. Just

edges cut into her palm. Only when the doors closed did she allow hersel

mb fingers, she answered and listened to the nurse describe another fall, a

The weight of Alexander Blackwood's proposal pressed down

hing that mattered. Became a possession o

perate

reached home, sh

e