Married To The Billionaire Stranger

ing – in Darius Kane's mansion was more luxurious than any hotel suite she'd ever seen. A king-sized bed dominated the space, facing a wall of windows that offered a breathtaking vie

the vanity, hinting at a previous occ

onal. She missed the familiar scent of her own, smaller apartment, the worn comfort of her old mattress, the quiet hum of her neighborhood

Adenike, the stern but seemingly kind head housekeeper, and a few other staff members before showing her to her room.

are, and Darius's kiss – that surprisingly potent kiss that still sent a strange ripple through her whenever she thought about it. It was a kiss designed for public consumpt

body aching, and made her way to the en-suite bathroom. A hot shower helped to wash away some of the lingering exhaustion and the phantom touch of Darius's

lowed the faint aroma of coffee and found herself in a formal dining room, w

n a charcoal suit, reading a financial newspaper. He looked up as she ent

red, her voice a little u

ied, his voice clip

g a plate of fresh fruit and a glass of orange juice before her. "Good morning, Mrs. Kane

s. The formality of it all was overwhelming. At home, she'd scram

wly, acutely aware of his presence. He exuded an aura of calm, controlled power, completely at ease in his int

to go where you please, within reason. Your mother's treatment will continue as planned; I've already ensured funds are transferred. As for your fashion brand, Tunde will disc

ivering a quarterly report. There was no warmt

ut the 'house rules,' about what 'within reason' meant, about the parameters

t. Avoid any unnecessary scandals. My reputation, and by extension, the company's, depends on it. We wil

ries, cold and clear. Their marriage was a performance. Any

choing on the marble floors, leaving Zara alone with he

th a dry wit that Zara found unexpectedly refreshing. He gave her a tour of the sprawling mansion, pointing out the various

ained as they walked through a pristine living area. "Cl

ing an unspoken wa

n. Meals were at set times, though she could request otherwise. Staff were to be treated with respect. Darius's private office was off-limits. And most signifi

aces was both a relief and, strangely, a subtle jab. It solidified the tr

location, perfect for a boutique and workshop. He presented her with market analysis, potential suppliers, and even a list of PR agencies. Zara fou

erving her expression. "He believes a successful, publicly visible wife

raged for his corporate agenda. But she couldn't deny the practical

actors, discussing designs, and planning the relaunch of ZARAesque. It was exhilarating, a tangible step towards reclaiming her

ooking the city. The conversations were polite, formal, and superficial. They discussed current events, business news, occasionally even art. Darius spoke little of himself, and

uch of herself. She learned that he preferred his coffee black, his meals healthy, and his discussion

a typical Lagosian tale of delays and unforeseen costs. She expected

sure you receive what you paid for, and on time." There was a cold certainty in his tone that made Zara rea

e taken aback. "Thank you

of something unreadable in their depths. "It's part of

ng. Everything was transactional.

e air crackle whenever they were in close proximity. His scent, the subtle movements of his powerful frame, the way his golden eyes would

and looked up to see Darius, having just emerged from the pool himself. He wore only dark swimming trunks, his chiseled physique on full display, water s

g a blush creep up her neck. The raw masculinity of him

od progress on the designs?" he asked, his voice casual, as if he h

ttle strained. She tried to focus on the fabric in h

ood. We'll need to schedule your grand opening soon. High

y operation. Zara sighed inwardly. Her life was no longer her own. It was meticul

life and the resurrection of her dreams. It was a compromise she had to live with. The real question was, how long could she coexist with this powerful, enigmatic stranger before the carefully constructed wall