Betrothed To The Boss

ced a lot in her t

d with tight lips and tired eyes. She'd built a life by never depending on anyone, never

hing- got her r

y stack of papers on th

ers glaring at her like a se

ge Agr

g her like he already knew which way she'd break-calm,

tly, like the sound of a battle drum just before combat, resonating

you're playing," she ask

ight didn't

n't j

or requires softness. Emo

ning lingered behind that steel-gray stare. He wasn't asking. He was calculat

t your frea

eliberate, exact beat that drove her insane during meetings. The man was rela

l marr

e was offering her a raise. Or a business merger-calm, ca

o hard it screeched against

king," he sa

t the hel

eces

ffee. A working phone charger. This?"-she waved at

e deliberate, exact, like everythi

buy one? Or better yet, propose you

just anyone.

lt like they were meant to flatte

oice was tig

e I tru

or her, it always had been. And hearing it from him? That was even mor

rets, your calendar, your damage control. Not once have you ever even s

one else. You never used it. You've ne

ed marriage with my emotiona

y twitched. "It

e the part where you threatened my j

I'm trying to

m wh

t pause-that pause-se

ats," he finall

ther. "Why would an

ntercepted three attempts. An

s. Her heart beat in her ears. "And you

are you. Not until I ha

"So your solution

es

s time more hollow. "G

se. It keeps you safe. And it gives me lega

ed for your

quietly. "Bu

. She despised that part of herself, which she couldn't tell was terr

uppet," he explai

ved him

rely

ate

oo

he pieces floated to the floor between them like paper snow,

sign it,

my dea

an be a

fr

doors b

team stepped in, jaw tight

ned. "What ki

abou

breath

her?" Alex

rnal systems. Encrypted. Direct. We don

s jaw clen

. But whoever it i

nce

lowly. His voice, when it

just a pro

ed a bit

y thing keepi

worst pa

etely bel

he didn't

sh the idea away, but every shred of instinct told her to listen to him. He wasn't

vulnerability. Not here, not now. Not when everything she had fought to protect was on the line. The pie

ghtmare-wasn't just a trap. It