By Midnight

ced a lot of bad mo

er mom left w

landlord threa

wore mismatched heels to a jo

oss in a Vegas hotel suite wearing a diamond ring on her left ha

p, heart

one Jordan Vega had jokingly dubbed "The Palace of Bad Decisions" was

oat dry. "This is fine. This is rever

to the man sle

son

d beneath the pillow, the other resting across his toned

Sl

e was

were on the floor. Her clutch bag was tipped over. And a bottle of champ

e caught her eye. The

d down at

ng was

criptio

ss Beginni

on st

ng or plottin

fr

said stiffly. "

. His voice was raspy. "Rig

eet wrapped around her like arm

e me a second to confirm whether th

rtificate. "Marriage license. Witnessed. Sign

then scrubbed a h

rda

ked. "Wait

us. You laughed. I said something flippant. Then you kissed me and sa

d. "I kis

ter. The first one was televised I

to the chaise lounge. "S

ck shirt. "Legally, yes. Technically,

at the certifi

s a nig

ed his cuffs.

p, hopeful.

etainer. They'll file the

her. "Good. P

B

sank. "The

s from her n

mer

fake accidental wedding ha

. Legacy. The merger hinges on more than numbers it hinges on trust. They wan

at her c

enly, I h

"Wait. You want to keep th

merger is finalized. One ye

y got married in Vegas, Grayson. T

nsated," he add

ighter. "You're proposing I stay ma

ou'd have full legal protection. A prenup. A personal al

flamed. "Wo

," he said simply.

w. The view of the Strip w

rent due, his private tutor payments stacking up. She thought of the thr

looked at G

ted. But for the fir

breath. "

"No more.

after

y. You get a settlement. I

not a marriage. That's a business

act

ook he

re in

offering a solution

f I sa

ent today. This never happened. And I'l

he held himself confide

t this, but he did

ed her more than

in her apartment, sipping tea and re-rea

s iro

ly bus

itation

macy ex

e. In exchange? A monthly stipend that would solve eve

leep with textbooks stacked beside him. He'd just got

uld make

ad to marr

ried to

was in love

le.

rprises in a beige blazer and new heels. Her

is office, looking like sin

decided,

hav

that stillness that

nd

aid. "But I want

cour

questions from the press. And if we're doing this, I want

nodded

hen we're alone off duty

ked. "M

le behind closed doors. I want h

he faintest h

ware I'd be

she said. "That

ended

ea

ooked

he sho

ea

across the street that morning, watching th

hotograph of Grayson

een seen in nea

il

intention of