stood

ry

d came. She stared at Lucien

e serious,"

p forward, his face

ping the edge of a chair for balance. "Why

e. For six months. It's part of a corporate requirement written into my late father's wi

... are the only woman I trus

deeper than he pr

me get this straight. You fire me. Humi

r obedient little wife for six mont

calmly. "You

stif

contract ends. You'll live here, attend public events

appear

. it could save her mother's life. Pay for

de scre

t whispe

y gave her

ng," she said final

lightly. Not wa

cour

: Later T

from the guest room of his penthouse. It w

hispered to herself

window at the cold skyline

CONTIN