It's Just Business

don'

he tall windows of my office. The skyline of the

w: "Get married, and as if that weren't bad enough, I have to stay in the forsake

e, love, attachment, all emotional contracts masked as romantic one

andidates." Women with generational wealth, Ivy League backgrounds, and last names t

the fol

illa," came a vo

. Knowing only Sam could be so

company to run into

as usual, balancing two

't miss this even if Priyanka Chopra asked me to, and tha

him a

ked a lucky wife yet, or are we doi

want this over with

unwrapped a croissant. "You know, if you want quiet,

. "What w

hilate. The girl didn't even flinch and sti

like her already-a match made in h

ber, and this is serious. You, of all p

ize a hurricane unless it sent you a memo. And I

s your criteria, what makes you think your

ve to be in love with her; it says I have to be married

actical. Not a debutante. Not dramatic. Someo

l need to... oh no, that's loud, not quiet. I know the one: you can't refuse this one. It

interrupted by a

ome in,

ir

, St

our parents

ntence, The door swung open an

s he strode into my office like he owned the pla

s-was my stepsister, daphne. She offered me a small smile, the only genuine thing in the room, and I no

ther," I said, rising slowly

en productive," he said cool

elopement. Quite the efficient Tuesday! We've even decided to just get married to each other; it would be sweet since we'

tly snickere

owed eyes. "I heard you dismissed the list my assistant

replied

s that?" h

e of them su

torm building behind his eyes. "Brandon, this

ow and steely. "But I won't parade around with

I'm doing t

I'll succeed without you, and you want a puppet who

. Heavy

py sweet. "Darling, this hostility won't help

"Your definition of 'best' has alwa

sighed. Daphne shot me a warn

lready cros

said. "You marry and maintain i

is hand dismissivel

"Sorry" to me and added

silence that felt more suff

"Damn. You sure know how to

I muttered, gr

you going?"

ere bu

office, a place I rarely visited. It had a glass ceiling and overpriced co

, I tried to gain control of

pulled it out to see a text from Daphne

my mom. I'll call y

as

m liquid soaking throu

p and ther

wait

hone pressed to her ear with the other. Her hair was pulled back this time, and

era

e you're-" she st

recognition flick

a mix of annoya

" I muttere

st really enjoy scar

who just spilled c

just maybe, if you looked up from your silver sp

day and having zero interest in continuing t

g on a side table, then grab napkins from a nearby t

her eyes, making my irr

erly. She got mere inches from my face, completely focused on gett

d say anythin

k. The

my head

ara

on us from outside the shop a

to be kiddin

n Spanish. "You could just give me the suit.

by the entire situation, and turned to

e finance briefs that had been sent to me when Sa

n genius," he said,

ked. "

e tren

't have the energy to know why this time

ch. Secondly,

ha

dline: "Mystery Latina Beauty Spotted with Bi

ng, another of her fixing my jacket button, and one that loo

hat it seem

itress from the ev

what you're

get that for a secon

ha

been in a secret relationship all this

he'd grown another hea

adults. And it's been exposed that you have been in a secret relationship. Why not build on that? Find somethi

would agree also what make

ing, it could be money, fame whatever and secon

tually work,"

nned. "

t'll feel real to them. Like a romance novel come to li

This could ac

ur cards right,

contact information.

y nor do I work for you, but this is going to be

have

ask," h

f I can get everyt

u're really

love story, I'll give the