His Deal, Her Heart

pers of the guests. A section of the ballroom was cordoned off, the once-magnificent chandelier now a mangled heap of metal and shattered crystal on the floor. I was sitting in a velvet armchair

fect hair slightly disheveled, a smudge of dust on his cheek. Chloe wa

u alright? I saw you go down. For a second there..." He trailed off, running a h

oe is okay.* The words hung in the air between us, brutally honest. I w

something more. I had excused his indifference, romanticized his neglect. Now, seeing him standing before me, his priorities laid b

ger, no heartbreak. Just a profound, chilling emptiness. The obsession

e shock and how lucky they were. I held

et, but it cut through his rambl

licker of surpr

e, I felt like I was truly seeing him: a shall

ut," I

ousand unshed tears, a million unspoken hopes. They were the

mouth slightly agape.

re was no room for misunde

ort, incredulous shake of his head, then turned, pulling a confused Chloe with him. I watched them walk aw

fumbled for it, my hands still

pressed the phone to my

ed... they called in the loan. All of it. Effective immediately." He took a ragged breath. "We have twent

e reality. The air left my lungs in a painful rush. The chaos of the ballroom, the fallen chandelier, it

" I lied, my mind a frantic, empty space. We had no resou

ng of dust and antiseptic. The weight of it all-the public humiliation, the near-deat

ve this

holding my small, scuffed clutch bag. He was impossibly tall, dressed in a bespoke suit that probably cost

s brushed against his, and a strange jolt, like sta

on me with that same unnerving intensity. "The chandelier was

"I saw. The cab

voice flat, devoid of emotion. "You were simp

rk had treated me. It seemed

aid, not knowing

on my tear-streaked cheeks. "Your family's business. A textile company, founded by your grandfather. Leveraged to the hilt

ammering against my ribs. "

things, Miss..." He traile

, my voice barely a

emoth corporation that had been buying up half of Veridia. He wasn't just rich; he

creditor. He was the one holding th

ked, my voice trembling

e become bold. A public attack like this means they believe I am vulnerable. I need to change that percept

crackle with energy. He smelled of expensive cologne

both our problems," he said.

n I had misheard

only. You will provide me with a stable, unimpeachable public image. In return, I will pers

who people were actively trying to kill? But then I thought of my father's voice on the phone, the so

room for negotiation. "My car will be outside your apartment at noon

nt, the city lights of Veridia blurring past the window. The choice was no cho

. It was worn and tarnished, a cheap thing Mark had won for me at a carnival when we w

habit. He was there, sitting at his usual table, looking tired

palm and placed the small, worn locket i

me that no longer exists," I

rd glance. I didn't run. I walked with my head held high, each step taking me

. The back door was opened by a silent driver. Inside, Julian Thorne sat,

n and exhaust filling my lungs. Then I got

ad, his stormy e

your terms

-