A
kept playing the same image over and over, my spineless father, staring
t a price tag on my head and handed the leash to a man wh
in th
my face. We were at the curb, and three massive, black SUVs were waiting, their
shook my head, taking a staggering step backward. "No. No, I'm no
ght. "You're wasting my time, Maya. I
on that cheque, Mr. Blackwood. I am a human being, not a business acquisition. You don't get to comm
ning me in his shadow. There was an amused glint in his gaze, a l
moving, does it? I wonder if it'll be qui
ntence. My pride finally took a backseat to my survival instincts. I panicked. I spun arou
around me. He scooped me up effortlessly, hoisting me against
alance before I remembered I was supposed to be fighting him. My heart was beating fast, b
my fists against his chest, but it was like hitting a brick wall. He didn't even flinc
d into the crook of his neck. "You don't just kidnap a
just carried me toward the SUV calmly, while I swu
bed in after me, his large frame making the spacious SUV feel s
iver, not even glancing at me
ling the handle until my fingers hurt
ng. "I need to go home. Please. I
For a long second, those ocean-blue eyes searched mine, looking for the lie, for the manipu
photos, her jewelry, a scarf that still smells like her perfume. If I'm never comin
k. For a second, I thought he was going to mock me and tell me he'd buy me a diamond for every
e a stop at her apartment. Five minutes. And If she isn't back in the car by the sixth
t of his sight. He followed me up the narrow stairs, h
ped my bedroom door handle. My heart was racing so hard I thought it might burst throu
cking for second exits or hidden windows with the precision of a s
s, Maya. If you aren't out by t
er's jewelry. I grabbed my passport from the nightstand and pulled out
shoving my feet into
ck hit the door, making me
a photo!" I yelled back, alread
the pavement of the alley and ran. I didn't look back. I didn't stop until I hailed a taxi
, sobbing out the story of the contract, the $500 million, a
his jaw set in a line of pure defiance. "There's a loophole, Maya. If we get married right now before he can force y
ry me? Now?" I a
said, pulling me toward the door with a desperate urgency. "Come on. We'
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