THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL

I

ectly but through his publicist. He sent a car by seven in the night and by that time I'd packed my favourite clothes into two suitcases. The

ides about the fact that I was going to share the same living quarters with a man I barely knew. We pulled up to a building in the fi

id. "Mr. Montague

ound so many expensive things before. The elevator required a key card t

to block him from all social media platforms, but I couldn't text him again,and that's how we ended up tearing at each other. It hurt so bad, I loved him uneq

into the penthouse. I stepp

the entire city lit up like stars. It looked like a m

s Jo

y suit stood at my back, h

g but asked me to get you settled."She handed me a leathe

s five pages of legal language. I sk

an account in my name. All expenses covered inclu

bout what happened if either of us wanted to end it early.

ave a pen

age without reading the rest. What did it matt

k the folder back. "Let

ng room bigger than my entire apartment, a home office, and

oor. "You'll have complete privacy. Mr. Montague'

nt. There was a king sized bed and a walk-

Mr. Montague will take you shopping tomorrow for anything else you need. Dinner is at seven. Brea

on.I paused for a while

ttle in."She walked out, c

now. Few hours ago, I nearly proposed to my cheating boyfriend. Now I'm

ce I didn't own much. Then I showered in the giant bathroo

ing, my mind racing. What would happen at dinner tomorrow? What

hrough the penthouse. Everything was dark and quiet. I f

't s

ks that gleamed with sweat --- it seemed like he was doing a night workout --- and to the v curve of his torso that tucked into the pajama pa

im. The stare on his face told me that h

etting water." When I looked at the glass fridge,

nto the room, and nodded to the cabinet above the sink. He walked past me and pulle

ly. Should I go back to my room? Stay

he contract,"

es

ake you five days to read and understand all the

have to sound so complicat

"My mother called. S

ate picked

d at me. "She's excited and would ask a lot of questions. You have t

As long as she's

sig

a Ashford wi

familiar. "The woman t

hey invited her befor

ng your parents and your supposed

ass. "Diella knows about our engagement

er down. "This is goi

his glass. "Why did you stay

caught me off

w he was using you."His gray

put him first, eventually he'd do the same for me. That's how r

s quiet. "You give and they take. Then they

e pain in his voice ma

ng to my mother. His time, his attention, his entire life. She took it all

ho put you first from the beginning, not

e deep. "Yeah.

ser. We were only a

up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His thumb br

caught. "R

His thumb was still on my ch

tered. Everett stepped back and grabbed his phon

s it?"I

e wants to have coffee tomorro

ch dropp

to meet her

ing,"I said

you go without a fight."He set his phone down. "Meet her. Let her say whatever

." I scoffed, s

ips twitched. "But you're still he

imum wage job, waking up everyday knowing

finally, slamming t