help them meet at the agreed-upon lo
rman, a mountain of a man in a tailored suit, recognized her fro
supple leather, and hushed conversations. Th
ooking for someone to go on a blind date with,since the face in th
o matched the description. Tall, dark hair, wearing an
ed over. The pain in her side was a constant, sharp
han she expected. "I'm here today to meet you f
n look
rey. Like a winter storm over the Atlantic. His presence was far more intimidating th
nkillers and adrenaline, didn't notice the discr
despite the fire in her abdomen. "I need to get married. Within th
as unreadable. He slowly, deliberately, turned the crown
cy of a top-tier executive assistant. "This would be a contrac
etail, the bait she bel
ation hang in the air. "Our arrangement would be mutually beneficial. We maintain separate live
onvenient shield to a gay man tr
aned forward. The intensity in his gaze made her breath catc
d. "Then... wha
who can shield me from the label of being gay, and you need a marri
ple. The possessiv
all frame loomed over the booth, casting her in his shadow
out hi
offer. It w
nvisioned it. She expected negotiation, hesitation,
s. The pain in her side was getting worse, a s
ded thi
o a stop in front of the M
rm, warm pressure on the small of her back.
hought surfaced in her muddled mind, that's what the f
very dedicated, having quickly
ce agent, was already waiting inside. He held a clipboard with all the
eeded were
the hum of fluorescent lights, Ana finally saw
en Ve
he had heard that name before-in business circles, in
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