Sweet Sinful Night

hina'

he leaned comfortably against the large marble desk. His tone was cool, yet his piercing blue eyes

didn't give me much of a choice, did you?" I fired back, my voice filled with more

you?" His comments were a challenge, and they touched a chord. "You

re. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was fury. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the recollection

d finally, raising my chin in

"You're smart enough to figure that out," he remarked easily, edging closer. "But sin

of interest and discomfort.

d simply, his voic

t him, thinking I'd misheard. "Excuse me?" I remark

's not complicated. You and I will get married-fo

ally beneficial?" I echoed. "How ex

ing just enough to send a shudder down my spine. "I've been keeping tabs, Seraphina. Your in

in my chest. "

stern but not cruel. "It's business. And lik

," I shouted, my voice quivering with wrath. "You think you can just waltz int

tly. "It's a transaction. You save your firm. I get the st

ut it. "And what happens when the merger goes thro

t's how long the arrangement will last. After that

kle at the silliness of it all, but another half-the one that was desp

?" I asked, my v

at made my stomach churn. "Then you walk away," he state

and he knew it. My firm was on the edge of bankruptcy, and this deal-th

my skin crawl. "Why me?" I demanded, crossing my arms across my c

y it was gone, replaced by his customary mask of assurance. "Because you're different," he added, his voice softer

rd by his honesty. "Chal

er and let people walk all over yo

they left me feeling... vulnerable. Seen. It was a

"This is insane," I replied, more to myself than to him. "Yo

l," he replied, his tone

haking my head. "Is that what

sper. "With me by your side, your company will thrive. You'll have the resources and contacts to take it

with the inquiry. "What happens when the line

ty in his eyes. But then he straightened, his expression sharpening. "T

"Professional," I repeated. "Right. Because t

ak in his armor. "This is different," he added, his v

oked the bright metropolis below. My mind was racing, divided between logic and passion. This agreement may

t, my voice barely above a whisper.

when he spoke, his voice was low and full of c

ce of duplicity. But all I saw was determination-an

king. "I'll do it. But I swear to

d firmly, cutting me o

o let him know how much he impacted me. "This is strictly business,"

. "Strictly business," he agreed. But there was something in his

enough to cut with a knife. And then, just when I thought I may fina

spered, his voice a quiet mur

him. But when his fingers closed around mine, a ch

mply the beginning. And whatever came n

e desk, taking up a manila packet. "There's one more th

ked, my patience

sk to me. "Your signature," he sta

t sinking as I knew what it wa

our life, Seraphina," he whispered, his vo