Shadows of a Billionaire's heart

I had his card clasped in my fist, the edges worn by my fidgety fingers. I checked my phone and saw that it was five min

d made recently hardly covered my rent, let alone my other bills, and I had spent all of my funds trying to keep the lights

breath and opened

tood by the window. When I walked in, he turned with a sligh

answered, closing the

he other side of his desk. "

my shoulders. Richard , who was seated across from me, moved with meticulous

t?" His tone was mea

ort of thing you can make a pro-con list

nd

oked him in the eye. "On o

ment as his eyebrow raised sl

want precise terms if this is only a business agreement. I gathered

is fingers and relaxed back in

gallery, pay off all of my obligations, and make sure I had the tools and visibility I needed to start again. I would pretend to be hi

motional entanglements.

, that is reciprocal. Please don't interfere with

one despite my stomach roiling. Additionally, w

readable as he

direction. "The contract has already been draughted by my legal staff. Re

o opportunity for interpretation because everything we had talked about

Richard provided. Was this really what I was going to do? To

id, "You don't have to decide now." "But I nee

under his calm appearance. None existed. A man with wall

sign." "But I walk if

smile that fell short

-

nt the following morning. I felt the weight of my choice bearing down on me as I stared a

further my artistic career. Without Richard 's assistance, it would all vanish. Then there was the expression on

natched up the document and ma

hard was sitting at his desk, using his iPad to browse th

a query, he continued, "Y

ket to him. "I

ard opened the folder. He put it aside, satisfied, and stood with

I shook his hand without changing my f

legate the required preparations to my team. Be prepar

owled as I repeated.

g to keep this a secret." The press will devour it. A brief romance

om mine, I had anticipated that this would remain mostly under the

y to bring that up earl

ncerned. "Don't worry, though; I'll mak

e mere thought of it. But now there was no going b

the desk. Claire, you'll be alright. I want you to

aith? Within him? The man who had

n before I could reply. She was tall, with elegant blond hair

in a clipped, icy voice.

the bridge of his nose.

again. A moment of realisation was followed by a sne

outrage rise through my chest. Richard , however, mov

n a firm yet hus

she paused, then piv

, I glanced at Richa

he let out a breath. "There is

e expression in his eyes told

couldn't help but wonder: What