Marriage Contract with the CEO

ats, touch screen panels, and the faint scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air. Cecili

id, not taking his eyes off the

," she said, voice low. "Y

y car. That's not

fault. I stepped int

ing a little too fast. So now we'

ile tugged at her lips. "Y

m running dam

ents, neither of them spoke. Cecilia stared out th

w you drove yourse

t of the office before I su

. "Quiet? With papara

twitched.

-

walked in and the entire hospital s

d, cleaned up, and handed an ice pack for

id, giving Leo a pointed loo

corner, arms crossed, face unreadable. But

ked out to the lobby, expecting to call a cab. Inste

have to wait

id." He opened t

a hesi

t her shoes. "Whe

nd. "Didn't exactly feel l

t nod. "Fair e

-

town Atlanta faded into cracked sidewalks and older apartment

re?" he asked, eyes

st off Br

hat's not exactly th

You think I do

ean it li

plied flatly. "That's all

But he didn't l

complex with rusting stair rails and potted pla

to a stop, the buildin

ith curlers in her hair and a permanent scowl on he

oks, you got money for rent or not? I t

ed. "Mrs. J

man wasn't

ctive. "Riding around in a fancy car with a man like this, and you'

ked. "Ex

r sugar daddy or what? Got her living here with u

a said, her voice trembling. "H

spat. "Girls like you always play b

d out slowly. He towered over

Cecilia home because I accidentally hit her with my car earlie

ted, startled by hi

lear," Leo continued, his voice s

went wide. "L

idn't lo

led. "Uh... she's

ed a few buttons, then looked

she sai

" He turned to Cecilia. "Go upstairs and

unding. "Why are

y. "And because if you collapse from stress a

reeping up her neck.

interrupted

car, and drove off-leaving both

-

sat on her worn-

ust ha

taken her to the hospital, brought her

anything about him-excep

e like him help

ll at $58.17. But the landlord payment was real. She got the email co

-not just from the relief,

. Jenkins s

oked at her-like s

he di

prospects, no backup plan, and no reason for a

ntly, for everything she'd lost... and for the strange