Simon chats about the architect who designed his place while he pours two vodkas. I listen absentmindedly, thinking again that it was sweet of him to bring me here. It’s protective, and I rather like the idea of someone like Simon being protective of me.
The past week, he’s been on my mind a lot, and I’ve kept kicking myself for not taking his number that night. I reasoned that fate hadn’t meant for us to be anything more than strangers in passing. But now I see that maybe fate had other plans.
Before I go home today, I have to remember to take his number. I can’t make that same mistake twice!
He presses a button, and the glass doors leading out onto a wooden deck overlooking the beach slide open silently. Fuck. This isn’t just wealth; this is the kind of wealth that is impossible to comprehend.
Simon sits down next to me, handing me a crystal glass with ice chiming against the side.
“Thanks,” I smile.
He sits quietly, giving me the space to breathe and process as I sip my drink and stare out at the view.
I jump when there is a knock at the front door, then laugh, embarrassed at myself.
“It’s okay, it’ll just be one of my security guys,” he reassures me. “I’ll be right back.”
Oneof his security guys? How many does he have? I saw a guy standing at the gate. But I guess I haven’t been paying proper attention. Is it to protect the house? I guess he must have a lot of expensive things in here.
I hear muffled voices and the front door closing before Simon returns, carrying papers, with two men following him.
A cold shiver ripples down my spine. The look on his face has me sitting up straight and setting my drink down.
“Blair, this is my lawyer, Tim Volkov, and my head of security, Philip.”
Standing up, I smile tensely. “Hello,” I say nervously.
Simon comes to stand next to me and sets the documents he’s holding on the coffee table in front of where I was sitting.
“I’m going to need you to sign these papers,” he informs me in his deep, commanding tone.
My eyes drag onto the documents.
Across the words marriage certificate.
Confusion slams into me.
“What? Why?” I laugh, thinking this has to be some kind of joke.
“Because it’s the only way I can keep you safe,” he says calmly.
I look toward the lawyer. His expression doesn’t change in any way.
“Marriage papers?” I stammer.
“Yes, Blair. You need to become my wife so that I can make sure nothing happens to you,” he says.
Another nervous laugh slips from my lips as I take a step away from him. Suddenly, the whole situation is completely ludicrous.
This isn’t a joke.
He’s being deathly serious.
“Simon, I am not signing that!” I blurt out, shaking my head as I try to move further from him. I glance over my shoulder, plotting my path so that I can make a bolt for the door and get out of here.Maybe I can run out onto the beach.
But while I’m still trying to figure things out, he grabs my arm, digging his fingers into my skin too roughly.
“I can’t let you leave, Blair. Unfortunately, this is not optional,” he says, still as calm as ever.
