*
“What?No!”Shepopped up off the couch and paced away to the window and stared out.Her body shuddered at the thought.“I’m never becoming anyone’s possession.Never will I give up my agency to become whatever a man wants me to be.”
Silence greeted her outburst.
She dragged in a deep breath.“Pull it together,” she whispered under her breath.
Maybe she should cut her losses.Run.She looked toward the door.He wouldn’t chase her.Why would he?He had nothing invested.Yet.But why a wife?Maybe she should get more information.She liked him.She needed a job.Surely, he didn’t really want a wife—for what possible reason?
“We have a different view of marriage,” he said quietly after several long moments.“I opened with a negotiation.Much like an improv exercise or a dance.I made my opening play.You parry.”
“You’re mixing metaphors.”
“What would it take for a woman like you to marry a man like me?”
“A woman like me?”she echoed.
She was the last woman who’d marry.Marriage was a nightmare.She’d barely escaped alive.Alissa hadn’t.
“You’re rich.Beautiful.We’ve just met.Why would you want to marry a stranger?”
“Yes, that is a good line of questioning to pursue.Why would I—a loner, a man who’s lost his best friend, mentor, and business partner a week ago—want a wife?”
“Temporary insanity.Grief?”she posited.
He didn’t respond, but he eyed her steadily, and her stupid curiosity kicked in.
“Can you think of any reasons why I would find you an ideal candidate at this time?”
“Sexual attraction.That sparked at the beginning,” she said.“If your bio dad hadn’t—” Oh.
She broke off.Did he have something to do with it?Why?Because even though he’d taken her to lunch at her suggestion, she was pretty sure when she’d barged into his penthouse suite that he was not thinking of keeping Cam’s appointment with his mail-order bride.
He inclined his head toward her, acknowledging the truth.
“I’m an unknown to everyone in your life.I’ve lived mostly off grid for a reason so the only social media I have is where I advertise my small online business, but my name or pictures don’t appear on them.”She was warming up to the assignment.“I’m not desperate, but I am hungry for work.I’m between jobs and places to live so I’m free to make a change.I’m used to dealing with a wide variety of people from very different walks of life.I’m honest, proud, and fiercely independent so I wouldn’t steal or try to take you for a financial ride.”
His smile nearly knocked her sideways, and she realized he was a better negotiator than she’d imagined, Cam or no Cam.He was having her do all the talking.
“But why do you want a wife?”She asked, curiosity taking over.
“I didn’t,” he said.“I don’t.”
She appreciated the honesty.And waited.
“But now I’m thinking of the advantages for us both.”
Ayana hesitated—not wanting to let fear rule her.Telford was cool headed.Smart.
“Terms,” she continued, liking the feeling of power and the way he watched her, like he admired her, wanted her.
She crossed the room, hiked herself up on the island, so she was a little bit higher than he was, and her position was unconventional, to hopefully distract him off whatever game he was running.
“First.Does the marriage have to be real?”Why would it need to be?
“Yes.Practical.Life leaves a digital trail.No need to get caught in lies.Plus, safer for us both.I intend to pay you for your… role… your time as my wife.The contract will protect you.Additionally, there will be a prenup to protect what Cam and I built.”
“I want a time limit.”
