Semua Bab Bound by Contract : Bab 1 - Bab 5

THE PROPOSITIONAria Collins looked out the great black building at the office complex of Blackwood Enterprises and saw the glass tower shining through it in midday sun. She nearly fainted as she got the courage to step through the two revolving doors. The dented leather purse held tightly to her side holding all the papers—medical bills, notices of eviction and letters rejecting loans—that had taken her here to this very moment.As she approached the front desk, the guard at the security checkpoint looked suspiciously at her, taking note of the single navy dress—the most formal of her clothes—and the wrinkled flats that had needed serious repairs.“I have an appointment with Mr. Reed, ” she said proudly, trying not to reflect the wavering fear in her gut. “Aria Collins. ”After getting a phone call and a visitor’s badge, she was directed to the elevator. As she began to journey up the 40th floor, Aria quietly rehearsed her pitch again. This was her last chance—a loan from the undoub

THE CEREMONYAnd the chapel on the Blackwood estate was nothing like the reception hall Aria had dreamed of as a small child: no flowers lined the aisle, no music playing as she entered, and so in lieu of friends and family there were cold-eyed lawyers and a justice of the peace who seemed to be on a routine basis engaged in such transactional proceedings.The white dress she’d worn had just been delivered to her hotel room that morning—a designer dress, beautifully constructed, making her wonder how Alexander had determined her measurements. It was modest, refined—not the princess gown she’d hoped for, but something that a woman of refined taste would choose to enter a very private ceremony in. It didn’t seem to matter much in her defense—looking the part of a blushing bride as she went into the most defiant situation possible.Alexander stood in the doorway of the chapel; his dark gray suit bespoke to him made him look more substantial than ever before, and when he saw her, his eyes

HER FIRST REAL TESTAlexander stayed attentive, his hand never more than a few centimeters away from some part of her, her waist, her shoulder, the small of her back. Every touch, as performative as it was, stung with unwelcome tingles in her body. She found herself having to fight the shiver that would rise up involuntarily when he would lean in to whisper some background information about whoever they were speaking with, his breath warm against her ear.As they made their way toward their appointed dinner table, he murmured, 'You're doing fine.' "Robert was impressed."She admitted that she wasn't performing with him. 'I truly do enjoy what the foundation does.'Alexander’s expression shifted; maybe approval. Pretense is more convincing when it's possible to be authentic.The dinner was a seven course affair, with wines that cost more than Aria's rent probably for the month. She was seated between Alexander and an elderly gentleman who, as it turned out, was a retired neurosurgeon w