ANNA'

coffee absently as Sandra scrolled throu

d eyebrows arching high. "A what? Wh

owering my voice despite the relative

black bob swinging with the

t accident and I didn't plan to, it was emba

I was quiet a

akfast. "Where exactly did you sleep thaty night? I cam

eeping up my neck. "

nger named Vi

on her fork, wait

t her wonderi

did y

s morning." She swept her short locks behind her ear, gri

looks like he could

I admitted, the word

fee. "What do you mean you don'

y lips "Yes.

ps on the edge of her coffee cup

ing the door closed. Then...nothing until

d instantly. "Marianna, that

ggy since yesterday." I pressed my fingers against my

empting lightness, "disappointing that you can't remember what must have been a

h humor. It was what made Sandra my closest frien

next?"

ands trembled slightly as I recalled the scene

ed, her earlier play

s difficult, we'll have to take more

doesn't sound like the man I met that ni

rabbed her hand. "You need to help me

op-tier, discreet. They handle executiv

e there

window, thoughts racing faster than the scenery blurri

und garage beneath an unmarked building. "Elite Shiel

t compl

like a shroud. Whatever was happening, whether what I heard from Vin o

, determination replacing fear. I needed to protect myself first

through a maze of corridors to a conference

th a firm handshake. "Samuel Norwood, Executi

him and he nodded, tapping

es, five years with diplomatic security. He specializes i

s, relief flooding t

paperwork and protocols. By the time we l

a asked as we steppe

king my watch. "I should

ys. I walked toward my office and fr

xamining a photo frame from my desk. He looked up a

e that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. "Yo

, hand still on the knob.

ood. Even across the room, h

n." He stepped around my desk, closing half the distance between us. "I was curious

et and withdrew a thick document bound in leathe

esk. Bold text across the to

uttered. "P

plans. "Since the arrangement involves both our families' inte

, struggling to

erved, eyes narrowing slight

f boardroom battles teaching

ht this here rather than

" His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Page si

detailed everything from required public appearances together to, I swallowed hard, bed

three separate items. "I won't agree to being at you

handed me an expensive fountain pen. "

'll need time to revie

se. "You have until tomorrow. We'll need the agreement

I echoed,

union." He leaned closer, his cologne enveloping me. "Don't look so worried, Mari

e pushed the document clos

m leave, min

mind, different escape options poppin

Change my nam

avelly voice jolted me back. "Y

at him "Just

efully. "Having second

comfortable," I admitted.

nt as enemies. They've worked hard to legitim

mea

ying nice." Grandfather tapped the table thought

e you su

ct clear boundaries. You'll fare better negotia

t a coun

top of my head. "You're a

through his terms. If I was going to mar

ed from an un

back, Ms.

s. Drawing the curtains quickly, I caught movement in t

ed Alec Reeves. My security

ching. And want