tment window, but the weight of the previous night's conversation refuse

e for you. The papers are

ould shield me from the storm that was brewing. Daemo

s a force to be reckoned with in the corporate world, his family's pharmaceutical empire domin

startled me, pulling

se from sleep-or maybe from the strai

t friend's voice was a welcome relief, though I

g a tray of coffee and croissants. Her blonde hair was tied up in a

by a truck. What happened?" she aske

gainst it, crossing my arms.

chen counter, her eyebrows knitting

deal." The words tasted bitter in my mouth, and s

ened. "What? Auror

rying my face in my hands. "He's threatening to let

at beside me. "And you're just go

ompany falls, everything my mom worked fo

asoning, but she didn't argue. Instead, she

guy?" she asked, her t

on Rey

, and her eyes widened. "Daemon Re

"Why? What do yo

ng to a whisper. "He's... intense. People say he's brilliant, but

kind of

a businessman. That he's connected to... other things. Dangerous things. If your father t

situation wasn't bad enough, now I had to

n the coffee table. I grabbed it, my heart

muttered, showing

it," sh

ly swiped to accept th

one brisk and unyielding. "I've arranged a

protested, bu

for debate, Au

and I stared at the

y?" Sophie asked

shaky breath, the reality of it all hitting me lik

ing it a reassuring squeeze.

h knew that

new it, I was standing outside an upscale restaur

led me to a private room at the back of the restaur

hen I

gray eyes that seemed to see right through me. He was dressed in a tailored suit, every inch the powerfu

ng as I entered. His voice was deep

rying to keep my voice steady as

is gaze sharp and calculating.

. "Funny, I can't sa

r father told me you'd be... hesitant about this arrangement. I respe

aced with disbelief. "This isn't a relationsh

it. "Perhaps. But I assure you, Miss Sinclai

at sent a chill down my spine. For the first t