Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“Money and wealth in exchange for my soul.”
“Money, wealth, and safety in exchange for your obedience for a short time.”
“How short?” I ask, feeling desperate and afraid. “What’ll happen when we end this fake marriage thing? Won’t your family be even more pissed at you?”
“That is my problem to handle.”
“Just like you’re handling all the other problems.”
“Enough,” he says sharply, sounding like he’s at the end of his patience, and I sit back, surprised. “Just take this damn thing.” And he thrusts another box in my direction.
But this time, it’s smaller and black and velvet. The perfect size for a ring.
“Uh,” I say. “Did you find that in the garbage truck too?”
“I hope not, considering how much it costs.” He flips open the lid and I suck in a shocked breath.
It’s an engagement ring. The central diamond looks big enough to crack a walnut in half. It’s oval shaped, with smaller stones haloed around it, set into a platinum band.
“What?” I manage to sputter. “What the heck is that thing? Are you—are you proposing right now? You just said take this damn thing and that was your freaking proposal?”
“Put it on,” he growls and takes my hand.
“Evander—”
“Wear my ring, asteraki mu. I need you to wear my ring.” He stares at me with fire in his eyes and a shiver runs down my spine. He’s looking at me like he can’t see anything else and it’s intoxicating. His attention is a drug, a luscious drug I want to wrap around my body and get lost inside of. He’s a velvet rope around my throat, and I don’t mind if he keeps on tightening.
Until I choke.
All I have to do is wear his ring.
He needs it. He doesn’t want it, he doesn’t think it’s a smart idea.
He needs me to wear his ring.
My chest twists and I feel a tingle run up my core.
Evander on his knees with a ring worth more money than I’ve ever dreamed of in my life.
My sneakers back, saved from the dump.
A new phone.
A new life.
And all I have to do is let him slip this ring down my finger.
Slowly, I extend my hand.
And he slides it on, admiring me the whole time. It’s a perfect fit, an impossibly perfect fit.
“Good girl,” he whispers. “Now, when I get back, we are going to have dinner with my family. I hope you’re prepared.”
Just like that, we’re engaged, and I’m tumbling down the rabbit hole.
Chapter 23
Evander
The meeting with the freight company goes well. I head back into the house, feeling decent for the first time in days. I’m solving my shipping problem, I found the damn shoes, and Camille didn’t fight me about wearing the ring.
I feel good as I step into my room and spot her standing out on the balcony.
She’s wearing a black, lace cocktail dress with a modest neckline and a fitted waist that shows off her lovely curves. I stand and stare at her, heart racing with surprise as she holds the ring up to the dying evening light and watches it glitter. That’s my fiancée, and my guts twist with excitement, and my heart flutters in my chest, and I’m having a reaction I’ve never felt before—
It’s desire, but it’s also joy, pure and unbridled excitement. Camille looks incredible, absolutely fucking stunning, with understated makeup and her hair in a simple twist, and she’s wearing my ring.
My ring.
She turns and catches my eye—and grins at me.
That’s when I look down and notice the shoes.
The fucking sneakers.
And all my good feelings are gone just like that. Of course, she’s wearing a cocktail dress with those ratty old sneakers. I close my eyes, take a steadying breath, and open them again.
“Hello, future husband,” she says and gives me a twirl, making sure to shove her foot out so I can’t miss those fucking sneakers. “How do I look?”
“Like a zebra blissfully wandering into a lion’s den.” I turn and gesture for her to follow. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
She skips up to my side and takes my arm. I glare at her but don’t speak as I lead her through the halls, taking my time. I don’t trust myself to say anything right now, and I’m not sure she’d listen anyway.
She doesn’t know my family and has no clue what she’s getting into, but at least I invited Lycus to attend this little get-together. He doesn’t normally show up for family gatherings, but occasionally I’ll drag him along when I need to discuss business afterward.
In this case, I need him there as a buffer.
“Listen carefully,” I say as we pause outside of the dining room doors. “For the love of everything you hold dear, please follow my lead. Don’t engage anyone. They will make comments. Let it slide off you like water.”
“Who is they?” she asks, frowning at me.