Page 11

KEIRAN'S CHAUFFEURis an older man in his early sixties. He introduces himself cheerfully as Onesimus and tells me to ignore Keiran's bad mood while handing me my coffee with a grin.

Easier said than done, since the one and only time I saw Keiran this grim was that awful day my father had made me believe his lies.

We don't speak for the rest of the ride, which thankfully lasts only for ten minutes. We arrive at a huge construction site, and my eyes widen when I realize what's being built. Ahotel?Is this what made Keiran impossibly wealthy in just three years? His carpentry business has somehow turned into a real estate empire?

He leads me inside a modular office that offers views of huge cranes working in the distance and men in hard hats assembled like platoons for morning inspection.

"Take a seat, Cadence."

I do as asked and struggle not to fidget as he leans against his desk. "Have you figured out what your job is?"

I shake my head.

"Take a guess."

"Your secretary?"

"No."

"PA?"

"No."

I slowly shake my head. "I'm not sure—-"

"My mistress."

I'm about to laugh nervously but stop when he only stares at me unsmilingly.

"Which means you'll be living with me and keeping me company wherever I go."

Oh.

Okay.

I feel like I should be shocked and hurt and humiliated.

So why are the butterflies inside my stomach flapping their wings excitedly instead?

"Do you have anything to say?"

I shake my head.

"If you give up just once, I'll let you go. But that means it's completely over between us. For good."

"I understand."

"People will start talking sooner or later."

As expected, with my father's financial problems...

"And when they do—-" Keiran's handsome face hardens. "It will be just like before. No one can know we're married."