Page 17 of Beautiful Lies

Ignoring Melinda’s gatekeeping isn’t just bold, it’s suicidal.

Now, who the hell could that be?

The answer comes when the door bursts open and there stands Isla Monroe, looking like she just blew in on the edge of a storm.

Dorian and I exchange a glance, then I look back at her.

She was barely put together yesterday. Today’s much worse. A hideous, multicolored sweater dress that looks like it came straight from a bargain bin hangs off her body, and her hair looks like a matted silver cat. But in her hands is the contract.

She zeroes in on me with those sharp hazel eyes before marching straight into my office. Not even my father would be bold enough to barge in unannounced the way she has.

“I’ll speak to you later, Melinda.” I disconnect the call and rise from my chair.

Isla reaches the desk and shifts her gaze to Dorian, who’s watching her with open intrigue.

Dorian’s one of the rudest people I know. But the scathing look Isla throws him almost makes me feel sorry for him.Almost.

Dorian leans in, a wicked smirk on his face. “I’ll see you later, brother. Good luck.”

I don’t answer.

He leaves with a bounce in his step, glancing over his shoulder before the door closes behind him.

My attention snaps back to the woman in front of me when she slams the contract onto my desk.

“I signed it,” she declares, the words hitting like a gavel, final and sharp. Something drains from her, as if speaking those words aloud stripped the last of her strength.

This was the moment I’d been waiting for.Surrender.

But it’s not as sweet as I imagined. Maybe because there’s still a flicker of fight left in her.

I pick up the contract and flip through the pages, checking she’s signed each section. She has.

“Looks good to me.” A mirthless grin slides across my lips. “Didn’t you want the extra day to think about it?”

Her jaw clenches, and her hand balls into a tight fist at her side. “You bastard. You know I don’t have the luxury of time.”

“I’m aware.” I lean back, taking her in. She reeks of desperation. “Just making sure you’ve thought things through.”

“I havethought.”

My gaze drops to her lips, full, soft, and defiant. The only part of her untouched by the chaos she’s drowning in. Those lips could get her into trouble—the words that come out of them and all the sinful things lips like that were made for.

I school my thoughts and grin. “I’m glad you’ve thought. Being my wife won’t be easy.”

Her eyes flash, fury spilling over her face. “You listen to me, you pompous asshole. I’m only agreeing to this for my mother’s sake. Nothing more.”

Wow.And there it is. That fire.

I’ve never had a woman speak to me like that. Most of them want to be on my arm, or on my cock. This one, the woman I’m about to give my name, fucking hates me.

I’m not entirely shocked when my dick twitches in my pants. After all, I live for challenges. And she just became one.

I incline my head, letting my gaze drag over her before I circle the desk. I stop a breath away and her pulse jumps.Good. I’ve thrown her off balance.

“You don’t seem to be aware…” I let a humorless smile tug at my mouth. “That I’m the one who’s been wronged here. By yourfather.”

She lifts her head higher and pins me with a hard stare. “That doesn’t mean you own me.”