Page 145 of Contract of a Billionaire

“Tell me does the window look to the gardens or the river?”

I blinked. My mind must be still hazy. Jet lag or something. “W-what?”

The air was so thick, it could be cut with a knife. It was cold outside, yet the temperature in this room spiked up thirty degrees. Easily.

“Please check the view from the window,” Alessio repeated calmly. Our eyes met and he tilted his head to the large window behind me.

A heartbeat. Then another. I did as he asked. I made my way to the large ceiling-to-floor window, each step somehow heavier than the last. My palm came to the window and I sighed in relief against its cold surface. I was tempted to push my cheek against it.

Who knew after all those cold nights in Afghanistan that I’d need a cool window to cool off the palpable tension in this room!

I swallowed. “It looks to the river and– “

Crunch. Snap.

The sound of bones cracking came from behind me. My breaths paused, my heartbeat lingered in between the two beats.

“Leave the office.” Alessio’s voice was smooth. Calming. “Don’t turn around and go out that door. Wait for me outside.”

Without question or temptation to turn my head, I made my way to the door and stepped outside.

But that was where I remained until Alessio came out.

“You good?” The tranquility in his voice, on his face was all I needed to know, it would be okay.

“With you, always.”

Epilogue

THREE MONTHS LATER

Mountains surrounded us. The soft rush of the river traveled through the air, mixing with the rustle of the leaves and the scent of cherry blossoms.

Kyoto in spring was magnificent.

The last time Alessio and I were here was in the fall. I loved it then. I loved it even more now.

Sunshine replaced the rain. Empty streets were now full. Cherry blossom petals made the streets colorful. Temples full of worshipers.

It has been three months since Afghanistan.

The world kept turning. I have learned to move on.

The faint music drifted through the air, along with the soft pink petals of the cherry blossoms.

All eyes turned to me as the tunes changed from the local, traditional soft music to the bridal chorus.

Dad walked me down the aisle, where at the end of it Alessio waited for me along with our son. Both in matching suits. Both looking at me like I was their world.

Happy tears stung my eyes.

Alessio’s brothers and sisters were with us. All of them. Even Senator Ashford. Alessio came to a reluctant peace with him and even legally changed his last name. There was no longer room for the dark ghost of the man who hurt him, his mother, his sisters, and his son.

All that mattered to me was that Alessio was happy and came to terms with it all. Everything else we’d figure out together.

My parents were here. Alessio’s friends and their spouses. Everyone we loved and cared about came to celebrate with us.

Soon there’d be a new member to welcome to our family.