Page 4 of Not In The Contract

The article detailed hundreds, if not thousands, of her accomplishments in the field of construction and engineering.

“Did you see her net worth?” Tamera wheezed.

I swallowed.

Billions.

“So that’s what Paula meant,” I murmured, more to myself than Tamera.

“And she grew up in foster care?” Tamera asked, her voice flimsy.

“According to Paula.”

“And you’re going to spend the next two months with her?”

I nodded in silence, hoping my apprehension wasn’t too obvious.

I couldn’t deny that Paula’s suggestion now seemed almost too intimidating.

But my dissertation was the last hurdle in an almost decade-long journey.

I’d do anything to finish it, even if it meant shadowing a terrifying stranger.

2. Secrets and Walls

Alex

“God,you’rebothnauseating.”

Somehow I managed to stifle my surprised snort before I accidentally inhaled my iced coffee. Hayden smirked beside me, pleased at the reaction her words had garnered.

Elliot giggled along with the others while Cameron turned an interesting shade of pink.

It wasn’t usually that easy to fluster her, unless Elliot was involved.

Hayden blew out another breath, presumably readying another barrage of snide comments but Frankie intervened. She slipped her hand into Hayden’s and squeezed as a gentle warning.

“Let them be goofy,” she scolded lightly, and Hayden’s face immediately smoothed.

Hayden loved to tease Cam but she was just as whipped as our former ice queen.

I kept that to myself, however, because Ireallydidn’t want to be on the receiving end of Hayden’s jabs.

“I don’t mind it.” Taylor shrugged.

“I do,” Reid scoffed, stirring the sugar into her coffee with a little too much force.

“Ah, someone misses their girlfriend,” I teased, waiting for her immediate snapback.

“Mywife,” she said through bared teeth.

I chuckled. There it was.

“So I’ve heard,” I drawled, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling too wide. “You married her; I keep forgetting. Maybe because the wedding was in Brazil and you didn’t even say anything.”

“It was a spur of the moment decision,” Reid explained for the nth time. “I told you guys about it.”

“On theday of the wedding!” Hayden laughed. “None of us could even fly out in time.”