Page 17 of A Linton Scandal

“I don’t expect you to be, nor do I want you to put your career on hold.”

Mihai

She looked up at me in surprise. “You don’t?”

I hadn’t once expected her to play such an essential role. Nelu was not only sensitive to change, but I would be a fool to let a stranger near him. And I wasn’t looking to tie her to a stove, and keep her bare foot. I wasn’t unwilling to support her if she desired to be a stay at home mom, but something told me Juliette Roux wasn’t the type to at stay home “quietly”.

“I think you’ve overestimated your role, Ms. Roux.” Her lashes lowered, and I watched her tense up. “I merely wish for my child to be born carrying the Linton name. I don’t demand anything other than for you to not embarrass me in public and play the role of wife when needed.”

She frowned, a spark of temper flashing in her eyes. “Mr. Linton, what exactly is it you want from me?”

“I want you to be my contract wife,” I said, “I’m offering you a fake marriage, though the documents will be real. I’ll protect you and the child, in exchange you will playhouse with me for three years and once those three years are up, we can separate and live our own lives. In the eyes of the public though we would still play the role of a married couple. Linton’s don’t divorce.”

Juliette stared at me in disbelief. “No way, no one would believe it.”

“They’ll believe what I tell them to,” I said, not moving my eyes away from hers. “It’s a simple matter of you agreeing or not. Don’t worry, I will take care of everything. You won’t have to worry about your living expenses or anything else for that matter. All you have to do is say yes, Ms. Roux.”

“You expect me to believe it’s that easy, there has to be something else. You said that my life is in danger. Why would a fake marriage fix that?”

I smiled. “Because you’d be a Linton then, and no one crosses a Linton. It would make protecting you a lot easier.”

She swallowed, and I found my eyes drifting down to her neck. It was long with a single black beauty mark, a part of me had the savage urge to trace it with my tongue. Instead, I reached for my glass of bourbon and took a deep drink.

“And if I don’t agree?” she asked.

I set my cup down. “Then you’re not my problem anymore.” That wasn’t completely true. I would still protect her. It would just be more difficult to keep everything under wraps especially when there was someone moving behind the scenes trying to stir up shit.

I watched her think over it, before lifting my hand, calling the waiters to bring the food I’d had Nao order before our arrival. “Once we’re finished eating, you can tell me your answer.”

“No need,” she said glaring at me. “My answer is yes. I’ll be your fake wife, as long as I get full custody of my child after three years.”

I smirked. “Sure, I’ll have Nao send you the contract tomorrow.”

She gave me a dirty look before she started eating. I ignored the great satisfaction that ran through me at the thought of her finally being mine. This was nothing more than a contract marriage, nothing more.

Meet the Family

Juliette

“Wasn’t Nao supposed to bring the contract?” I couldn’t help, saying to the man who stood in my doorway the next day. Mihai smiled and without a word he stepped forward, closing the space between us, forcing me to retreat.

“Yes,” he said, his eyes widening at the papers that covered the floor. “Were you working?”

I scrubbed a hand down my face, “Yes, these designs need to be sent to the Hotel for this Book by the end of the month, and I’m trying to figure out which ones to send to them.” I didn’t know why I was even explaining this to him. After he’d dropped me off at home yesterday, I’d finally had time to digest everything he’d said.

I’d spent the night tossing and turning, eventually I decided I could do something better than lying in bed. And got started on the commission from the hotel.

He bent down and picked up one of the papers, as I walked over to the coffee maker. Where the liquid of the gods was brewing in a large coffee cup.

“Finally,” I said, reaching for it, an arm descended over me and grabbed it up.

“No coffee.” Mihai’s warm breath brushed my ear. I stiffened, as he pressed his chest to my back and placed the warm cup of my survival aside.

He placed two heavy hands on my shoulder and turned me around. “Sign the papers there, and then I’ll be taking you out.”

I frowned. I wasn’t really interested in going anywhere. I wanted to drink my decaffeinated coffee and bury myself in my work. But I didn’t bother arguing with him and walked over to the table and sat down. I signed the papers after reading over them and sighed. I’d jumped off a cliff and entered a contract marriage.

“Done,” I said as I straightened.

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