Page 15 of It Started with a Contract

“I think it’s time for me to go.”

Before he could stop her, Hadley was already veering toward the door, leaving him behind.

“Fuck!”

“Seriously, dear. You think you can do better than me with that fat bitch.”

“Cathy, I never liked you, and I never wanted you. You were easy, and I needed some release. Don’t you ever, I mean this, ever, talk to her again, or even be in the same vicinity. If you even try to push this, I will end you.” And he would. He had the money and the power to end every single person in that room, and Cathy would be first on his list.

Pushing his wine glass of water into her hand, he brushed past her, heading toward Hadley.

“Hadley,” he said, calling out her name the moment he left the main building. Turning to the guard outside, he gave a description.

“She went that way, sir,” he said, pointing up the street.

Easton didn’t wait around. He ran in that direction, and caught up with her within seconds. “Damn, you’re fast. Why did you leave?”

“Because what that woman said was the truth, Easton. I don’t belong there.”

“Cathy has gotten through life being evil to others, and you were an easy target. She didn’t know who you were, or if you could even help her. Also, she’s jealous.”

“Of me, why?”

He took in a deep breath. “Because she has been wanting the two of us to get together to forge an empire. She is the heiress to a fortune. Anyone who wins her over, will be unstoppable. I mean it. She has the power to wipe out all competition. Most men wouldn’t turn that away, and most haven’t. She usually gets bored, and walks away from me. Me, I walked away. I didn’t want her.” He ran his hands up her arms. “I want you.”

“Those people, Easton. It was like they knew why I was in your life.”

“They don’t know, and can we stop bringing that up, please? I don’t bring it up, and I’m getting tired of it. Yes, I brought you into my life for ease, but don’t you think it means a little more now?”

“You introduced me as your fiancée. Will that cause problems?” she asked.

“Probably. Let’s handle this one problem at a time, what do you say?”

She nodded. “Yeah,” She glanced down at her dress. “I really did like this dress.”

“It looks stunning on you, babe.” He wrapped his arms around her back, and pulled her close, pressing a kiss against her lips. “Don’t run from me again. I don’t like it. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, everything.”

“I believe you.” She stepped up close to him, and pressed her head against his neck. “I’m sorry. My first instinct was to just run like hell. I don’t like conflict, and I felt she was trying to goad me into something.”

“She was.” He kissed the top of her head, and closed his eyes.

The real problem was his comment about her being his fiancée. That wasn’t going to go away. Cathy would make sure of it, and what was more, he didn’t care. He loved the thought of having a claim to Hadley.

The contract, their business with each other, meant nothing.

To him, their relationship already meant so much more that he easily forgot about how they’d first met.

One step at a time.

That was what he really needed to focus on.

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