The rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of Julian’s penthouse, but inside, the silence was more suffocating than the storm. Across the mahogany desk sat Elena, her expression a mask of professional indifference.
Elena took it. Her hand was cold, but as his fingers closed around hers, a spark of something that wasn't business flickered in her eyes. She put the ring on, the weight of it anchoring her to a lie they both desperately wanted to believe. "To the merger," she said. 3 : A Proposal as a Pretext
Elena arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "I’m listening." The rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of
"A small price for a billion-dollar empire," Julian said, offering his hand to help her up. " Julian said