3 : A Proposal As A Pretext -

He didn't mention that he’d bought the ring six months ago. He didn't mention that the merger was the only way he could think of to keep her in the same room as him.

Should we explore what happens at their as a couple, or should we skip to the tensions of sharing a home? 3 : A Proposal as a Pretext

Julian leaned back, the amber liquid in his glass catching the dim light. He wasn't looking at the merger papers. He was looking at the way Elena’s jaw tightened when she was bluffing. He didn't mention that he’d bought the ring six months ago

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. Julian leaned back, the amber liquid in his

"To the pretext," he replied, already wondering how he would convince her to stay when the twenty-four months were up.

Elena arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "I’m listening."

"It’s a pretext," he corrected, his voice dropping an octave. "The board won't block a merger between husband and wife. It creates a single legal entity that’s untouchable. We sign a pre-nup tonight that dissolves the marriage in twenty-four months, once the acquisition is finalized. You get your family’s legacy back, and I get the seat at the head of the table."