Chapter 3 - A FIANCÉE IN NAME ONLY
Their engagement had begun with a contract.
Six months.
Public appearances.
A monthly payment sufficient to help Naomi restructure the loans she'd taken during her father's illness.
Separate bedrooms.
No romantic obligations.
No questions about Damian's private business.
At the time, Naomi had believed it was the strangest offer she'd ever receive.
Now she wondered whether she'd agreed to something far more dangerous.
Damian took her to his private office.
He opened a locked drawer and removed a photograph.
Three men stood outside a warehouse.
Damian.
A younger man Naomi didn't recognize.
And Caleb Warren.
Her stomach dropped.
“You know him.”
Damian nodded.
“Unfortunately.”
Naomi stared.
“How?”
“Seven years ago, Caleb worked for a logistics company connected to my organization.”
She looked at the photograph.
“He never told me.”
“He wouldn't have.”
“Why?”
Damian's expression hardened.
“Because he stole from us.”
Naomi felt cold.
“How much?”
“Enough to make people want him found.”
She looked up sharply.
Damian continued, “I wasn't running the organization then. My uncle was.”
“And Caleb?”
“He disappeared before anyone could question him.”
Naomi stared.
“So this isn't about fifty thousand dollars.”
Damian shook his head.
“No.”
She looked down at the photograph.
Then whispered, “He came back because of you.”
Damian didn't deny it.
For the first time, Naomi understood that the man she'd once loved and the man she'd agreed to marry were connected by a history neither had told her.
She stood.
“I want out.”
Damian looked at her.
“Of the engagement?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“All right.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“If you want to end the arrangement, you can.”
Naomi stared.
“No argument?”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“What about the money?”
“The financial assistance already provided remains yours. You won't owe it back because you leave.”
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Then she asked, “Why?”
Damian looked at her.
“Because you aren't property, Naomi.”
She should have felt relieved.
May you like
Instead, something inside her hurt.
Because the first man who had ever offered her a way out was the same man she was beginning to care about.
