I was fighting for my mother's life. He was fighting to maintain control of a multi-billion dollar empire and keep his lifelong ride-or-die happy friend. I was a desperate survivalist; he was a prince who had momentarily stumbled into the swamp. And Tanya was the one who came with the perfect tow rope and the paperwork to prove I didn't belong.
I stood up and started pacing. I was done with the games. I was done with the survival pact. It was too dangerous. That kiss, that desperate pull of need, had nearly cost me everything.
He was right downstairs with her now, going over the merger files. Putting his world back in order. I could picture it perfectly: Tanya laying out the files, him in a clean shirt, and the cold CEO back online. The moment on the dock? Already scrubbed.
I have to st
