THE BILLIONAIRE’S BARGAIN

CHAPTER 2: THE CONTRACT

The car was black. Of course it was black.

Maya stood outside Bloom & Wild at 8:47 AM, holding a duffel bag with three pairs of jeans and her mother's cookbook. The November wind bit her cheeks. She hadn't slept.

A Mercedes pulled up. The driver opened the door.

"Ms. Chen. Mr. Voss is waiting."

The penthouse was on the forty-second floor. The elevator opened directly into the apartment. Marble. Glass. A view of the Manhattan Bridge like a postcard.

Julian stood by the window, phone to his ear.

"I don't care what Tanaka's son wants. The terms are non-negotiable." He paused. "Yes. I'll have her there. She'll be appropriate."

Maya cleared her throat.

Julian turned. Navy suit. No tie. He looked like he'd destroyed two careers before breakfast.

"You're early," he said into the phone. "I'll call you back." He hung up. "You're early."

"You're observant."

His gaze dropped to her duffel bag. Then her boots. Scuffed. Brown. The ones she'd worn to her mother's funeral.

"Did you bring a dress?"

"I have a black one from Target. It has pockets."

Julian blinked. "Pockets?"

"Women's clothing is a political issue, Julian. I didn't make the rules."

For a second, Julian Voss looked like he might laugh. Then the wall came back up.

"Follow me."

He led her through the penthouse. Kitchen: stainless steel, unused. Living room: white couch, no pillows, a museum. Library: floor-to-ceiling books, leather chairs.

"Do you read all these?" Maya asked.

"No. I buy them to impress people. It works."

"You're honest."

"I'm efficient."

He stopped at a door. Opened it.

The bedroom was the size of her apartment. King bed. White sheets. On the bed three garment bags.

"Dresses," Julian said. "Sizes estimated. If they don't fit, we order more."

"You bought me clothes."

"I bought the role. You're playing a part. The part requires a wardrobe."

"And what part am I playing?"

Julian turned. Close enough that she could smell his cologne. Wood and bergamot.

"You're playing the woman who tamed Julian Voss. The press thinks I'm a machine. Tanaka thinks I'm unstable because I don't have a family. You fix both problems."

"By existing?"

"By smiling at me in public. By holding my hand. By looking at me like I'm not the worst man you've ever met."

Maya's breath caught. "That's specific."

"I've had worse contracts. This one at least comes with decent wine."

He walked to the window. Hands in his pockets. From this angle, he looked less like a billionaire and more like a man who hadn't been held in a very long time.

"Rules," Maya said. "Let's hear them."

"Rule one. No real feelings. This is business. If you develop an attachment, tell me. I'll end it early. You'll still get paid."

Maya's jaw tightened. "Charming."

"Rule two. Public affection only when cameras are present. Hand-holding. Arm around the waist. One kiss per event, maximum three seconds, no tongue."

"You're writing a manual?"

"I'm avoiding lawsuits." Julian turned. "Rule three. My bedroom is off-limits. Yours is yours. The living room is neutral territory."

"And rule four?"

Julian hesitated. "No questions about my family. No questions about my past. If I want you to know something, I'll tell you."

Maya studied him. The tightness in his shoulders. The way his jaw locked when he said family.

"Your family hurt you."

"Rule four," he repeated, his voice ice.

"Fine. My rules, then."

Julian raised an eyebrow. "You have rules?"

"Rule one. You don't talk down to me. I'm not an employee. I'm a partner in this lie."

"Fair."

"Rule two. You eat dinner with me. Real dinner. Not protein bars. If we're faking a relationship, we need to know each other. Basics. Favorite color. Childhood pet. Stupid stuff."

Julian frowned. "Why?"

"Because if a reporter asks what my favorite flower is and I say peonies, and you say roses, we look like strangers. And strangers don't get mergers."

Julian was quiet. Then: "Blue. No pet. My father wouldn't allow it."

Maya blinked. "That was fast."

"I'm efficient." But his voice was softer.

"Rule three. If you hurt me really hurt me I walk. No money. No shop. I just walk. And you let me."

Julian's eyes held hers. Gray. Endless. "I won't hurt you, Maya."

"You don't know that."

"I know myself. And I know that the only thing I protect more than my empire is the few things I decide matter."

"And I matter?"

"For thirty days," Julian said. "You matter very much."

The words were transactional. Cold.

But something in the way he said them sounded almost like truth.

"Show me the kitchen," Maya said. "I need coffee. And then you need to tell me everything about this gala, because I have a Target dress and you have expectations, and those two things are about to collide."

Julian almost smiled.

"This way," he said.

And for the first time since she'd signed her name, Maya Chen felt like maybe the devil she was living with wasn't as heartless as he pretended to be.