Chapter 37
Chapter 37
“You still should have told me we were traveling.”
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Elara crossed her arms. Trying to look annoyed even though part of her was in excitement about the fact that she was on a private jet heading to Greece.
“I did tell you. At four AM. You told me to go away.”
“That doesn’t count.”
Marcus didn’t respond. Just sipped his champagne like this conversation was mildly entertaining at best.
“Who’s going to take care of my mum now?” she muttered under her breath. More to herself than to him.
“It’s taken care of.”
Elara’s head snapped up. “What?”
“I sent staff. House helps. They’ll assist her at the hospital. Make sure she has everything she needs. Someone will be there around the clock.”
She stared at him. “How did you even know about my mum being in the hospital?”
Marcus just looked at her. Cool. Unbothered. Vaguely unamused. Like the answer was obvious and she was wasting his time by asking.
Of course Thorne knows everything.
Elara was still trying to wrap her head around it when Marcus stood and walked to one of the suitcases stacked near the back of the cabin. He pulled out a small velvet box. Navy blue. Expensive-looking.
He handed it to her without a word.
“What’s this?”
She shook it gently. Trying to figure out what was inside without opening it.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “It’s in your hands. Open it and see.”
Elara flipped open the lid.
The shock in her eyes was obvious.
A ring and a bracelet
Not just any ring. A diamond wedding ring. White gold band. A massive center stone surrounded by smaller diamonds that caught the light and threw it back in a thousand directions. It was glittering. Sparkling. So big it looked almost obscene. And the bracelet? shit can’t even describe this beauty.
Chapter 37
“Is this real?”
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Marcus turned to look at her. Then shook his head slowly. Like she’d just asked the dumbest question in the world.
“Am I supposed to get you a fake?”
God. She didn’t even want to ask how much this cost. Didn’t want to know. It probably cost more than her entire life savings before Marcus had entered it even probably after he’s entered it too.
It was beautiful though. Stunning. The kind of ring women dreamed about. The kind that made people stop and stare when you walked into a room.
Then her intrusive thoughts kicked in.
“I hope I’m not returning this after the two years,” she said. Smiling. Half-joking. Half-serious.
Marcus looked at her with a crazy expression. Like she’d just suggested burning money for fun.
“You can keep it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll keep it as collateral then.”
“Collateral for what?”
“Collateral for being with the devil for two years.”
Marcus shook his head again. That same slow, disbelieving shake he’d been doing a lot lately. Like he couldn’t quite figure out who this woman was and how she’d ended up on his plane talking to him like this.
Elara slid the ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
“Oh, it fits,” she said under her breath. Surprised. Pleased.
Marcus looked at her. “Was it not supposed to?”
How did he know her ring size? Had he measured her finger while she was sleeping? Asked his stylist? Just guessed?
She didn’t ask. Didn’t want to know. Some mysteries were better left unsolved.
Silence settled between them. Easy and comfortable. The sound of the plane engines filling the space.
Elara lasted maybe thirty seconds. She has a personal vendetta with silence
10:20 Mon, May 11 ♫
Chapter 37
“So……”
“Elara.” Marcus cut her off. “Do you talk for a living?”
She smiled. “Well, as I was saying. Why did you pick Santorini?”
“Why not Santorini?”
“I don’t know. There are other places to get married. Vegas. The Bahamas. Literally anywhere.”
“Would
you have preferred New York?” His tone was mocking. Like he knew the answer already.
That cocky bastard.
She muttered it under her breath. Quiet. But not quiet enough.
“I heard you, El.”
Elara’s eyes widened. Shit.
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Marcus was looking at her now. That same amused expression. Like he enjoyed getting under her skin. Like her reactions were the most entertaining thing that had happened to him in weeks.
She opened her mouth to respond. To defend herself. To say something witty and cutting.
But nothing came out.
Because he was right. He’d heard her. And now he was sitting there waiting to see what she’d do about it.
The silence stretched.
Marcus leaned back in his chair with his legs crossed. Champagne glass balanced perfectly in one hand. Looking like he owned the world.
Which, technically, he kind of did.
“Cat got your tongue?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then speak.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“That’s a first.”
Elara glared at him. “You’re annoying.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“By who?”
10:20 Mon, May 11
Chapter 37
“You. Multiple times. Just this morning alone.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
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Marcus set his champagne down on the side table. Stood. Stretched like he’d been sitting too long.
“We land in five hours. You should eat something. There’s food in the galley.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Suit yourself.” He started walking toward the bedroom cabin at the back of the plane, he paused and looked back at her. “And Elara?”
“What?”
“Welcome to marriage.”
Then he disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door.
Elara sat there alone in the main cabin. Staring at the ring on her finger. At the massive diamond that caught the overhead lights and sparkled like something out of a fairy tale.
This was real.
She was actually doing this.
Flying to Greece. Marrying Marcus Thorne.
All because of a contract. A business deal. Two years of pretending.
But sitting here now. On this plane. With this ring on her finger and Marcus’s voice still echoing in her head.
It didn’t feel fake.
It felt terrifyingly real.
And that scared her more than anything else.
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