A Donor Told the Curvy Maid to Stay in the Kitchen—Then the Crime Boss Pointed at the Grand Piano and Made a Reckless Promise

Elena had never heard of Julian Voss.

For the next two hours, sitting in Cassian’s private library while a fire crackled in the hearth, Cassian revealed the darkest secret of the Voss family line.

"Julian is my older half-brother," Cassian explained, pouring himself two fingers of scotch. "My father’s son from his first marriage. Julian was... unstable. Sadistic. When we were younger, he tried to burn down the eastern wing of this house with my mother inside it. My father covered it up, used his power to scrub Julian’s criminal records, and exiled him to Europe with a massive trust fund to keep him quiet."

"Why has he come back now?" Elena asked, sitting on the plush leather sofa.

"Because my father’s trust has a clause," Cassian said, staring into the orange flames of the fireplace. "If I fail to marry by my thirty-fifth birthday—or if my marriage is proven to be a fraudulent sham—the entire forty-billion-dollar empire reverts automatically to Julian as the eldest surviving son."

Cassian looked at her, his expression grim. "Julian knows about our engagement, Elena. He knows you were a servant at Blackthorn Manor. He’s coming to New York to expose us, break our contract, and take control of Voss Enterprises."

"Can he do that?"

"Julian doesn't play by corporate rules," Cassian warned her softly. "He plays with fire, blackmail, and blood. He will come after you directly. He will try to find a weak point in your life to force you to run."

Elena stood up, walking across the oriental rug until she stood directly in front of Cassian. She reached out, taking the glass of scotch from his hand and setting it on the mantelpiece. Then she placed her hands on his chest, looking straight into his dark, troubled eyes.

"Let him try," Elena said, her voice filled with unwavering strength. "I spent my whole life being afraid of powerful men who thought they could break me. Victor Hale tried. My father's enemies tried. I am not running away from your brother, Cassian. We are in this together."

Cassian stared at her, deeply moved by her fierce loyalty. "You don't owe me this, Elena. This isn't part of our deal."

"Forget the deal," Elena murmured, stepping closer until her body brushed against his. "I'm not doing this for the trust fund, Cassian."

Cassian let out a low growl of surrender. He wrapped his powerful arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his hard frame, and brought his lips down onto hers in a deep, hungry, possessive kiss.

Elena gasped against his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck, sinking into his warmth. The kiss was wild and demanding, filled with all the unspoken desire that had been building between them since the night at the piano.

He lifted her easily, setting her down on the edge of his massive mahogany desk, pushing aside papers and leather files. His hands moved over her curves, marveling at the soft, lush feel of her body.