Wife at Any Price

Ben Carter stood by the window of his Manhattan office. The view was impressive, but what he liked most was watching the cranes rising all over the island. At that moment, however, his back was to the view, and his entire body was in a defensive stance, from his crossed arms to the tension on his face.-I think that's enough. He had to make an effort not to ask her mockingly if she wanted to know the color of the underwear she was wearing that day.
The woman sitting next to his table looked at him ironically."You don't like answering personal questions, do you?" Ben bared his teeth in a forced smile. "What makes you think that?"Elizabeth Young, the. intermediary, shrugged and typed something on her tablet.-I think you can tell because it looks like he's about to jump out the window. Ben stalked over to their table, frowning. He'd put more distance between them with every question he'd asked, from the most innocuous, like where her favorite vacation destination was, to the more pointed, like what she wanted from a relationship.
As much as he admitted he needed a wife, the sheer difference between casual relationships with beautiful women and a formal, even a convenient one, made his skin crawl. After witnessing his parents' marriage crumble like a house of cards at the first setback, he'd neverI had harbored hopes of domestic bliss. The go-between was right; if I could jump out the window, I might have tried it already. His frown deepened and he sat down.
Who, in the world, had come up with that idea? Xander Trakas. He remembered the Greek's reaction that night when Mancini had asked him if the woman was a former lover, and looked closely at the slender blonde sitting across from him. Her hair, which seemed prone to curling, was pulled back in a low bun. She was dressed casually yet elegantly, in tailored trousers and a loose blouse under a delicate leather jacket.
She radiated elegance and, he had to admit, discretion and professionalism. Xander had been right. Then she looked at him, and he noticed her eyes were a very unusual amber color. He waited a second to see if he felt any physical reaction. None. That was fine; he didn't want to be distracted by someone he truly desired. He remembered why he was there.-Now that you've got me covered down to the last detail, who do you think is my best option as a partner?He caught a glimmer of skepticism in her eyes, and she gave a very slight half-smile."Don't worry, " Elizabeth replied, "I'm under no illusions.
I know you've only told me what you were prepared to tell me. I know men like you, Mr. Carter, and that's why I do my job so well."Ben decided to ignore the urge to ask her exactly what she meant by men like him. He didn't care if it helped him get what he needed to get through this crisis. He rested his chin on his hands and reluctantly acknowledged that he had to admire her for not being intimidated by him, as many people were.-Xander Trakas recommended it.
The woman's composure shifted slightly, just as it had Xander's that night at the bar almost a week ago. She wasn't so confident anymore. She avoided Ben's gaze and focused on her tablet.-I have many contacts, he is just one more. Ben was intrigued by the nerve he'd just struck, but not intrigued enough to lose sight of his goal. He leaned forward.-Forget I said that. So, you have someone in mind?