The Marriage Bargain

by Yuwanda Black

Overview

PREVIEW

"You will accept my proposal, Daria. You will become my wife."

"And what makes you so sure about your proposition?" I said. God I wanted to knock that smug smile off his addictively handsome face.

"Because you have no choice. So why fight it? Besides, it's only a year. What have you got to lose?"

Everything! I wanted to scream. My hopes. My dreams. Genuine affection. Real love. I'd be giving up all of that if I agreed to become his wife — even if it was only for one year. What would be left of me after?

I had dreamed of being Glory Falkner's wife a thousand times since I first met him at ten years old. But never once had my fantasy played out like this.

And that's because it is fantasy, a tiny voice whispered in my head.

I turned around to face him. "We all have choices Glory."

"In theory, yes. In reality, no. In your world, you may not have realized that fundamental truth. But you live in my world now."

"And what world is that?" I asked, my arms folded across my chest.

"The real world," he said, reaching over and tucking a tendril of hair behind my ear. "In the real world dearest Daria, only those with power have choices."

I could feel the thumping of my pulse on the side of my neck where his hand had come to rest. He was so sure. So confident.

And no wonder; tears stung the back of my eyes as I realized the truth of what he said. I don't think I've ever hated another human being as much as I hated him at that moment.

***

"Alright Glory, you have yourself a wife. But if you ever lay a finger on me, you will regret it. That I can promise you," I finished, my eyes never leaving his.

His thumb caressed the side of my neck, the pulsing of my vein mocking my words.

"I like my women ready, willing and able Daria. I don't see you qualifying on any of those fronts. So don't worry darling, your virtue is safe with me."

***

I watched Glory's broad, ram-rod straight figure disappear through the large glass door. I'd managed to save my beloved art gallery from bankruptcy, but at what cost?

Would my heart pay the price for something much more valuable?

Product Details

BN ID:	2940161372470
Publisher:	Inkwell Editorial Publishing
Publication date:	06/24/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	511 KB

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm a freelance writer, author and web entrepreneur.

I've been a freelance writer since 1993 and a self-published writer/author since 2002. To date, I've published over 50 non-fiction ebooks, and almost 50 fiction (mostly romance; some under a pen name).

TRAVELING FREELANCE WRITER

I'm American but made the move to Negril, Jamaica in 2014. I plan to be here for the next three to five years before going back to the states. I visited Jamaica for the first time in 2009 and started going back on a regular basis. After so many trips (and so many expensive hotels) I thought, "It's cheaper to move." So I did!

THE THING I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT MY CAREER

It allows me to live and work practically anywhere in the world. As long as I have an internet connection, I'm good to go. I've worked everywhere from a hotel room in Barcelona, Spain; to a cafe in Stockholm, Sweden; to a farm house in Cordoba, Argentina. As far as work, I feel like the luckiest girl alive most days.

THE THING I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT BEING A SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR

In a phrase, "income stability." As long as I can write, I can make a living. How much I earn is entirely up to me. Thanks to online markets for independent publishers like Google, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc., you no longer have to be famous to make a living as a writer (and a pretty good one at that!).

RUNNING, RUNNING, RUNNING!

I'm also a marathon runner. I've completed ten marathons to date.

LIFE PHILOSOPHY

Just do it! As a runner, of course Nike's philosophy fits who I am. :-)

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME

You can learn more about me on the "About" page at Inkwell Editorial Publishing, my publishing company's website.

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on Twitter at @AnInkwellPub and my publishing company's Facebook page at InkwellEditorialPublishing.

Thanks for dropping by, and feel free to send me any questions you have about freelance writing, ebook writing, and/or self-publishing in general.

Sincerely,

Yuwanda