CHAPTER 73: THE PLAN

~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~

“Maria, look at it and tell me it’s not what you want. Tell me that this doesn’t satisfy everything for everyone.” David pointed at the folder on the desk. “Read it again, Maria. I don’t intend to exploit you. Not this time.” Despite David’s lack of anger or annoyance, I felt grateful for his insistent demeanor.

“David. I can see that. But I’m trying to understand why this is our plan when we never discussed it. It’s also more than business and marriage.” I returned to the documents and read a few additional pages. It’s all so overwhelming. Sitting here, I could feel his closeness while I looked at the documents proclaiming my deepest desires were in my hands. In my literal hands. I searched for a loophole to avoid this nightmare. Some twisted game to torture me. I couldn’t find that loophole, though. That’s what confused me and made me wonder what I had missed or if someone had given me a break.

“Yes, Maria. I listened t