Philip slid a pen from the inside pocket of his tailored blazer. Without a word, he leaned down and undid the binding on her wrists. The rope scraped against her skin, red and bruised from struggling, but she didn't even flinch. She just stared at him, too stunned to speak.
He didn't meet her eyes. He didn't have to. The betrayal was loud enough.
There was once a time, maybe it felt like a lifetime ago now, when she had seriously thought about manipulating Philip. Back when she offered him a business partnership. Back when she still believed she could outplay him. It was kind of like expecting something awful to happen, and still being shocked when it actually does. Like your mind knew it all along, but your nervous system hadn't caught up. That was her now. Numb, shaking, betrayed, and angry.
He laid a document in front of her and placed the pen beside it like a twisted gentleman.
"Sign this," he said coldly, "and let's get it over with."
