Chapter 6 My Sister's Man

• Taylor walked directly in front of Knox. He was dressed effortlessly yet powerfully in a sharp black blazer over a clean white t-shirt. Even while sitting down, his muscular frame gave him an intimidating, dominant presence.
• Taylor pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.
• "I hope this seat isn't taken," she said, her voice smooth and unbothered.
• Knox slowly looked up from his phone, his gaze fixing on her. Even through the dark lenses of his sunglasses, Taylor could feel the intense, burning heat of his appraisal cutting right through her skin.
• Taylor slid a sleek gold hotel key card across the marble table.
• "If you want to avoid marrying my sister," she said, leaning slightly forward, "come with me."
• Knox reached up and slowly removed his sunglasses.
• "And who exactly are you?" he asked, his deep voice carrying a dangerous edge.
• "Taylor. Taylor Gale," she replied, holding his gaze.
• Knox’s eyes narrowed slightly, burning even deeper into her.
• "Yes, I am Mira’s sister. Her older sister," she clarified.
• He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Then you know who I am to her."
• Taylor smiled. "Yes. You're the man my family is trying to force into a marriage alliance for the sake of their business."
• A faint, amused smirk touched Knox’s lips.
• "And I know you don't want that marriage," Taylor continued. "So, why don't you marry me instead?"
• Knox chuckle. "What makes you think I would leave a woman whose family connections could gain my company billions, just to marry you?"
• Taylor leaned in closer and whispered. "Because you don't care about the billions, Mr. Knox. And you aren't interested in her."
• In her past life, Knox had fiercely rejected the marriage no matter how much money or leverage her family threw at him. No one had ever figured out why.
• Knox froze. The smirk vanished from his face.
• "I can save you from an arranged marriage you despise," Taylor said, though her heart was hammering. "In exchange, you help me. But we need to move fast. My sister will be arriving at this hotel at any moment. Why don't we take this conversation somewhere more private?"
• Knox looked down at the card resting, then back up at her face.
• Silence stretched between them.
• He picked up the card, and stood up in one fluid, imposing motion.
• "Follow me," he said already striding toward the private elevators.
• Taylor caught her breath. She quickly stood up on her heels and followed him.
• The elevator doors slid shut, cutting them off from the rest of the lobby. Taylor reached out to press the button for the floor she had booked.
• Floor 12.
• Before her finger could touch the glass, Knox’s large hand reached past her shoulder, pressing a different button.
• Floor 35.
• "No," Knox said as he stepped back. "We will use this one."
• Taylor felt the air leave her lungs again.
• The elevator rode up in silence until it chimed softly, the doors sliding open to the penthouse suite floor. Knox stepped out immediately, his long strides carrying him down the hallway.
• Taylor, however, remained rooted to the spot inside the elevator. Her mind screamed at her. What am I doing? Is this too fast?.
• Knox stopped and reached out, his hand casually blocking the elevator door from closing.
• "Come out," his voice dropped, "Or you can leave right now, if you've already changed your mind."
• Taylor looked up at him and stepped out of the elevator.
• Knox unlocked the room and stepped inside. Taylor followed, but the moment the door clicked shut, Knox turned.
• Before she could react, he gripped her arm and pushed her back against the wall, pinning her firmly in place. His large frame completely overshadowed hers, driving the breath right out of her chest.
• "Now," Knox whispered, his gaze locking onto hers. "Remove it."