ENGAGEMENT TO THE BILLIONAIRE
Amara's POV
My ears rang
Engagement?
Did he just say engagement?
My mouth opened but no sound came out. Damian watched me with calm eyes, like he didn't just blow up my entire life.
"I…I didn't agree to this," I whispered.
He lifted a brow. "You signed the contract."
"That contract didn't say anything about an engagement!"
"It did," he said simply.
"In the fine print."
My stomach dropped. "You hid it."
"I didn't hide anything," he replied. "You didn't read carefully."
I wanted to scream, cry, punch him and run away.
"But why?" I asked, and my voice shook.
He stepped around his desk, and closed the distance between us. "Because I need a fiancee, quickly and you are perfect."
"Perfect for what? To destroy my life?"
His jaw hardened. "To secure my position on the board."
I blinked. "What does your board have to do with me?"
He sighed, just a little. "The board requires stability from its leader, marriage-ready stability and they are pushing for me to settle, they think I am… reckless."
I almost laughed at the understatement.
"So you just… picked me?" I asked, and my voice was thin. "Just like that?"
"You walked into my elevator," he said. "You resemble someone they once trusted, it makes the story believable."
My chest tightened painfully. "So that's it? This whole thing is about your power? Your image?"
"And your safety," he said quietly.
I froze. "What?"
"People are talking about you," he said "Your sudden hiring, your connection to me and an engagement protects you."
I shook my head. "You're lying."
He leaned in slightly. "If I wanted to destroy you, Amara, I would have already done it."
His voice is gentle but it went straight through me.
I looked away and my hands shook, I was furious, terrified and trapped.
"I don't want to do this," I whispered.
"You don't have a choice," he answered, but his voice sounded deeper, it was almost painful.
"We go public tomorrow."
Before I could respond, someone knocked on the door and Damian straightened instantly.
"Yes?" he said.
His assistant stepped in. "Sir, the media team is ready for your statement."
Damian nodded, and then glanced at me. "Come."
I followed him out, and my legs were heavy like they were dragging iron chains.
___
Hours Later
My head spinned as we posed for the official photos and Damian placed his hand on the small of my back.
It burnt through my thin blouse, even though his expression was blank.
"Smile," he whispered without looking at me.
I forced a small smile and then cameras flashed and I felt dizzy and everything was moving too fast.
"Good," Damian said. "Now let's leave."
We stepped outside the building, and the world exploded.
Paparazzi screamed questions, cameras flashed everywhere and microphones stuck in my face.
"Who is she?"
"How long have you been together?"
"When is the wedding?"
"Damian! Look here!"
I froze like a deer in headlights.
Damian lifted a hand and pulled me close to him, his fingers were firmed around my waist.
Then… He leaned down and my breath caught and then his lips touched mine.
It was soft, controlled and was too perfect.
My brain went blank and the whole street erupted.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
My heart raced so fast it hurt and he pulled away calmly, like he didn't just steal my sanity.
"What was that?" I breathed out.
"Proof," he said "They need to believe us."
I wanted to scream, but my voice was gone.
He guided me into the car, closed the door, and gave the paparazzi a cold look.
Inside the car, I pressed a hand to my chest, and tried to feel normal again.
Damian sat beside me as if nothing happened.
"You can't do that," I whispered and he glanced at me. "I warned you, this is part of the contract."
"I didn't sign up to be kissed…"
"You signed everything, Amara."
His voice scared me and his calmness scared me more.
When the car dropped me off later, my head still spinned from the kiss, the cameras, the lies and I stumbled toward my apartment building, but something felt wrong and people were staring at me.
Whispering, pointing and then my phone vibrated nonstop.
I was confused, and I unlocked it and then I froze.
A viral post filled the screen.
"BREAKING: Billionaire Damian Stone spotted making out with NEW SECRET FIANCÉE.... with twenty photos of us."
But that's not the part that stole my breath.
At the bottom of the post was a comment.
Pinned.
Anonymous.
"Here's where she lives. Enjoy."
Below it… My home address and my knees weakened.
Someone leaked my address to the world.
And it wasn't an accident.
My legs was weak and people around my building whispered and stared like I was some wild rumor walking on two feet.
Then a black car slid to the curb and the door opened fast.
"Get in," Damian said and his voice was sharp, cold and his eyes looked even colder.
"I…my address is online," I whispered.
"I know, get in, now."
I climbed into the car, shaking and he slammed the door, came around, and sat beside me.
"Who leaked it?" I asked, and my voice was tiny.
"We're looking into it," he said. "But until then, you're not staying here."
My chest tightened. "Where am I going?"
"With me."
My heart jumped. "Damian, I can't.."
"You can," he cut in. "You're not safe."
His phone rang and he answered immediately.
"Yes… we're on the way."
And then a pause.
"Prepare the press entrance."
He hung up and sighed like the night was swallowing him whole.
"We have an event," he said. "A charity gala, we can't avoid it."
"What? Tonight? Now?"
"Yes, the media will be watching, we need to control the narrative."
My stomach flipped and for the first my address leaked, now I was going to a public event with him? My life was like a movie I didn't ask to star in.
___
Later – At the Gala
Flash. Flash. Flash.
The lights burnt my eyes as we stepped out of the car and Damian's hand rested on my waist again, it was firm and steady, it was like he owned the ground we walked on.
"Smile," he whispered.
I lifted my chin and gave the smallest smile I could manage.
People gasped, whispered, stared.
"She's even prettier in person."
"Is that really his fiancée?"
"She looks so innocent."
I wanted to disappear.
Inside the hall, Damian pulled me close. "Stay near me," he said and I nodded.
The music was soft and the hall sparkled. People came to greet him, but they kept looking at me like I was a secret they wanted to open.
We walked to a quiet corner and Damian's eyes studied my face.
"Are you okay?"
"No," I whispered.
He sighed. "You will be with me."
My heart beat a little too fast.
"Why does his voice sound like a promise?"
Before I could speak, someone tapped my shoulder and I turned.
A man stood there, he was tall, dark suit and not smiling.
His eyes… They look like they know everything about me.
"Miss Amara Cole," he said slowly.
"Yes?" I whispered and he stepped closer and then his voice dropped low. "Does he know?"
"Know what?" I asked, I was confused.
His eyes burnt into mine.
"Does Damian Stone know what your father did?"
My heart stopped
"What… what are you talking about?" I stuttered.
He smirked. "Interesting."
Damian appeared beside me instantly and grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him.
"Who are you?" Damian asked, his voice was like ice.
The man raised both hands. "Just someone who knows the truth."
Damian stepped forward. "Walk away. Now."
The man tilted his head.
"Does she tell you everything, Mr. Stone?" he asked.
"Or does she hide things… like her father?"
My breath shook and Damian's entire body tensed and his grip on my wrist tightened.
"Leave," he warned again.
The man smiled and faded into the crowd like smoke and Damian turned to me slowly.
"Amara," he said, with a sharp voice. "What was he talking about?"
"I..I don't know," I said quickly.
"You're lying."
"I'm not!"
His eyes flashed with anger. "Your father. What did he do?"
"I said I don't know!" My voice cracked. "Why would I hide something like that?"
Damian stepped closer, towering over me. "Because everyone hides something."
My chest was tight. "Damian, I swear, I don't…"
Before I finished, his phone buzzed and he checked the screen and his expression froze and then it darkened.
"Damian?" I whispered, but he didn't look at me, he just opened the message.
A name flashed on the top.
Private Investigator: Urgent
He scrolled, his jaw locked and his breath changed.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Damian lifted his eyes to mine.
It was cold, hard and different.
"My investigator just sent your background file."
I swallowed. "Okay… and?"
He held the phone tight.
"Amara," he said gently.
"Your father… was part of the scandal that almost killed me."
My blood turned to ice.