Lily Hart had never felt smaller in her life.
The office was vast, sleek, and suffocating. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city glittering below, every light reminding her how far removed she was from this world. She gripped the strap of her worn handbag so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Behind the massive black desk sat a man whose mere presence made her chest tighten. His dark eyes, sharp as knives, were fixed on her with a calm, unreadable intensity. He didn't ask her to sit. He didn't smile. He simply waited.
"You are here on time," he said finally. His voice was low, precise, and carried authority without effort.
"I… I think there must be some mistake," Lily said, her voice trembling slightly. "I wasn't expecting—"
"—to be summoned for a contract marriage?" he finished for her, leaning back, fingers steepled. "Correct."
Lily blinked. Her heart skipped. "I… What?"
"Yes." His tone was flat, like stating the weather. "You will marry me. For one year. Publicly. Legally. And nothing more unless mutually agreed."
The words hit her like a brick. She stumbled back, her breath catching. "I—I can't… You can't—"
"Technically, I can," he interrupted calmly. "But you are free to refuse. Walk out now, and this conversation never happened."
She swallowed hard, her mind racing. Bills on her kitchen table, her mother's quiet struggles, eviction notices she hadn't dared mention… She could walk away, of course. But at what cost?
"I don't understand," she said shakily. "Why me?"
"Because you are unknown," he replied evenly. "No scandals, no attachments. And you won't fall in love with me."
Lily's chest tightened. "You don't know that."
"I do," he said simply.
She wanted to laugh—bitterly, nervously—but it came out as a choked whisper. "You sound impossible."
He stood slowly, tall and unyielding, walking around the desk until he was just a few steps away. "I am," he admitted. "And yet, I offer you a choice."
He slid a sleek black folder toward her. Inside, the contract lay neatly printed. The terms were cold and precise:
One-year marriageMandatory cohabitationPublic appearancesNo obligations beyond what they agreedClear penalties for breach
Two million dollars were listed as the upfront sum.
Lily's pulse quickened. "I can't… you're offering money for… this?"
"Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement," he said. "You gain financial security. I gain stability for my business dealings."
Her mind whirled. Pride screamed at her to walk away, but survival whispered seductively.
"And what if I refuse?" she asked.
"Then you leave," he said, his voice unwavering. "But opportunities like this are rare. One chance. One decision."
Lily closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. Could she betray her pride for safety? Could she risk feeling trapped… for the sake of her future?
"Yes," she said finally, her voice barely audible. "I'll do it."
He nodded once. Simple. Final. His gaze softened for the briefest second before hardening again. "Very well. Sign."
Her hand shook as she picked up the pen. The moment she signed, a strange weight settled over her chest. She was no longer just Lily Hart. She was the woman in that contract.
"Welcome," he said quietly. "Mrs. Blackwood."
The title made her stomach twist.
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. His dark eyes held a warning. "Remember, this marriage is a business deal. Nothing else."
Lily's lips parted, wanting to protest, but no words came.
"You will obey the terms," he continued softly. "Do not misunderstand me."
Her throat tightened. "I… understand."
He paused, studying her with an unreadable expression, then turned to leave. "We begin tomorrow. Be ready."
Alone, Lily's mind raced. This was more than a contract. It was a cage. And as much as she hated it, part of her was already drawn to the man who had just dictated the rules of her life.
Something dangerous flickered inside her—an awareness that the real challenge wasn't surviving the contract. It was surviving him.
And as the city lights glittered through the office windows, Lily realized that the heart she had sworn to protect was the one most at risk.