The night my life ended began with a phone call I could never forget. My hands were trembling as I stared at the screen, trying to convince myself that it was just a cruel joke. But deep down, I knew it wasn't.
"Ms. Amara Benson?" The cold voice on the other end made me shiver. "Your family… they've made some… unfortunate decisions. And now, your fate… is sealed."
I froze. My family had always been reckless, but I never thought it would drag me into something like this. I could feel my chest tighten as panic clawed its way through me. "What… what do you mean?" I stammered.
"Prepare yourself. You'll be leaving for Mr. Nathan Blackstone's estate tomorrow night. Your… arrangement has been finalized." Click. The line went dead.
My breath hitched. Nathan Blackstone. The man whose name alone could make the most confident women tremble. The man rumored to be a billionaire with a heart as cold as the diamond rings he flaunted. And the man who hated my family enough to ruin them.
I sank to the floor, my back pressed against the cold tiles of my apartment. I had always known my family's mistakes would catch up to them someday, but I had never imagined it would cost me my freedom.
By the time I packed a small bag, my mind was racing with questions I had no answers to. Who had made this arrangement? What would happen when I met him? And most importantly… how could I survive a night with a man who despised me before even meeting me?
The next evening, the car ride to the Blackstone estate felt like a journey to another world. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows, but I barely noticed. My mind replayed every rumor, every whisper I had ever heard about him. They all painted the same picture: ruthless, unapproachable, a man who crushed anyone in his path without hesitation.
And now… I was walking straight into that path.
When the car finally stopped, I found myself staring at a mansion that looked like it had been plucked straight out of a magazine. Marble columns, sprawling gardens, the kind of place that made ordinary people like me feel invisible.
"Ms. Benson," the driver said, his voice breaking through my thoughts. "This way."
I followed him, my heels clicking nervously against the driveway. Every step felt heavier than the last. The grand double doors opened, and I was met with silence… and a presence I could feel before I even saw it.
"Welcome," a deep, controlled voice said.
I looked up, and my heart nearly stopped. Nathan Blackstone was taller than I expected, his suit perfectly tailored, his expression unreadable. But it was his eyes… piercing, dark, and full of something I couldn't name, that made me feel like my entire life had been stripped bare.
"I assume you know why you're here," he continued, his gaze sweeping over me like I was a piece of property under inspection.
"I… I think so," I managed to whisper, trying to steady my voice.
"Good." His lips curved into something that was almost a smile, but not quite. "You will sign the contract tomorrow. Until then, you will stay here… under my rules."
My stomach churned. "And… what if I refuse?" I asked, barely daring to hope that courage would save me.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression now sharp. "Refusal is not an option, Ms. Benson. Your family has already made their choice. This… is your consequence."
I swallowed hard, realizing the weight of the situation. My life had just been handed over to a man who hated me, and there was no escape.
The night passed in a blur of formal dinners, silent glares, and subtle threats disguised as instructions. Nathan's presence was suffocating, yet there was an undeniable magnetism in the way he commanded the room. Every glance, every word, was calculated, controlled… dangerous.
At one point, he leaned closer, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "Do not test me, Amara. I do not forgive easily."
I shivered, though not entirely from fear. There was a strange pull in his tone, a tension that made my heart race even as I reminded myself that he was my enemy.
By the time I was shown to my room, I was exhausted, physically and emotionally. The bed felt cold and unwelcoming, and I realized sleep would be the least of my worries tonight.
But just as I thought I could take a moment to collect myself, a soft knock came at the door. I froze.
"Amara," Nathan's voice came again, smooth, controlled, but with an edge that made my blood run cold. "Come down. Now."
Panic surged through me. "Why?" I whispered to the empty room, though I already knew the answer.
"Because," his voice replied, closer this time, almost behind the door, "I like to see who I'm dealing with."
And in that moment, I realized… my nightmare had just begun.
I stood frozen, heart pounding, trapped between fear and curiosity, knowing that the man who hated me held all the power — and perhaps, even the key to my heart, though I would never admit it… not yet.