I went to bed at night but i couldn't sleep.
How could I? The contract sat on my kitchen table like a ticking bomb, daring me to make a choice that could ruin or save me.
I kept rereading the words, hoping I had misunderstood. But it was all there in black and white.
Marry Damian Blackwood. In exchange, all my debts will be erased.
It sounded so simple, yet the weight of it crushed me. Marrying a stranger, and even worse, marrying a man like him, felt like stepping into a cage.
But what choice did I have?
By morning, I was running on caffeine and desperation. That's how I found myself in the back of a shiny black car, speeding toward Blackwood Enterprises.
The driver hadn't said a word since picking me up. He didn't need to. The atmosphere was heavy, like even the air knew I was about to do something insane.
I held my purse, my fingers ice-cold.
One meeting. One conversation. Then I'll decide.
At least, that's what I told myself.
When the car finally stopped in front of the skyscraper, my mouth went dry.
Blackwood Enterprises wasn't just a building, it was a statement. Towering glass, shiny steel, and the kind of entrance designed to make people feel small.
I already did.
A man in a gray suit opened the car door for me. "Miss Carter, this way."
I got out and straighten my wrinkled blouse. Every inch of this place screamed power and money, and I didn't belong here.
Still, I held my head high and walked in after him.
The lobby was a different world, high ceilings, marble floors, and people rushed like they had somewhere important to be. No one even looked at me, which was almost worse. It was like I was invisible.
I barely had time to take it all in before I was led to a private elevator.
"He's expecting you," the man said before stepping back.
My stomach flipped as the doors slid shut.
This is it. I'm about to meet Damian Blackwood.
The elevator opened into a massive office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. The view was breathtaking, but the man standing in front of it was even more terrifying.
Damian Blackwood.
I had seen photos of him before in articles, interviews, headlines that called him everything from a business genius to a ruthless king.
But nothing prepared me for the real thing.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that probably cost more than my entire life savings. His dark hair was styled with effortless precision, and his sharp jawline could have been carved from stone.
But it was his eyes that made my breath stopped.
Blue eyes. Cold. Calculated. Unreadable.
He finally turned to me, his gaze sweeping over me once before settling on my face.
"Elena Carter."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Like he already owned me.
I held my breath. "Mr. Blackwood."
He moved to the chair across from his massive desk. "Sit."
I hesitated for half a second before obeying. My palms were sweaty, but I held them into fists to hide it.
He sat down across from me, fingers steepled together. "I assume you've read the contract."
Straight to business. No small talk. No "How are you?"
I nodded. "I have."
"And?"
I licked my lips. "I don't understand why you're offering this. A man like you… you could have anyone. Why me?"
His expression didn't change. "Because I don't want 'anyone.' I want someone who understands the rules."
I frowned. "Rules?"
"This isn't a love story, Miss Carter." His voice was calm, but you could tell there was a bit of edge to it. "This is a transaction. A contract. You become my wife, and in return, I settle your debts. Its simple."
I felt my irritation rise. Simple? Really?
"There's nothing simple about marrying a stranger," I shot back trying to keep my voice calm.
He smirked a little, but it wasn't a smile. More like he found my reaction amusing.
" Okay, let me explain," he said, leaning in with his elbows on the desk. "I need a wife for business. My investors like stability, and they think a married man is seen as less of a risk."
I blinked. "So I'd just be… what? A prop?"
"A wife," he corrected. "In name, in public. Nothing more."
My throat felt tight. "And what happens after? When you don't need me anymore?"
"One year," he said. "That's how long this marriage will last. After that, you'll receive a generous settlement and be free to do whatever you want."
A year.
One year of pretending. One year of living in his world.
And in return, my mother's hospital bills would be paid. My father's debts would disappear.
It was insane.
But what choice did I have?
Damian must have seen the war on my face because he leaned back, completely at ease.
"You have two options, Miss Carter. You can walk away, and your financial problems remain yours to handle. Or accept, and everything changes."
He made it sound so… easy.
I stared at him, hoping to see a hint of emotion in his expression. There was none. Just calculated indifference.
I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him that I wasn't for sale, that I had some dignity left.
But dignity didn't pay medical bills.
Dignity wouldn't stop the bank from taking my home.
And dignity wouldn't save me from drowning.
I took a deep breath, my hands turning into fists. "If I say yes… what happens next?"
Damian's expression turned serious.
"Then, Miss Carter… you belong to me."
His words felt like a chain around me and i couldn't escape.
I hated it that he was right. I was desperate and Damian Blackwood knew it
I could hear the clock ticking in his office, every second feeling like a lifetime. The silence between us was heavy, tense with something I couldn't name.
I took a deep breath holding the pen between my fingers and dropped it.
"Take your time," Damian said casually, leaning back in his chair. His voice was calm, patient, like he already knew what my answer would be.
That annoyed me.
I looked at me, expecting to see amusement in his cold blue eyes, but there was none. Just quiet confidence.
Of course he was confident. Men like him always got what they wanted.
I took a deep breath, looking back down at the contract.
The terms were simple:
One year of marriage.
Appearances at public events as his wife.
I must accept every decision Mr Blackwood makes.
No divorce scandal, everything would be handled quietly
And in return?
My father's debts would disappear.
My mother's medical bills would be covered.
A large sum settlement at the end of the year.
It was business, not love. A transaction, just like he had said.
So why did it feel like I was making a deal with the devil?
I stared at the contract, my mind racing.
"Fine," I whispered.
Damian turned his head. "Excuse me?"
"I said fine. I'll do it."
He didn't react much, but i saw a hint of approval in his eyes.
"Then sign," he said simply, sliding the pen back toward me.
I hesitated only a second before picking it up again. My fingers trembled as I pressed the pen to the paper.
Elena Carter.
The moment I finished signing, i felt a sense of relief. It was done. No turning back.
I had just sold myself to Damian Blackwood.
Damian took the contract, flipping through it to ensure everything was in order.
"Good," he said after a moment, standing up. "We'll make the announcement next week. You will move into my penthouse immediately."
I blinked. "What?"
"You're my wife now, Miss Carter. And a wife lives with her husband."
I hadn't thought that far ahead. Sharing a house with him? Living in his space?
He must have seen the hesitation on my face because he smirked. "Don't worry. You'll have your own room."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"I'll have my driver take you home," he continued, buttoning his jacket. "Pack whatever you need. Someone will be by to pick up the rest of your things."
He was already in control, making decisions like I was just another piece in his empire.
So I argued, telling him I could move at my own pace. But deep down, I knew arguing with Damian Blackwood was useless. "I need to be with my mother at the hospital."
"Fine."
He stepped closer, just enough for me to catch the scent of his pricey cologne.
He looked at me and said. "You will move in after the wedding. You won't regret this, Elena."
I was really unsure about everything.
The ride back home was silent. I sat in the back of the luxury car, staring out the window as the city moved past.
What had i just done?
I thought I would feel relief. My problems were solved, my family was safe, my debts were gone. But all I felt was trapped.
When I walked into my apartment, it felt smaller than usual. The walls seemed to close in on me, whispering reminders of the choice I had made.
I sank onto my bed, burying my face in my hands.
One year.
That was all.
One year of playing the role of Mrs. Damian Blackwood.
I could survive this… right?
But deep in my gut, I already knew the truth.
I had just made a deal with the devil. And deals like this always came with a price.