The Cold Billionaire
1469 Words
The city lights blurred past the car windows as the black Rolls-Royce glided through the rain-soaked streets of Aurelian City.
Inside the luxurious vehicle, silence stretched uncomfortably.
Elena Rivera sat stiffly in the leather seat, her damp clothes clinging to her skin. She clasped her trembling hands together, trying to steady her racing heart.
Across from her sat the man who had just changed her life.
Adrian Blackwood.
He looked completely relaxed, as though offering marriage contracts to strangers in dark alleys was a normal Tuesday night activity.
Elena glanced at him again.
Tall. Composed. Dangerous.
Even the dim lighting of the car couldn’t hide the commanding aura surrounding him.
Her voice finally broke the silence.
“You can’t be serious.”
Adrian didn’t look up from the tablet he was reading.
“I’m always serious.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“You just asked a complete stranger to marry you.”
He finally lifted his gaze.
“You’re not a stranger.”
Her confusion deepened.
“I’ve never met you before.”
Adrian’s dark eyes studied her carefully.
“But I’ve known about you for weeks.”
A chill ran down her spine.
“Weeks?”
He tapped the tablet screen and turned it toward her.
Her breath caught.
It was a detailed profile.
Her name.
Her job.
Her education.
Even her home address.
Elena felt her stomach twist.
“You investigated me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed someone suitable.”
Her jaw dropped.
“For a fake marriage?!”
Adrian remained calm.
“Exactly.”
The car slowed to a stop at a red light.
Outside, the rain continued to pour down the glowing streets.
Elena shook her head in disbelief.
“This is insane.”
Adrian leaned back against the seat.
“You’re intelligent. You have no criminal history. And you’re financially desperate.”
Her cheeks burned.
“That last part wasn’t necessary.”
“It’s the most important part.”
She glared at him.
“So you’re exploiting my situation?”
“No,” he said coolly.
“I’m solving it.”
Elena fell silent.
She hated that he wasn’t entirely wrong.
Still, something about this situation felt dangerously wrong.
She crossed her arms.
“Let’s say I agree to this ridiculous plan.”
“You already did.”
“Hypothetically,” she insisted.
“What exactly do you expect from me?”
Adrian reached into his briefcase and pulled out a thin folder.
He handed it to her.
“Your contract.”
Her eyes widened.
“You prepared this already?”
“Yes.”
“Before meeting me tonight?”
“Of course.”
Elena stared at the document in disbelief.
“You were that confident I’d say yes?”
Adrian’s expression was unreadable.
“People in desperate situations usually make logical decisions.”
She opened the folder slowly.
The contract was several pages long.
At the top, bold letters read:
MARITAL AGREEMENT — BLACKWOOD CONTRACT
Her heart pounded as she skimmed the first page.
“This is insane…”
Adrian watched her carefully.
“Page three.”
She flipped the page.
Her breath caught.
COMPENSATION: $5,000,000
Elena nearly dropped the contract.
“Five million dollars?!”
Adrian nodded once.
“Payment upon completion of the contract.”
Her mind spun.
Five million dollars.
That was more money than she had ever imagined having.
“Why so much?” she asked cautiously.
“Because the role requires effort.”
“What kind of effort?”
“You will attend public events with me.”
She frowned.
“Like… parties?”
“Corporate galas. Charity events. Board dinners.”
Her stomach tightened.
“So I’m basically your trophy wife.”
“No.”
His tone hardened slightly.
“You’re my shield.”
Elena blinked.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he said:
“My family expects me to marry.”
“So marry someone you actually like.”
“That isn’t an option.”
“Why?”
“Because most women who approach me are interested in my money.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
Still…
“You’re a billionaire,” she said. “That comes with the territory.”
Adrian’s voice turned colder.
“I don’t tolerate manipulation.”
Elena folded her arms again.
“So instead you marry a random woman under contract?”
“Precisely.”
She sighed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
The car began moving again.
After a moment, she asked quietly:
“What happens after the year ends?”
Adrian answered without hesitation.
“We divorce.”
Just like that.
Simple.
Clean.
But something about the way he said it made her chest tighten slightly.
She forced the feeling away.
This wasn’t real anyway.
Just a deal.
She flipped another page.
“Rule one: the marriage must appear genuine in public.”
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
“Rule two: the wife must reside in the Blackwood residence.”
Her eyes widened.
“Wait I have to live with you?”
“Obviously.”
Her stomach twisted.
“Why?”
“Because married couples typically live together.”
She glared at him.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Not particularly.”
She continued reading.
Then suddenly froze.
Her voice lowered.
“Rule seven…”
Adrian watched her closely.
“What about it?”
She read the line again slowly.
“No romantic relationships outside the marriage.”
Her face flushed.
“You expect me to stay completely single for a year?”
“Yes.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s practical.”
“How?”
Adrian’s voice was calm but firm.
“If you date someone else, the media will destroy the illusion.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
Still, the rule felt strangely personal.
Then she noticed something else.
“There’s no clause about us… actually being married.”
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…”
Her cheeks warmed.
“Physical expectations.”
For the first time, a faint smile touched Adrian’s lips.
“Are you asking if I plan to sleep with you?”
Her face turned bright red.
“That’s not what I said!”
“You implied it.”
She quickly looked down at the contract again.
“Well?!”
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
His voice dropped lower.
“If you’re worried about that…”
Her heart skipped.
“I don’t touch women who don’t want me.”
The air inside the car suddenly felt much warmer.
Elena swallowed.
“Good.”
A moment passed.
Then Adrian added calmly:
“But you may need to kiss me in public.”
Her head snapped up.
“What?!”
“For appearances.”
Her pulse quickened.
“This contract keeps getting worse.”
Adrian simply said:
“You’re free to decline.”
The car slowed again.
But this time, it stopped in front of something breathtaking.
Elena’s eyes widened.
A massive glass skyscraper towered above them.
At the top, glowing letters read:
BLACKWOOD GLOBAL
Her breath caught.
“You’re… the CEO of Blackwood Global?”
Adrian opened the car door.
“Yes.”
Her mind reeled.
Blackwood Global was one of the most powerful corporations in the world.
And she had just agreed to marry its CEO.
Adrian stepped out of the car and turned back toward her.
“Well?”
She hesitated.
This was insane.
But so was six hundred thousand dollars of debt.
Slowly, she stepped out of the car.
Rain misted around them as they entered the towering building.
The lobby was enormous.
Marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Security guards immediately straightened when Adrian walked in.
“Good evening, Mr. Blackwood.”
Adrian nodded slightly.
Elena felt dozens of curious eyes land on her.
She suddenly felt very small.
Adrian turned toward her again.
“You’ll sign the contract upstairs.”
Her nerves returned instantly.
“Wait… we’re signing it tonight?”
“Yes.”
“And the wedding is tomorrow?”
“Correct.”
Elena stared at him.
“You really don’t waste time.”
Adrian stepped into the private elevator.
“That’s how I built an empire.”
She reluctantly followed him.
As the elevator doors closed, she asked the question that had been bothering her since the alley.
“Why me?”
Adrian looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said quietly:
“Because you’re the only woman in this city who doesn’t want me.”
Her heart skipped.
Before she could respond
The elevator doors opened.
And Elena stepped into a world she had never imagined.
But deep down…
A strange feeling whispered in her chest.
She had just made a deal with the devil.
And something told her…
This marriage would not end the way she expected.
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