The Marriage Contract
1306 Words
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Elena stepped out slowly, her eyes widening at the breathtaking view before her.
The entire floor was a massive executive suite overlooking Aurelian City. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed endless lights stretching into the rainy night.
The office was enormous.
Minimalist.
Elegant.
And intimidating.
At the center of the room stood a large black desk made from polished obsidian stone.
Behind it hung the glowing logo of Blackwood Global.
Elena swallowed nervously.
“This is your office?”
Behind her, Adrian Blackwood walked in calmly.
“Yes.”
Her voice dropped slightly.
“It’s… bigger than my entire apartment building.”
Adrian removed his coat and draped it over a chair.
“You’ll get used to it.”
She wasn’t so sure about that.
A woman in a sharp navy suit approached them immediately.
She looked to be in her early thirties—elegant and extremely professional.
“Good evening, Mr. Blackwood.”
Adrian nodded.
“Good evening, Claire.”
He gestured toward Elena.
“Prepare the contract signing.”
The woman turned her sharp gaze toward Elena.
Her eyes scanned her from head to toe.
“Of course.”
Her voice was polite but slightly curious.
“Elena Rivera, correct?”
Elena blinked.
“…Yes.”
Claire extended her hand.
“I’m Claire Donovan, Mr. Blackwood’s executive assistant.”
Elena shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you.”
Claire smiled faintly.
“You’re about to become Mrs. Blackwood.”
Elena’s stomach fluttered nervously.
Hearing the words out loud made everything suddenly feel real.
Claire placed several documents on the desk.
“I’ve prepared the final contract.”
Adrian took a seat behind his desk and gestured toward the chair across from him.
“Sit.”
Elena sat slowly.
Her heart began pounding again.
Claire placed a pen beside the thick stack of papers.
“Once signed, the agreement becomes legally binding.”
Elena looked at Adrian.
“You really planned this carefully.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“I always do.”
She flipped through the pages again.
The contract seemed even longer now.
Finally, she looked up.
“One year.”
“Yes.”
“And then we divorce.”
“Yes.”
She took a deep breath.
“No tricks?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened slightly.
“I don’t play games with contracts.”
Something about the way he said it made her believe him.
Still…
She hesitated.
Adrian noticed immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
Elena lowered her gaze to the document.
“This just feels…”
She struggled to find the right word.
“…unreal.”
He studied her quietly.
Then he said something unexpected.
“You can still walk away.”
Her head snapped up.
“What?”
“I’ll still cover your debt.”
Her eyes widened in shock.
“Why would you do that?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“Because I already decided to.”
Elena stared at him.
Her mind spun.
He had just offered to erase her debt… even if she refused the marriage.
Which meant…
He didn’t actually need her to say yes.
“Then why ask me to marry you at all?” she asked softly.
Adrian’s expression became unreadable again.
“Because I prefer solutions that benefit both sides.”
Elena looked down at the contract once more.
Five million dollars.
A fresh start.
One year of pretending to be married.
Her life had already been turned upside down.
Maybe this was her chance to rebuild it.
Slowly, she picked up the pen.
Adrian watched her closely.
The room felt strangely quiet.
Finally, Elena signed her name.
Elena Rivera.
Her heart pounded as she slid the contract back toward him.
“It’s done.”
Adrian picked up the document.
He signed his name beneath hers with smooth confidence.
Adrian Blackwood.
Claire immediately collected the papers.
“I’ll file these with legal,” she said.
Then she smiled slightly at Elena.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Blackwood.”
Elena’s stomach flipped again.
Mrs. Blackwood.
The title sounded surreal.
Claire left the office quietly, leaving the two of them alone.
Silence settled between them again.
Elena rubbed her temples.
“So… I’m married now.”
Adrian stood.
“Not yet.”
She frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“We still need the ceremony.”
Her eyes widened.
“You were serious about tomorrow?!”
“Yes.”
“This is insane!”
Adrian walked toward the window overlooking the city.
“The media already believes we’re engaged.”
Elena blinked.
“What?!”
He turned back toward her calmly.
“I announced it two hours ago.”
Her jaw dropped.
“You WHAT?!”
Adrian walked toward his desk and tapped his tablet.
He turned the screen toward her.
Elena gasped.
Every news website showed the same headline:
BREAKING: BILLIONAIRE CEO ADRIAN BLACKWOOD TO MARRY MYSTERY WOMAN
Her heart nearly stopped.
“Are you trying to kill me?!”
Adrian looked mildly amused.
“You’re trending on social media.”
“That’s not comforting!”
She grabbed the tablet and scrolled through the articles.
Photos of Adrian.
Photos of his penthouse.
Speculation everywhere.
But no photos of her yet.
Which meant the media would soon start hunting.
Elena looked up slowly.
“You’re insane.”
Adrian shrugged slightly.
“Possibly.”
She dropped the tablet back onto the desk.
“My entire life just exploded.”
“Correct.”
“And you’re completely calm about it.”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“Do you ever panic about anything?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Yes.”
The sudden seriousness in his voice caught her off guard.
But before she could ask more—
A deep voice echoed from the doorway.
“Adrian, you didn’t tell me the bride was this beautiful.”
Elena turned toward the door.
A tall man leaned casually against the frame.
He wore a dark suit, but his relaxed posture made him look far more dangerous than the corporate executives she was used to.
His eyes sparkled with amusement.
Adrian sighed quietly.
“You’re early.”
The man walked into the office with confident steps.
“Elena Rivera,” he said smoothly.
She froze.
“How does everyone know my name tonight?”
He grinned and extended his hand.
“I’m Marco DeLuca.”
Elena shook his hand cautiously.
“Nice to meet you…”
Marco chuckled.
“Oh, I doubt that.”
She blinked.
“What does that mean?”
Marco looked at Adrian.
“You didn’t tell her?”
Adrian’s voice turned colder.
“Tell her what?”
Marco crossed his arms.
“About the danger she just married into.”
Elena felt her stomach tighten.
“…Danger?”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“That wasn’t necessary, Marco.”
Marco raised his hands playfully.
“Relax. She deserves to know.”
Elena looked between them.
“What’s going on?”
Marco’s smile faded slightly.
“Mrs. Blackwood…”
His voice lowered.
“Your husband has enemies.”
Her pulse quickened.
“What kind of enemies?”
Marco’s eyes darkened.
“The kind who don’t mind killing people.”
A chill ran down Elena’s spine.
She slowly turned toward Adrian.
“You didn’t mention that part.”
Adrian met her gaze calmly.
“You didn’t ask.”
Her heart began racing again.
“What exactly have I gotten myself into?”
Adrian walked toward her slowly.
When he stopped in front of her, his voice was low and steady.
“You married power.”
Elena swallowed.
“And power always comes with danger.”
Her stomach twisted.
But something told her this was only the beginning.
Because the moment she signed that contract…
She had stepped into a world far darker than she imagined.
And someone out there already knew it.
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