His Mistress for a Price

Chapter2

Elara did not sleep that night, every time she closed her eyes, she saw Damian Cross’s face; cold, controlled, dangerously calm as he said the words that had changed her life in under ten minutes. One misstep, and your family will pay the price.Her phone buzzed at 3:12 a.m., she grabbed it instantly.Mom: They will discharge Mia tomorrow if we don’t pay at least half. I heard the nurses talking, Elara.... I’m scared.Elara sat up in bed, her chest tight. She reread the message twice, then a third time, like the words might rearrange themselves into something less terrifying. Half of an amount she didn’t even have a quarter of; she typed back with shaking fingers. I’ll fix it. I promise. She dropped the phone onto the bed and pressed her palms into her eyes. That was the thing about promises. They were easy to make when someone you loved was afraid, harder to keep when reality showed its teeth.

By morning, she had made her decision, not because she wanted Damian Cross, not because she wanted money, but because she had a deadline and no other door left to knock on.Damian’s assistant handed her the document without ceremony. “No phones. No recordings. This stays in this room.” Elara nodded, even though her stomach was already in knots. The contract was thick, clear and brutal.

Duration: Indefinite.

Role: Public companion and romantic interest (“mistress” as defined by media perception).

Compensation: Paid monthly, upfront. Enough to clear Maya’s hospital bills in one transfer.

Confidentiality: Absolute. Breach equals legal and financial destruction.

Exit clause: Damien Cross only.

Her throat tightened. “This isn’t a job,” Elara said quietly, looking up. “It’s a cage.” Damian, standing by the window, didn’t turn. “It’s protection,” he corrected. “For both of us.”She laughed once, short and humorless. “Protection for you, survival for me.” That got his attention. He faced her fully now, arms crossed, eyes sharp. “You came here knowing what this was.” “I came here because you said you’d pay before the end of the day,” she replied, voice steady despite the fear curling in her chest. “And because my sister doesn’t have the luxury of pride.” Silence stretched. Then Damian nodded once. “Good,” he said. “That means you won’t hesitate when things get uncomfortable.” Her fingers tightened around the contract. “What exactly am I protecting you from?” “A woman who knows how to ruin men like me,” he replied flatly. “And a board of directors waiting for a scandal to push me out.” “So, I’m bait?” “You’re a shield.” She looked down at the last page. At the signature line, her hand shook as she picked up the pen. “Once I sign this,” she said, “there’s no pretending this is just acting.” Damian’s voice was low. “That’s why I chose you. You look like someone who understands consequences.” She signed.

Her phone buzzed before she even left the building. Credit transaction received. Elara stopped walking, her breath left her lungs in one sharp exhale, it was real. She turned slowly, looking back at Damian. “You’ve paid already,” she said. “I told you I would,” he replied. “I don’t break contracts.”Something in her chest cracked, not relief, not gratitude, but the heavy understanding that she was officially inside his world now.

There was no undo button.

In the car, Damien spoke like a man issuing battlefield commands. “You will attend public events with me, you will allow controlled physical contact, handholding, arm-linking, the occasional kiss if necessary.” Elara stiffened. “Kiss?” “If the situation demands it,” he said calmly. “You don’t pull away, ever.” Her pulse spiked. “And privately?” “Nothing,” he said immediately. “We don’t sleep together; we don’t blur that line.” She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Good.” He glanced at her. “Don’t sound relieved. This arrangement doesn’t protect you from rumours.” “So the world thinks I’m sleeping with you.” “Yes.” “And you’re fine with that.” “I don’t care what the world thinks,” Damian said. “I care about control.” She looked out the window, jaw tight. “And if I want out?” “You won’t,” he replied evenly. That scared her more than anything else.

“This event tonight,” Damian continued, “is not optional.”Elara frowned. “Tonight?” “You need to be seen immediately, my ex is watching, the press is watching. Hesitation creates doubt.” “I thought I’d have time......” “You don’t,” he cut in. “If you look uncertain, they’ll tear you apart. If you look confident, they’ll believe the lie.” Her stomach twisted. “And if I mess up?” Damian’s eyes met hers, unblinking. “Then they’ll dig into your past, your family, your sister.” Her blood went cold. “Understood,” she said quietly.

The cameras were brutal. Elara felt them before she saw them, the heat, noise, attention pressing in from every direction.Damian’s hand settled at the small of her back. “Breathe,” he murmured. “Follow my lead.” She did because she had to. A reporter shouted, “Mr. Cross, is this the woman you replaced Bianca with?” Damian didn’t slow. “Yes.” The word landed like a bomb. Elara’s heart slammed against her ribs. Damian glanced down at her, his expression unreadable. “Smile.” She smiled, because Maya was in a hospital bed, because the money was already spent, because there was no room for fear now.

Bianca, Elara saw her immediately, she was tall and beautiful. Watching them like a chess player studying the board. Bianca smiled as they approached. “So this is her,” she said lightly. “She looks… younger than your usual taste.” Elara’s spine straightened before she could think.“People grow,” Elara replied calmly. “Sometimes in better directions.” Damian’s hand tightened slightly at her waistand Bianca’s smile froze, just a fraction.

Later, alone on the terrace, Elara finally exhaled, her hands were shaking. “I didn’t know it would be that intense,” she admitted. Damian watched her closely. “Now you do.” “You should’ve told me they’d use my face like that.” “They will use everything,” he said. “That’s why you need to be strong.”She looked at him. “I’m not strong.” A pause, then Damien answered quietly, “You signed anyway.” As they left, Damian’s assistant approached, pale. “Sir,” he whispered, “Bianca has already spoken to two bloggers. They’re digging into Elara’s background.” Elara’s heart dropped. Damian didn’t look at his assistant. He looked at her, “From this moment on,” he said calmly, “you don’t exist as Elara Morgananymore. You exist as mine.” Her chest tightened. “And if they find something?” Damian’s voice was steel. “Then we destroy the story before it destroys you. You’re moving in tomorrow” Elara realized, too late, that becoming Damian Cross’s mistress wasn’t just a lie.

It was a war. And she had just stepped onto the battlefield.