Married by deception

THE ARROGANT CEO

Elena Sterling had spent the entire night convincing herself that she had made the right decision.

One year.

That was all.

Twelve months of pretending to be Damian Blackwood's wife, attending a few events, smiling for cameras, and playing the role expected of her.

Then she would walk away.

Simple.

At least, that was what she kept telling herself.

By eight the next morning, Elena was sitting in the back of her father's car on the way to Blackwood Corporation.

She stared out the window, watching the city pass by.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from her father.

Damian will meet you at ten. Discuss the final terms before the lawyers prepare the contract.

Elena rolled her eyes.

Of course.

She had barely agreed to the ridiculous arrangement, and already there was paperwork.

She slipped her phone into her handbag.

When the car stopped in front of Blackwood Corporation, Elena looked up at the enormous glass building.

It seemed designed to intimidate people.

She wasn't impressed.

At least, she refused to be.

She stepped out of the car and walked through the revolving doors.

The lobby was quiet, elegant, and expensive.

Employees moved quickly through the polished space, most of them carrying tablets or folders.

The moment Elena approached the reception desk, the receptionist stood.

"Miss Sterling?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

"Of course he is."

The receptionist hesitated, unsure whether Elena was joking.

Elena smiled politely.

"Never mind."

The elevator opened.

"Thirty-second floor."

Elena stepped inside.

As the doors closed, she caught her reflection in the mirrored wall.

She looked composed.

Elegant.

Confident.

Exactly how she wanted to appear.

She wasn't going to let Damian Blackwood see that the situation bothered her.

When the elevator reached the thirty-second floor, the doors opened directly into the executive level.

A man in a dark suit approached.

"Miss Sterling, I'm Marcus Reed. Mr. Blackwood's executive assistant."

"Nice to meet you."

"This way."

Elena followed him down a long corridor.

Before they reached Damian's office, the door to the boardroom opened.

Several executives walked out.

Their conversation stopped when they saw Elena.

One of them whispered something to another.

Marcus continued walking as if he hadn't noticed.

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"Do they always stare at people here?"

"Only when something unusual happens."

"And me being here is unusual?"

Marcus gave her a small smile.

"Very."

Before Elena could respond, the doors to Damian's office opened.

"Mr. Blackwood is ready for you."

She stepped inside.

Damian stood behind his desk with his back to her.

He was on the phone.

"Cancel the meeting."

A pause.

"No. I said cancel it."

His voice was calm, but there was something about it that made it impossible to argue with him.

"Move the acquisition to next quarter. If they don't agree, walk away."

He ended the call.

Then he turned.

His eyes landed on Elena.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Damian looked exactly as he had the previous day.

Perfectly dressed.

Perfectly composed.

Perfectly irritating.

"You're early," he said.

Elena glanced at the clock.

"I'm exactly on time."

"Most people aren't."

"Then perhaps your employees need better clocks."

The corner of Damian's mouth lifted.

"Sit."

Elena remained standing.

"I prefer standing."

His eyebrows rose slightly.

"Suit yourself."

He returned to his desk.

Elena noticed the documents arranged neatly in front of him.

"Are those the marriage papers?"

"Not yet."

"Then what are they?"

"The financial structure of the agreement."

She walked closer.

"Financial structure?"

Damian picked up a document.

"Your family's company and mine are entering a joint venture. The marriage strengthens the alliance."

"I already know that."

"Then you know why this matters."

"I know why our families think it matters."

Damian looked at her.

"And you don't?"

"I think marriage should be about more than shareholders."

His gaze remained steady.

"That's why we're not pretending this is a love story."

Elena folded her arms.

"Good."

"Good."

Silence.

She looked at him.

"You're really comfortable with this."

"With what?"

"Marrying a stranger."

Damian leaned back in his chair.

"I don't consider you a stranger."

Elena frowned.

"You barely know me."

"That's not what I said."

Something about his answer bothered her.

Before she could question him, Damian pushed a folder toward her.

"These are the terms."

Elena picked it up.

She scanned the first page.

One-year marriage.

Public appearances.

Joint family events.

Confidentiality.

No disclosure of the arrangement.

No interference with business operations.

She nodded.

"Fine."

She turned the page.

Then stopped.

"What's this?"

Damian looked at the document.

"Which section?"

"Clause seven."

He leaned forward.

"Personal conduct."

"Why is there a personal conduct clause?"

"Because we're going to be publicly married."

"It says neither party can engage in behavior that could damage the reputation of the other."

"Correct."

Elena looked at him.

"So if I go to dinner with a male friend, that's a problem?"

"Not necessarily."

"What does 'not necessarily' mean?"

"It depends on the circumstances."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You're already trying to control me."

"I'm protecting the agreement."

"You can call it whatever you want."

Damian's expression hardened.

"Elena."

She met his eyes.

"I don't belong to you."

A long silence followed.

Then Damian said quietly, "I know."

The answer surprised her.

He stood and walked around the desk.

"You're not my possession."

He stopped a few feet away.

"But once we're married, anything that affects your reputation can affect mine."

"That's the part I don't like."

"You don't have to like it."

"There it is."

"What?"

"That arrogance."

Damian's expression barely changed.

"I've never denied being arrogant."

At least he was honest.

Elena closed the folder.

"Anything else?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"You'll move into my house after the wedding."

Her eyes widened.

"Absolutely not."

"It's necessary."

"Why?"

"Because we're supposed to be married."

"We can live in separate houses."

"The media won't believe we're a genuine couple if we're never seen together."

"We can attend events together."

"That's not enough."

Elena shook her head.

"No."

Damian stared at her.

"No?"

"No."

He walked closer.

"You agreed to the arrangement."

"I agreed to marry you. I didn't agree to become a prisoner in your house."

"You won't be a prisoner."

"Then I can live wherever I want."

His jaw tightened.

"You'll have your own space."

"I don't care."

"Elena."

"No."

She picked up her handbag.

"I'll marry you, attend the events, smile for the cameras, and play the perfect wife. But I will not give up my independence."

Damian watched her carefully.

"You've always been this stubborn?"

Elena froze.

There it was again.

That strange familiarity.

"Why do you keep saying things like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you already know me."

Damian said nothing.

Elena took a step closer.

"How long have you known about me?"

His expression became unreadable.

"I know who you are."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

She stared at him.

For the first time since entering the office, Damian looked slightly uncomfortable.

It lasted only a second.

Then the cold CEO expression returned.

"Your father will receive the revised agreement this afternoon."

Elena wasn't finished.

"You still haven't answered me."

Damian walked back toward his desk.

"I have a meeting."

She laughed once.

"Of course you do."

She turned toward the door.

"Elena."

She stopped.

Damian's voice had changed.

It was quieter.

"Don't worry."

She looked back.

"You'll get your freedom."

His eyes met hers.

"But don't make the mistake of thinking this marriage will be meaningless."

Elena frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Damian didn't answer.

She left.

The moment the door closed, Marcus appeared from the adjoining office.

"You could have told her."

Damian's expression remained cold.

"Not yet."

Marcus hesitated.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Damian picked up the photograph lying beneath the documents on his desk.

It was old.

A younger Elena stood among a crowd at a charity event.

She was laughing.

She had no idea anyone was watching her.

Damian had remembered that moment for years.

He placed the photograph back inside the drawer.

"She'll find out eventually."

Marcus looked at him carefully.

"And when she does?"

Damian's eyes remained fixed on the closed door.

"By then, she'll already be my wife."

Outside the office, Elena walked toward the elevator.

She couldn't shake the feeling that Damian Blackwood was hiding something.

Something important.

She pressed the elevator button.

The doors opened.

As she stepped inside, her phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

She opened the message.

You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

Her expression changed.

A second message appeared.

Damian Blackwood isn't marrying you because of the inheritance.

Elena's heart skipped.

She stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

Ask him what happened the first time he saw you.