Chapter two: “Forty eight hours to decide.”
1356 Words
Lily's POV
Never thought I'd step inside a building like this again.
Hayes Towers, the glass and steel shooting into the Manchester sky, made everything around it look small.
I used to walk into places like this with Dad, people would open doors for us back then.
But now they just stared at me as I walked in without words.
I pushed through the revolving entrance. The lobby was different, Marble filled every floor, the chandeliers were hanging three stories up and walking around like they owned the planet.
Without a word, I went straight ahead to the security desk. The guard looked at my cheap coat. My worn shoes, the rain dripping off my hair.
Yeah, I saw that look.
"Help you?" Didn't sound like he wanted to help.
"Lily Bennett. Six PM, Lucas Hayes."
I typed something, eyes went wide. "Top floor, they are expecting you."
They? Not even only him?
“Who is she?” Why is she going to the top floor?” many more giggles went on.
Great! Let them be confused.
The elevator had glass walls, I watched the city shrink. Forty floors up. Stomach flips the whole way.
What the hell was I doing here?
Dad's voice in my head. "Don't let him win."
Right. Not about me. About Julian.
Doors opened.
Executive floor. Dark wood. Fancy art. Everything is expensive.
Woman at the desk. Perfect everything. A smile that meant nothing.
"Miss Bennett. This way."
Followed her. Her heels clicked. Mine squeaked. Cheap rubber on expensive floors.
Could feel eyes on me. Other assistants. People in offices. All wondering who the hell I was. Why I was here.
Let them wonder.
Big double doors at the end. She knocked.
"Come in."
Deep voice. Controlled.
She opened the door. Waved me through.
I walked in.
The office was huge. Windows showing all of Manchester. A desk made from wood that probably cost more than my flat. Bookshelves everywhere. Real books too. Not the fake kind people bought for show.
Behind the desk.
Lucas Hayes.
Tall. Dark hair. A suit that costs a fortune. Face like stone.
Eyes though. Gray. Cold. Looking straight through me.
"Miss Bennett." I stood up. No smile. "Sit."
Sat. Kept my back straight. Didn't let him see my hands shake.
Another guy by the window. Asian. Younger. Expensive suit. Watching me like I was a problem he needed to solve.
"Marcus Chen. My assistant." Lucas sat back down. Hands folded on his desk. "He handles logistics. If you agree."
"Haven't heard what I'm agreeing to yet."
"Direct." Something flickered in his eyes. Gone fast. "Good."
Pulled out a folder. Slide it over.
I opened it. Legal stuff. Pages of it.
"Summary version," I said. I looked up at him.
"Eighteen months. Marriage in name only. Public appearances. Social events. Playing the part."
"Why?"
"Reputation damage. False accusations. I need to look stable. Trustworthy."
"What accusations?"
"Corporate theft. Insider trading. Fraud." Face stayed flat. "All lies."
"Who?"
"Not relevant."
Leaned back. "Everything's relevant when you're asking me to marry you."
Marcus moved. Lucas held up his hand. Marcus stopped.
"Former business associate. I trusted them. They burned me when I wouldn't join their schemes."
It sounded way too familiar.
"So what do I get?"
"Money for Bennett Holdings. Clear the debts. Restore operations. Public statement that your father got sabotaged. My lawyers go after Julian Blackwood. Criminal charges if possible."
My heart jumped. "You know about Julian."
"I know everything about Julian Blackwood." Eyes went colder somehow. "Mutual enemies."
"Why help me? What's in it for you besides a fake wife."
"Your father was good. What happened was wrong." He stood up. I watched him walk to the window. Hands in pockets. He looked out at the city. "And destroying Julian helps us both."
"How."
"Julian's moving into tech. Hostile takeovers. Coming for my territory next." Turned around. Look right at me. "Helping you hurts him. Hurting him protects my company."
At least he was honest.
"Eighteen months. Terms."
"Live in my penthouse. Separate rooms. No intimacy unless cameras are around. Hand holding. Kiss on the cheek for photos. That's it."
"That's it."
"I have no interest in anything else." Stone faced again.
Good. Neither did I.
"You attend events with me. Business dinners. Galas. Get briefed beforehand on how to act."
"How to act?" Heat rising. "You mean you'll control what I say?"
"I mean you'll represent Hayes Digital with dignity. Like you represented Bennett Holdings before."
That shut me up. He'd done homework.
Marcus spoke up. "Monthly allowance. Clothing budget. Stylists. Whatever you need."
"Not a doll."
"No." Lucas came back. Sat down. Leaned forward slightly. "You're smart. Understand how power works. How perception matters. Your father knew that."
I stared at the contract.
Dad's company back. His name cleared. Julian was destroyed.
I just had to pretend to love an ice block for eighteen months.
"After eighteen months."
"Quiet divorce. Irreconcilable differences. You get five million pounds. Plus shares of Bennett Holdings if you want them."
Five million.
Could go anywhere. Do anything.
Breathe again.
Start over completely.
"Why eighteen months exactly?"
"Long enough to believe. Short enough to survive." Leaned forward more. "This is business. Nothing more."
"If I say no."
"You leave. I found another option. You keep working at Romano's till the bank takes everything." My face didn't move. The voice didn't change. "And Julian keeps winning."
Bastard knew exactly where to hit.
He knew my weak spots. My desperation.
Probably researched everything about me.
"Need to think."
"Forty-eight hours." Marcus handed me a card. "Call when you decide."
I stood. Took the card. The folder.
Headed for the door.
"Miss Bennett."
Stopped. Turned.
Lucas watching me. Face unreadable. "Your father contacted me. Three days before he died. I wanted to meet you. Discuss a partnership. I think he knew something was coming."
My chest got tight. "You met him?"
"No. Was overseas. By the time I got back..." Pause. First c***k in that stone face. "I'm sorry."
First real thing I'd heard from him. Gone quick as it came.
Nodded. Couldn't speak. Throat too tight.
Left.
Marcus walked me to the elevator. Hit the button.
"Not as cold as he seems. Just burned badly."
"Who hasn't."
The elevator opened. Got in.
Marcus held the door. "Think you're good for him. I need someone who pushes back."
Doors closed.
Rode down. Forty floors. Stomach rising with each one.
Out into the lobby. Into the rain.
I walked three blocks. Stopped. Leaned against a wall.
I needed to catch my breath.
Pulled out the folder. Flipped through pages.
Something fell out. Photo. Old. Worn edges.
Woman. Beautiful. Dark hair. A smile that looked genuine. Standing with Lucas. He was smiling too. Actually smiling. Not the stone face I just saw. Real happiness.
I turned it over. Handwriting: "Alessia & Lucas - Before everything went wrong."
Alessia. The one who burned him.
This was personal for him too.
We were both broken. Both hunting revenge.
Put it back. Closed the folder.
The phone buzzed.
Unknown: Julian knows about Hayes. Already making moves. Decide fast.
Deleted it.
Whoever kept texting knew too much. About everything.
Looked up at Hayes Tower. Could see the top floor. All lit up against the dark sky.
He was probably up there. Back at his desk. Cold and controlled again.
Both desperate. Both pretending we weren't.
Both willing to sell pieces of ourselves to destroy the people who hurt us.
Maybe that made us perfect for each other.
Maybe that made us idiots.
Forty-eight hours to decide.
I walked home, the rain soaking through everything, the folder pressed against my chest.
Dad's voice wouldn't stop. "Don't let him win."
I soliloquy , they wouldn't.
Even if it meant marrying a man who looked at me like a con
tract.
Even if it meant eighteen months of lies, Julian destroyed my family.
Lucas could give me weapons to destroy him back and get back all the worth at any price.
Right?
Had to be.
Because the alternative was watching Julian win, and I'd die before I let that happen.
- Writer
