An Unexpected Proposal
Elara Monroe tapped her manicured nails against the linen-covered table, her patience thinning with every passing second. The candlelight flickered, casting golden hues on the expensive wine glass before her. She didn’t belong here—not in this five-star restaurant, not on this ridiculous blind date her mother had forced her into.
She adjusted the strap of her emerald green dress, suppressing the urge to walk out. This was a mistake. She had a failing business to worry about, not some awkward small talk with a rich stranger.
The air shifted. A presence.
She looked up—and her breath hitched.
Damian Cross.
The man who had just stepped into the restaurant was no stranger. He was a storm wrapped in a tailored black suit. Tall, broad-shouldered, and exuding confidence, he walked like he owned the world. And in many ways, he did.
Her heart pounded as she took in the sharp jawline, the piercing silver eyes that once knew every secret she never meant to share. Her ex-boyfriend’s boss. And the man she had walked away from five years ago.
What the hell was he doing here?
Damian’s gaze locked onto hers, dark amusement flickering in his expression as he approached. He slid into the seat across from her, his voice smooth as velvet.
“Didn’t expect to see me, did you, Elara?”
She clenched her fists beneath the table. “You’re my date?”
He smirked. “Fate has a twisted sense of humor, doesn’t it?”
Her fingers tightened around her napkin. This was supposed to be a simple, meaningless date with a stranger. Not him. Not the man who had shattered her heart and walked away without looking back.
Damian leaned back, studying her. “You look good,” he said, his voice softer now. “Success suits you.”
Elara forced a smile. “If only success came with a steady paycheck.”
His smirk deepened. “That can be arranged.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
He leaned forward, his gaze trapping her in place. “I need a fiancée, Elara. Someone my family will believe. And you… you need money to save your business.”
Her stomach tightened. “You want me to pretend to be your fiancée?”
“Exactly.”
Her mind spun. It was insane. Reckless. Completely out of the question.
And yet, as she stared into the eyes of the man who once held her heart, she knew one thing for sure.
She was in trouble.
