married to the ruthless ceo

married to the ruthless ceo Stella "Steze" Carter, 22, has one boyfriend and a father who’s about to lose his job. Damien Hayes, 27, ruthless CEO-to-be and future heir of Hayes Corporation. He already has a fiancée he loves. Their fathers worked together for 20 years. Mr. Hayes tells Mr. Carter: _"If your daughter marries my son, I’ll make you manager. If not, you’re fired."_ Steze’s parents beg. She has no choice. She agrees. Damien refuses at first... until his father begs too. One week later, blind date → cold, rude → wedding. *His rules on Night 1:* 1. *Don’t talk to me* 2. *Don’t enter my room without knocking* 3. *Don’t cook for me. This is a fake marriage* She agrees. She also has a fiancé. So they live like strangers in the same mansion. He goes to see his fiancée. She goes to see hers. No talking. No feelings. Just signatures and lies. But what happens when the people they’re dating find out... And when "fake" starts feeling a little too real? *Tropes*: Contract marriage, Cold CEO, Two-timing, Forced marriage, Jealousy, Slow burn --- *CHAPTER 1: Say "I Do" To A Stranger* _w*******l / NovelUp style_ The church was full of flowers I didn’t pick. Music played that I didn’t choose. And the man standing at the altar looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. That was Damien Hayes. My almost-husband. I tugged at the white dress my mom forced me into. 22 years old. No boyfriend. No job. And now... a wife. Three days ago my dad came home pale. “Steze,” he said. “Mr. Hayes offered me the manager position. But there’s a condition.” “What condition?” “You have to marry his son.” I laughed. Then I realized he wasn’t joking. “If you don’t, I’m fired. We’ll lose the house. Your mom’s surgery...” So I said yes. On Damien’s side it was the same story. His father cornered him in the office. “Marry the Carter girl or I cut you off the inheritance.” Damien’s jaw ticked. “I have a fiancée, Dad.” “And she’s not a Hayes yet. Sign the papers.” We met once. A blind date at some fancy restaurant. He didn’t smile. Didn’t ask my name twice. “Don’t expect anything from me,” he said, sipping wine. “This is business.” And now here we were. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” We said "I do" at the same time. No eye contact. --- *Night 1. Hayes Mansion.* The house was huge. Too big. Too quiet. Damien walked in at 11:47pm. Suit wrinkled. Smelling like her perfume. His fiancée’s. He tossed a paper on the coffee table. “Read it,” he said. I picked it up. *HOUSE RULES:* 1. *Don’t talk to me unless necessary* 2. *Don’t enter my room without knocking* 3. *Don’t cook for me. Don’t touch my stuff. This is a FAKE marriage* I nodded. My throat was dry. “Okay.” “Good.” He looked at me for the first time. Cold gray eyes. “I have someone. You have someone too, right? Dad told me.” I swallowed. “Yes. Mark.” “Perfect. Then we stay out of each other’s way.” He turned to go upstairs. “Oh, and Steze?” “Yes?” “Try not to fall in love with me. It’ll be messy.” And he walked away. I stood there in my wedding dress, in a 10-million-dollar house, married to a man who didn’t want me. A man who already had someone. Just like I did. Fake marriage. Fake husband. Fake life. I pulled out my phone and texted Mark: _“It’s done. I’m married.”_ His reply came instantly: _“Meet me tomorrow? I miss you.”_ I stared at Damien’s closed bedroom door. Business only. That’s what we agreed. *To be continued...* _Author's Note: Cold start 😭 Do you think Steze and Damien will catch feelings? Who’s worse - Damien or his fiancée? Comment below! Next chapter: "He Caught Me Sneaking Out To See My Fiancé"_