The Cold CEO
1012 Words
Elena barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Daniel and the other woman tangled together on the bed. The memory twisted like a knife in her chest.
Three years.
Three years of believing she was building a future with someone who had already decided she wasn’t good enough.
Her phone lay beside her on the small apartment table. The message from her boss still glowed on the screen.
“You’re fired.”
She let out a shaky breath.
In less than twelve hours, she had lost her boyfriend and her job.
And somehow the only strange piece of hope in her mind was the cold, powerful man she had met in the hotel hallway.
Adrian Voss.
Even thinking about his name made her nervous.
Everyone in the city knew who he was. The billionaire CEO who controlled one of the biggest corporations in the country.
He was known for two things: intelligence and ruthlessness.
Which made his sudden interest in her even more suspicious.
Still… she had nothing left to lose.
The next morning, Elena stood outside the towering glass building of Voss Global Holdings.
The skyscraper reflected the morning sun like a blade of glass cutting into the sky.
Elena swallowed.
“This is ridiculous,” she murmured.
But she stepped inside anyway.
The lobby alone looked bigger than her entire apartment building.
Polished marble floors. Security guards. People in expensive suits walking with confidence.
Elena suddenly felt very small.
She approached the reception desk and handed over the business card Adrian had given her.
The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re here to see Mr. Voss?”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
The woman quickly picked up the phone.
Minutes later, Elena was being escorted to the top floor.
The elevator ride felt like it lasted forever.
Her heart pounded harder with every passing second.
When the elevator doors opened, the hallway was quiet and elegant.
She was led to a large office.
The assistant knocked.
“Mr. Voss, she’s here.”
A calm voice from inside replied.
“Send her in.”
The door opened.
Elena stepped inside.
The office was enormous.
Dark wood furniture. Tall windows showing the entire city skyline. Everything looked expensive and powerful.
Adrian sat behind a large desk, reading documents.
For a moment, he didn’t look up.
Elena stood there awkwardly.
Finally he spoke.
“You’re late.”
She blinked.
“I’m exactly on time.”
Adrian slowly lifted his gaze.
Those sharp grey eyes studied her carefully.
“Thirty seconds late,” he corrected.
Elena frowned.
“You’re very strict for someone who invited me.”
A faint hint of amusement crossed his face, but it vanished quickly.
“I value punctuality.”
She crossed her arms slightly.
“So do I. Now can you explain why you asked me to come here?”
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
His gaze never left her face.
“I told you yesterday. I have a proposal.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What kind of proposal?”
Instead of answering immediately, Adrian stood up and walked slowly around the desk.
Elena felt her heartbeat speed up as he stopped a few steps away.
Up close, he looked even more intimidating.
Tall. Confident. Controlled.
His presence filled the room.
Adrian placed a document on the desk between them.
“A contract.”
Elena hesitated before picking it up.
The title at the top made her breath catch.
Marriage Agreement
She looked up in disbelief.
“You can’t be serious.”
Adrian didn’t react.
“I’m always serious.”
Elena laughed nervously.
“You expect me to marry you?”
“Temporarily,” Adrian corrected.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
“One year.”
The words felt unreal.
“One year of marriage,” Adrian continued calmly. “After that, we divorce. No complications.”
Elena stared at him.
“Why would anyone agree to that?”
Adrian slid another paper toward her.
It contained a number.
Her breath stopped.
The amount of money written there was enough to change her entire life.
Her voice came out quieter than she expected.
“You’re offering me this… just to marry you for a year?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Adrian watched her reaction carefully.
“It makes perfect sense.”
Elena shook her head.
“No. Rich men like you don’t marry strangers for no reason.”
He didn’t deny it.
“There are reasons.”
“What reasons?”
Adrian paused.
For the first time, something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
But instead of answering directly, he said something that surprised her.
“You lost your job yesterday.”
Elena stiffened.
“How do you know that?”
“I know everything that matters.”
She frowned.
“And I matter?”
Adrian held her gaze.
“For now.”
Something about the way he said it sent a strange chill down her spine.
Elena placed the contract back on the table.
“I’m not desperate enough to sell my life to a stranger.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly.
“I think you are.”
Her eyes flashed with anger.
“You don’t know me.”
Adrian stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
“I know you were betrayed by a man who said you were too ordinary.”
Elena’s chest tightened.
“How—”
“I also know,” Adrian continued calmly, “that you walked out of that hotel with nothing.”
Silence filled the office.
Elena felt exposed.
Like he had somehow peeled away every defense she had.
Adrian leaned closer.
“And right now… you’re standing in front of the one opportunity that could change everything.”
Elena stared at the contract again.
Her heart pounded.
“This still doesn’t explain why you chose me.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened slightly.
Then he said quietly,
“Because you’re the only woman in this city who doesn’t want me.”
And somehow… that made her the most interesting choice of all.
- Writer
