HIS OBSESSION

chapter 2:THE PROPOSITION

Chapter 2: The Proposition

Elena barely slept that night.

Guilt gnawed at her, relentless and unforgiving.

Isabella had taken the news better than she had any right to, brushing it off with a forced smile. "It’s fine, Ele. I hated that job anyway." But Elena saw the truth in her best friend’s tired eyes—the quiet panic of losing an income, the uncertainty of what came next.

And it was all her fault.

So, by morning, Elena made a decision.

She would fix this.

Even if it meant facing him again.

The headquarters of Varela Enterprises was a towering masterpiece of glass and steel, rising above the heart of London like a fortress. Walking through its grand entrance, past suited men and women who moved with purpose, Elena felt like an intruder.

But she didn't stop.

Security barely had time to react before she stormed toward the elevators.

"Miss—!"

"I need to see Abina Varela," she declared, head held high.

The receptionist paled at the name. "Mr. Varela does not take walk-ins—"

"I don't care," Elena snapped, jabbing the elevator button.

"Miss, please—!"

Too late. The doors slid open. She stepped inside and pressed the top floor.

A man like Abina Varela probably had an office high above the city—where gods like him looked down at the world they ruled.

As the elevator ascended, her heart pounded.

What the hell was she doing?

This man wasn’t just rich. He wasn’t just powerful. He was dangerous. The type of man people whispered about in bars, the kind that made even criminals uneasy.

But she had no choice.

The moment the doors slid open, she was met with a different kind of silence. A waiting silence.

The office was vast, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. And in the center, behind a sleek black desk, sat the man himself.

Abina Varela.

He didn’t look surprised to see her.

If anything, he looked amused.

"You’ve got some nerve."

His voice was low, smooth, laced with something unreadable.

Elena swallowed but refused to back down.

"Fire me if you want," she said, stepping forward. "But don’t ruin Isabella ’s life over a mistake that was mine."

A muscle in his jaw flexed.

Then, slowly, he leaned back in his chair.

"You think you can walk in here and demand things from me?"

Elena lifted her chin. "I'm asking for fairness."

Silence.

His gaze pinned her in place, and for a moment, she thought he might laugh.

Then, a slow smirk curled his lips.

"Fairness?" He exhaled, shaking his head as if amused. "You're either incredibly brave or painfully naive."

She clenched her fists. "She needs her job."

"And I need a wife."

The words hit like a slap.

Elena blinked. "What?"

Abina stood, moving with a slow, deliberate grace. "My family has given me an ultimatum—marry, or deal with consequences I’d rather avoid."

She stiffened. "And what does that have to do with me?"

His smirk deepened. "You walked into my world uninvited, challenged me, and now, you’re standing here demanding something from me. That kind of boldness is rare."

He took another step closer.

"You want to save your friend? Fine. Marry me."

Elena's breath caught.

"That's—ridiculous."

"And yet, it’s your only option."

Her pulse thundered.

This was insane.

Completely, utterly insane.

But then she thought of Isabella. Of the panic she had seen behind her best friend’s brave face.

"Five years," Abina continued, "a legally binding contract. You’ll be my wife in the public eye. My possession. And at the end, you’ll walk away with one million dollars."

Elena's stomach twisted.

"Why me?" she asked.

"Because you intrigue me." His voice dropped, dark and smooth. "And because I don’t trust easily. You, however, are already desperate enough to bargain with the devil. That makes you the perfect candidate."

Her lips parted, but no words came.

"Choose, Elena." His gaze burned into hers. "Your friend’s future, or your freedom?"

Her heart pounded so loud, she swore he could hear it.

And then, before she could second-guess herself, the words tumbled out.

"I’ll do it."

The smirk that crossed his lips was nothing short of wicked.

"Good girl."

End of Chapter 2