Chapter 3: TheWarning
1378 Words
Lena’s POV
Marcus’s words stayed in my head long after the door closed behind him.
Ask him what happened to the last person who trusted him completely.
I looked at Damian.
He had already returned to the documents on his desk as if his brother had said nothing important.
“What did he mean?”
Damian didn’t look up.
“Marcus is angry.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“It wasn’t meant to.”
I stared at him.
“He made it sound like I should be afraid of you.”
That finally made him lift his eyes.
His expression was unreadable.
“You signed a contract, Lena. You knew exactly what you were agreeing to.”
“I know what I signed.”
I kept my voice calm.
“I drafted most of it myself.”
“Then there’s nothing else to discuss.”
I almost laughed.
“You really like saying that.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Rule three.”
I knew exactly what he meant.
Don’t ask about the past.
I had agreed to it only a few hours ago, but Marcus had managed to make that rule feel different.
“I’m not asking about your past,” I said.
“I’m asking whether there’s something about your past that could affect this marriage.”
“There isn’t.”
The answer came too quickly.
I studied him.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to push harder, but I stopped myself.
I had made a deal with this man.
If I wanted him to respect my boundaries, I had to respect his too.
Still, Marcus’s warning refused to leave my mind.
Damian picked up a folder and pushed it toward me.
“There’s something else you should understand.”
I opened it.
“The ninety-day deadline.”
I looked at him.
“I already know about the deadline.”
“Do you know why it exists?”
I shook my head.
He leaned back in his chair.
“My grandfather, Arthur Black, left controlling ownership of Black Holdings under specific conditions.”
I listened.
“One of those conditions is that I must be married within ninety days of his death. If I fail to meet it, control of the company passes to Marcus.”
I frowned.
“So this marriage isn’t just about appearances.”
“No.”
“And that explains why you need a wife quickly.”
“Yes.”
I glanced down at the contract again.
“And for one year.”
“I know.”
I looked up.
“I know. I drafted the contract.”
For the first time, something almost like irritation crossed his face.
“I’m aware.”
“Good.”
Silence settled between us.
Then he said, “The engagement announcement goes out tomorrow at six.”
Tomorrow.
The reality of it hit me harder than I expected.
In less than twenty-four hours, everyone would know I was engaged to Damian Black.
My coworkers.
His family.
The press.
People who didn’t even know my name yesterday would suddenly have opinions about me.
I closed the folder.
“What happens today?”
“Nothing.”
“And tomorrow?”
“The announcement goes out. After that, we prepare for the wedding.”
Five days.
I nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
Damian stood.
“Our driver will take you wherever you need to go.”
“I can drive myself.”
“I know.”
“Then why”
“It’s safer.”
His tone made it clear the conversation was over.
I picked up my bag.
At the door, I turned back.
“Damian?”
“Yes?”
“If Marcus is trying to warn me about something, I hope you’re not making a mistake by assuming I won’t notice.”
His eyes met mine.
“I don’t make mistakes because other people think I do.”
I held his gaze for a second before leaving.
By the time I reached the hospital, my mother was awake.
She smiled when she saw me.
“You look tired.”
I dropped my bag beside the chair.
“That’s because I am.”
She laughed softly.
I sat beside her bed and took her hand.
For a moment, I didn’t know how to say it.
Then I looked at the ring on my finger.
“I have news.”
Her eyes immediately went to my hand.
“Lena…”
“I’m engaged.”
She stared at me.
“To who?”
“Damian Black.”
Her eyebrows pulled together.
“The businessman?”
“Yes.”
“How long have you known him?”
I hesitated.
“Not very long.”
She looked at me for several seconds.
“Then why are you wearing his ring?”
I swallowed.
“Because we’re getting married.”
The smile disappeared from her face.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“Lena, what are you doing?”
I squeezed her hand.
“Something that will help us.”
Her eyes softened.
“You don’t have to sacrifice your life because I’m sick.”
“I’m not sacrificing my life.”
I forced a smile.
“I’m making sure you get the treatment you need.”
She looked at the ring again.
There was worry in her eyes, but she didn’t push me.
Instead, she whispered, “I just want you to be happy.”
I looked away before she could see how much those words hurt.
“I will be.”
Ava arrived less than an hour later.
She walked into the room carrying a drink, talking about something that happened at work.
Then she noticed my hand.
She stopped.
“Why are you wearing an engagement ring?”
I froze.
There was no point pretending.
“To who?”
I took a breath.
“Damian Black.”
Her mouth fell open.
“The Damian Black?”
“Yes.”
She stared at me.
Then at the ring.
Then back at me.
“Lena.”
“I know.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
She pulled a chair closer.
“You’re telling me you met a billionaire, became his fiancée, and you’re getting married in five days?”
“It sounds worse when you say it like that.”
“Because it is worse when I say it like that.”
Despite myself, I laughed.
Ava lowered her voice.
“What’s really going on?”
I looked at my mother, then back at her.
“I need the money, Ava.”
Her expression changed.
I told her about the contract.
Not every detail, but enough.
When I finished, she was quiet.
“You’re marrying a man you barely know for money?”
“Yes.”
“And you think this is a good idea?”
“No.”
She blinked.
“Then why are you doing it?”
I looked at my mother.
“Because I don’t have many options left.”
Ava sighed and reached for my hand.
“I think this is a terrible idea.”
“I know.”
“But I’m not leaving you to deal with it alone.”
I smiled weakly.
“Thank you.”
She looked at the ring again.
“I still think you’re crazy.”
“I probably am.”
That night, after Ava left, I sat beside my mother’s bed while she slept.
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice finally came through.
“Congratulations, Miss Carter.”
I sat up.
“Who is this?”
“I hear you’re about to become very important to a man who doesn’t let people get close to him.”
My stomach tightened.
“How do you know me?”
A quiet laugh.
“Ask Damian about Vanessa.”
I stopped breathing for a second.
“Who?”
“Vanessa.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Marcus’s words came back to me.
Ask him what happened to the last person who trusted him completely.
And suddenly, his warning didn’t sound like an insult anymore.
It sounded like the beginning of something I should have been afraid of.
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