THE CEO RUN AWAY BRIDE

ONE NIGHT WITH THE CEO

The mansion was too quiet.

Rain hit the big glass windows like fingers tapping. I sat on the edge of a guest bed that probably cost more than my father's car.

One night. That was the deal.

Adrian Blackwood hadn't said two words to me since we got here. He just walked in, told a maid to "take care of her," and disappeared.

The maid brought me dry clothes. A towel. Food I couldn't eat.

"Mr. Blackwood said you can stay in the East Wing," she said softly. "Security is outside. No one can get in."

My son. Kemi.

I grabbed my phone with shaking hands. 3 missed calls from Auntie Bisi.

I called her back. "Is he okay?"

"Ella? Thank God! Yes, he's sleeping. But his school called. They said some men were asking questions about him."

My blood went cold. "What did you tell them?"

"Nothing! I said I didn't know you."

"Good. Don't tell anyone where you are. I'm... I'm safe. For now."

I hung up and my hands were shaking.

A knock.

The door opened and Adrian walked in.

He had changed into black sweatpants and a black t-shirt. No tie. No suit. But he still looked like a CEO. Like danger.

He was holding two mugs. He set one down on the table next to me. Tea.

"You didn't eat," he said. That was the first full sentence he'd said to me.

"I'm not hungry."

He sat in the chair across from me. Not too close. But close enough that I could see the scar on his jaw.

"Damian is offering 10 million naira for information on you," he said casually. Like he was talking about the weather.

I choked. "What?"

"And 50 million if someone brings you back to him." He sipped his tea. "Your father already called me twice. Begging."

I wrapped my arms around myself. "Why are you helping me?"

Adrian looked at me for a long time. "I told you. I don't like seeing him win."

"Bullshit," I said before I could stop myself. "You don't even know me."

"No," he agreed. "But I know what it looks like when someone is trapped."

He stood up and walked to the window. The rain was still falling.

"My lawyer drew up papers," he said. "A contract. You stay here for 30 days. Under my protection. In exchange, you do one thing for me."

My stomach dropped. "What thing?"

"Come to 3 business dinners with me. Pretend to be my date. That's it."

"Why?"

"Because Damian will be at all 3. And I want him to see that he can't have you."

It was cruel. It was calculated. It was exactly something a cold CEO would do.

"And after 30 days?"

"You're free. With money to start over. Far away from him. From your father. From all of it."

He turned and looked at me. "But there's a rule, Ella."

"What?"

"No falling in love. This is business."

I laughed. It came out shaky. "I don't fall in love with men who buy people."

"Good," he said. But his eyes did something weird when I said that.

He walked to the door. "Think about it. My lawyer will be here at 9am. If you sign, you and your son are safe starting tomorrow. If you don't..."

He didn't finish. He didn't need to.

The door closed behind him.

I looked at the tea. At the bed. At the security cameras in the corner.

One night had turned into 30 days.

One deal had turned into a cage with golden bars.

And the worst part?

Part of me wanted to sign.

Because for the first time in 10 years, someone was offering to protect me.

Even if it was the coldest man in Lagos.

---

TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 3: "THE CONTRACT"