Chapter 2 --The proposal
1072 Words
The next morning, Elena could barely eat. The words “Marry me” echoed in her head like a haunting melody she couldn’t silence.
It had to be a dream — no, a nightmare. Who in their right mind proposes to a complete stranger?
But then she remembered his eyes — cold, unreadable, and full of something powerful that made her chest tighten.
Adrian Blackwood.
Even his name felt dangerous.
She glanced at the envelope lying on her small kitchen table. The check inside looked unreal, like something from a movie. Two million dollars. Enough to save Mateo’s life. Enough to erase every struggle she’d ever known.
Her phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number.
> The car will be outside your apartment by 10 a.m. — A.B.
Her hands shook.
She told herself she wouldn’t go. She told herself she wasn’t that desperate. But when the hospital called at 9:30 to remind her that Mateo’s surgery deposit was due in three days, something inside her broke.
By 9:55, she stood outside her building, clutching her bag, the rain falling softly again — just like the night she met him.
A sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The driver stepped out and opened the door without a word.
“Elena Cruz?”
She nodded, heart pounding.
“Mr. Blackwood is expecting you.”
She hesitated for a heartbeat, then got in.
---
🌹
The car stopped in front of a mansion that looked like it belonged in another world — tall iron gates, stone walls, and glass windows that gleamed like mirrors.
Her breath caught.
When the doors opened, a butler in a dark suit greeted her. “Miss Cruz, please follow me.”
The interior was silent, elegant, intimidating. She could hear the echo of her own footsteps on the marble floor.
He was waiting for her in a sunlit office — dressed in a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing a silver watch that probably cost more than her entire apartment building.
“Right on time,” Adrian said without looking up from his papers.
She crossed her arms. “You didn’t give me much of a choice.”
Finally, he looked at her — and the full weight of his gaze made her shiver. “Everyone has a choice, Miss Cruz. Even you.”
“Then why does this feel like blackmail?” she snapped.
A faint smile curved his lips. “Because it’s business.”
He stood and handed her a folder. Inside was a thick document.
“Elena, this is our marriage contract. It will last six months. During that time, you’ll be known publicly as my wife. You’ll live here, attend social events, and play the role perfectly.”
She swallowed hard. “And what do I get in return? Just the money?”
His expression softened for the first time. “You’ll get protection. And financial freedom. Two million dollars transferred in full once the contract is signed.”
She stared at him. “Protection from what?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened. “You don’t need to know that. Not yet.”
Something in his tone told her there were things lurking beneath the surface — dangerous things.
He handed her a pen. “You can walk away, Elena. Or you can sign, and change your life.”
Her hand trembled.
She thought of Mateo’s frail smile, his weak heartbeat, the hospital bills stacked on her counter.
Slowly, she signed her name.
Adrian took the papers, his gaze unreadable. “Good choice, Mrs. Blackwood.”
The sound of that name on his lips made her heart race — not just with fear, but something deeper.
---
🌹
A few hours later, Elena found herself standing in a walk-in closet filled with designer clothes, every color and size arranged like a boutique.
A woman with sharp eyes and a kind smile approached her. “I’m Clara — Mr. Blackwood’s assistant. I’ll help you adjust.”
“Adjust?” Elena repeated weakly.
Clara smiled. “You’re the boss’s wife now. Or at least, you have to look like her.”
Elena touched one of the dresses — silk, soft, beautiful. “This feels unreal.”
Clara’s gaze softened. “You must be special. He’s never brought a woman here before.”
Elena frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Clara said quietly, “Adrian Blackwood doesn’t trust easily. Be careful, dear. In his world, love and danger walk side by side.”
---
That night, Elena couldn’t sleep.
The house was too big, too silent. Somewhere down the hall, she heard footsteps — his.
Curiosity tugged at her. She stepped out, following the faint light coming from his office.
Through the half-open door, she saw him sitting behind his desk, a phone pressed to his ear. His expression was hard, his tone deadly calm.
“No one touches her,” he said coldly. “If anyone even goes near Elena Cruz, they’ll regret it.”
Her breath caught.
He was talking about her.
When he hung up, his eyes flicked to the doorway — and for a moment, their gazes met.
“Elena,” he said quietly. “You shouldn’t be wandering around this late.”
She stepped inside, trying to sound brave. “I heard my name. Are you protecting me from something?”
Adrian’s jaw clenched. “Go to bed.”
“Adrian—”
He stood, closing the distance between them in two long strides. “There are things you don’t understand. My world isn’t safe, Elena. You need to trust me.”
She stared up at him. “How can I trust a man who hides everything?”
His eyes softened for the briefest second. Then he leaned down, his voice a whisper against her ear.
“Because I’d rather die than let anything happen to you.”
Her heart stopped.
When she looked up, his face was inches from hers — close enough to feel his breath, to see the storm brewing behind his calm mask.
And before she could think, his lips brushed against hers — gentle, testing, electric.
Then he pulled away just as quickly, his eyes dark with something dangerous.
“Goodnight, Mrs. Blackwood.”
And just like that, he was gone — leaving her trembling in the doorway, her fingers touching her lips, her heart racing faster than it ever had before.
- Writer
