Bound by Vows

Chapter 3; The meeting

Elena’s pov;The city streets blurred past me as I rode in a cab towards the restaurant that afternoon.I had decided that my run down car didn’t fit in such a place and even though my finances was falling apart, I had to keep up appearances, I didn’t want him seeing me as some beggar or gold digger.I grabbed my phone and quickly went through the internet to find more information about him. It wasn’t like I was going to marry him, but I had to know everything about who I was going to see.Everything was the same, old informations that I knew, several more scandalous articles about his seccapades with models, actresses and even a porn star.I scoffed, he was the very worst.The cab pulled up in front of ‘La Voile’, an exclusive restaurant known for hosting the elites of the society. The pristine glass doors and valet service screamed money, a stark contrast to the worn interior of the family car I’d left at home. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the door handle. For a moment, I considered asking the driver to turn around. But then I thought of Ethan, his frail body hooked up to machines in the hospital. This wasn’t about me, it was about him. Steeling myself, I stepped out of the cab and walked inside. If I could successfully convince Damian to lend me some money…then every talks about this wedding would be over.Honestly, I wasn’t sure he wanted to marry me either, he was always seen with supermodels and vixens, why would he want to tie himself to someone like me, someone he knows nothing about.Perhaps, this meeting was for him to tell me that the wedding was his parent’s idea and that he wasn’t interested.The attendant greeted me with a polite smile, his sharp eyes sweeping over my modest attire. “Miss Whitmore?” “Yes,” I said, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. I noticed that the place was empty and wondered if it was like the movies, perhaps, he had rented the entire place. “This way, please.” He led me to a private dining room at the back of the restaurant. The doors were heavy, carved wood, and as they swung open, I found myself face-to-face with Damian Blackwood. He looked the same as I remember, and even better. The media didn’t do much Justice to his looks.He was seated at the head of a long, mahogany table, his presence commanding even from across the room. Dressed in a tailored black suit, he exuded an aura of power and control that made the air feel heavier. “Miss Whitmore,” he said as he rose to his feet. His voice was deep, smooth, and unnervingly calm. “Mr. Blackwood,” I replied, forcing myself to meet his piercing gray eyes. “Please, sit.” He gestured to the chair opposite him, and I complied, my heart slamming hard against my chest. But I put on a smile to hide my nervousness.A waiter appeared with a bottle of wine, but I waved it off. I needed a clear head for whatever was about to happen. Damian leaned back in his chair, studying me with an intensity that almost made my skin crawl. “I appreciate you coming. I understand this situation must be…unusual for you.” “Unusual is one way to put it,” I said, folding my hands in my lap to hide their trembling. I eased myself onto the seat. “So, I heard that we are to get married.”He smirked, as if amused by my statement. “Of course, I know, I arranged the marriage.”I opened my mouth to speak, but due to how stunned I was, I couldn’t say a word as I just stared at him.He chuckled. “I’ll get straight to the point. Your family’s company is failing. I’ve reviewed the numbers myself, and without intervention, Whitmore Designs won’t survive another month.” I clenched my fists under the table, regaining myself. “I’m aware of that, Mr. Blackwood. What I don’t understand is why you’re interested in a marriage just to save it.” His smirk faded, replaced by a calculating expression. “Your father built a reputable brand. It has potential, even now. With the right backing, it could thrive. I see an opportunity, and I’m willing to take it. On one condition.” I swallowed hard, already knowing what he was about to say. “I want you to marry me.” There it was. The proposal, or rather, the demand that had brought me here. “Why?” The word escaped before I could stop it. Damian’s lips curved into a small, cold smile. “I have my reasons. Let’s just say it’s mutually beneficial. You gain the resources to save your company and your brother’s life. I gain… what I need.” “And what exactly is that?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. “That’s not your concern.” The arrogance in his tone set my teeth on edge. “You expect me to agree to this without knowing why?” He didn’t speak and I swallowed hard to ease my anger. “Look, Mr…Blackwood, I don’t want to marry me and I know you don’t want to marry me either, you don’t know me….”“I do want to marry you,” he said, surprising me even more.I was suddenly tongue tied and he continued.“I expect you to agree to this because you don’t have a choice,” he said bluntly. “Your family needs me, Miss Whitmore. And whether you like it or not, I hold all the cards.” The room felt stifling, the weight of his words pressing down on me. He was right. I didn’t have a choice. But that didn’t mean I had to give in, I still had another option. “If I say no?” I asked, tilting my chin defiantly. “Then your company collapses, your brother’s treatment ends, and your family loses everything,” he said, his tone void of emotion. I wanted to scream, to tell him he couldn’t control me, but the truth was staring me in the face. He could. “Look, instead of a loveless marriage, why don’t you lend me some money, just something to keep the company afloat and maybe for my brother’s surgery and you can own a share in Whitmore designs, of course, they’ll be a repayment plan. At the end of five years, we’ll be able to pay you everything with interest,” I shoved my hand into my bag and brought out the loan proposal I had made before coming to the restaurant. “Here, please go through it.”He glanced at it for a while and laughed. It was a brief laughter and then he continued. He laughed so hard that I scrunched my face and glanced at the paper again and then at him and at myself, wondering what was so funny. He stopped laughing, his expression becoming serious as he snatched the paper from me and tore it up, making my eyes widen with fright.“What!”The way he stared at me sent goosebumps to my skin. “You think I’d waste my money to invest in some crumbling company with no future?” He laughed. “What? Five years repayment plan? You can’t even do that in fifty years!”His words made my heart broke and I could feel the tears sting the corners of my eyes. “You have until tomorrow. After that, my offer expires.” He stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. I rose as well, my legs shaky as I turned to leave. “Miss Whitmore,” he called just as I reached the door. I paused before turning back over my shoulder. “Don't waste my time."