Chapter 2 : The proposal
1096 Words
Layla sat at her desk, the pages of the marriage contract in front of her, but she couldn’t bring herself to read it. Her hands shook as she traced the edges of the paper. Every word on that document felt like a threat, a decision she wasn’t sure she could make.
How could Damien Blackwood, the CEO of Blackwood Enterprises, offer something so… outlandish? Marriage? A contract marriage to a stranger? She wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or disgusted.
Her mind raced with thoughts of Timmy in the hospital. The medical bills stacked higher every day, and every time she looked at him, lying there, pale and fragile, a weight settled heavily on her chest. She loved her little brother more than anything, but this… this was a huge decision. How could she possibly say yes to Damien, of all people?
She hadn’t even fully processed his words from their meeting earlier, but now, they played in her mind on a loop:
"Marry me. For one year. In return, I’ll pay for your brother’s surgery, his recovery, and every bill you have."
Damien Blackwood was a man who was used to getting what he wanted. He didn’t need a wife. He could have any woman he desired. So why her? What was his angle?
Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her from her thoughts. The screen lit up with a text from her best friend, Emily:
"Did you hear about the new CEO contract proposal? Everyone's talking about it. Is it true that Damien Blackwood personally offered you a deal?"
Layla swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. She quickly texted back:
"It’s not what you think."
But even she wasn’t sure what she thought.
As her eyes scanned the contract again, the weight of her reality hit her. Timmy’s surgery—the bills—she had no other choice. This deal could save him. It could fix everything.
But at what cost?
The thought of marrying someone she barely knew felt alien. And then there was the way Damien had looked at her. Cold, calculating, like she was a mere transaction. But was she really any different? She had to weigh her options carefully.
“Marry him, and save your brother’s life.”
It seemed simple enough in her head. But she knew better than to think things would be that easy.
Hours later, Layla stood outside Blackwood Enterprises, her heart hammering in her chest. She had made her decision. She would go to Damien and tell him she would accept his offer.
Her footsteps echoed in the quiet lobby as she passed the familiar marble floors and towering glass walls. Everything in the building screamed wealth—cold, emotionless wealth. The kind of wealth that could solve problems but never cure the loneliness that came with it.
She reached the elevator, her hand trembling as she pressed the button to the top floor, where Damien’s office awaited. Each floor she passed felt like a weight pressing against her chest, each number a reminder of how out of place she felt in this world of glass and chrome. But she had no choice.
The doors opened to the top floor, and she stepped out, walking toward his office. Her shoes clicked sharply against the polished floor, echoing in the vast, empty hallway.
As she approached, the massive doors to Damien’s office opened, revealing him standing by the window, staring out at the city below. His tall, imposing figure seemed to absorb the light from the setting sun. His profile was sharp, his posture commanding.
“Miss Monroe,” he said without turning, his voice as cool and smooth as always.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Mr. Blackwood, I’ve made my decision.”
Damien didn’t look at her. He simply nodded. “And?”
“I’ll marry you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Damien turned to face her then, his eyes narrowing. “Are you sure?”
Layla stood still, her body tense. “I have no choice. I need the money for Timmy’s surgery.”
For the first time since they’d met, she saw something flicker in his eyes—a hint of… something. It was brief, but it was there.
He walked toward her, his every step purposeful. The air around him felt charged, like he could crush her with a single look.
“Understand this, Miss Monroe,” he said, his voice low. “This marriage will be real. The public will see it that way. Your brother’s surgery, his recovery, everything will be taken care of. But I expect you to keep your end of the bargain. No scandals, no attention from the press. You will be the perfect wife in the eyes of the world. And I will be the perfect husband.”
Layla blinked. She hadn’t expected him to say that. His words weren’t cold, but they weren’t warm either. There was a finality to them that made her heart beat faster. This wasn’t just a contract—this was a real marriage, in the eyes of the public.
“Why me?” she blurted out before she could stop herself. “Why not anyone else? You could have anyone.”
Damien’s gaze softened for a split second, before he answered, his tone clipped, but with a note of honesty.
“Because you’re… different,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers. “You don’t ask for anything. You’re not like the women I’m used to—always after my wealth, my name. You won’t complicate things. This is a business arrangement, yes. But it will be real for the world. And that’s all that matters.”
Layla’s breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure if she should be offended or relieved. Either way, his words carried weight, and she realized that there was no going back now.
She nodded, though the tension in her chest didn’t ease.
He reached out, handing her a pen. “Sign it. And we’ll begin.”
She hesitated for a moment, then took the pen from his outstretched hand. Her fingers brushed his, and she felt a flicker of something—something dangerous and unknown.
With a deep breath, she signed the paper. This was it. There was no turning back.
Damien took the pen back, his gaze never leaving her. “Good. We start tomorrow. Be ready.”
Layla nodded, then turned to leave, but before she stepped out of the door, she heard him speak again.
“Welcome to my world, Miss Monroe.”
- Writer
