The Billionaire Forbidden Deal

Episode 1 - The Man She Was Never Supposed to Trust Elena Marlowe had always thought that losing everything was a slow process. She was wrong. Sometimes it happened with one phone call. "Miss Marlowe, you need to come to the office immediately." Elena frowned at the unknown number on her phone "Who is this?" There was a pause. "Your father's lawyer." Her heart stopped. "My father?" "I'm afraid there's been a serious development concerning Marlowe Holdings." Elena stood in the middle of her bedroom. Her father had been dead for six months. For six months she had forced herself to accept that the man who had raised her, protected her and built one of the most successful companies in the city was no longer coming home. The company was his one and only legacy. Until then Elena had believed it was safe. "What happened?" she asked. "We should discuss it in person." "Tell me." Another pause. "Your father's company is nearly bankrupt." Elena's fingers tightened around her phone. "What?" "The company's debts are significantly higher than what we initially believed. Several creditors are demanding immediate payment and there are legal claims against the company." "That can't be possible." "I wish I could tell you otherwise." Elena grabbed her handbag. "I'll be there in twenty minutes." She ended the call. For a few seconds she just stood there. Then she ran out --- By the time Elena arrived at Marlowe Holdings the building looked exactly as it always had. Tall. Elegant. Untouchable. Although something inside of it had changed. The employees whispered in the corridors. Avoided her gaze. Stared at her with pity. Elena hated that look. She marched straight into her father's former office. Mr. Collins, the family's old lawyer, sat behind the desk. Next to him were three unfamiliar men wearing expensive suits. Elena stopped. "What is going on?" Mr. Collins slowly got to his feet. "Please sit down." "I don't want to sit down. I want answers." One of the men placed a thick folder on the desk. “Your father left substantial debts.” Elena stared at the man. "Who are you?" "My name is Victor Hale. I represent several of the company's major creditors." "And?" "And unless the debts are settled within thirty days, Marlowe Holdings will be taken over." Elena felt the room spin. "No." Victor pushed the folder towards her. "It's already in motion." She opened it and saw numbers, contracts, legal notices, loans, millions. Her eyes flicked over the page. "How did my father accumulate this much debt?" "We don't know." "You're lying." Victor's expression didn't change. "Perhaps your father didn't tell you everything." Elena slammed the folder shut. "My father would never destroy his own company." Mr. Collins looked away. That small movement made Elena's stomach twist. "What aren't you telling me?" Before anyone could respond the door to the office opened. The conversations in the room ceased. Elena turned and found herself staring at a man. Tall. Immaculately dressed. His black suit looked almost as expensive as the silence that followed him. His eyes were unreadable. Cold. Controlled. Dangerously calm. Elena had seen him before. Everyone in the business world had. Damien Cross. Billionaire. Business tycoon. And, according to all the articles Elena had ever read about him, a man who never lost. His eyes landed on her. For a moment they both stood in silence. Then Damien walked into the room. “You're Elena Marlowe.” It wasn't a question. Elena lifted her chin. “And you're Damien Cross.” His mouth twitched into a slight smile. "So you know who I am." "I know enough." "Do you?" There was something unsettling about the way he said it. Elena crossed her arms. "What are you doing here?" Damien looked towards Victor. "I came to collect what your father owes me." Elena's expression hardened. "How much?" "Everything." Her heartbeat quickened. "You're one of the creditors?" "No." Damien took a step closer. "I own the largest claim against your company." Elena stared at him. "How?" "Your father borrowed from one of my private investment firms." "My father would never—" "He did." Damien placed another document on the table. Elena picked it up and saw her father's signature at the bottom. Her breath caught. There was no denying it. She looked up. "Why didn't I know about this?" "Because your father didn't want you to." "Then why are you telling me?" Damien's gaze didn't leave hers. "Because I have an offer." Elena laughed bitterly. "I'm not interested." "You haven't heard it." "I don't need to." "You might." His confidence irritated her. "What could you possibly offer me?" Damien leaned slightly closer. "I can save Marlowe Holdings." The room fell silent. Elena stared at him. "You can?" "Yes." "And what do you want in return?" Damien's expression changed. For the first time something darker seemed to appear in his eyes. "I want you to marry me." Elena blinked. Once. Twice. Then she laughed. A nervous, disbelieving laugh. "Excuse me?" "You heard me." "You're insane." "Possibly." "You expect me to marry you because my father's company is in debt?" "For one year." Elena shook her head. "No." "You should hear the rest." "There is no rest." Damien's voice was still calm. "I will clear every debt attached to Marlowe Holdings. Your employees keep their jobs. Your father's company remains under your control." Elena's eyes narrowed. "And in return?" "You become my wife for twelve months." " Why ?" Damien didn't answer immediately. That was when Elena noticed something. He wasn't looking at her like a businessman negotiating a deal. He was looking at her like someone who had been waiting for this moment. Finally he said quietly, "Because your family owes me more than money." Elena's blood ran cold. "What does that mean?" Damien straightened. "Your father took something from my family." "My father is dead." "I know." "Then why punish me?" His jaw tightened. "I'm not punishing you." "It certainly feels like it." He looked directly into her eyes. “Then don't accept.” Elena stared at him. He turned towards the door. "Wait." Damien stopped. "If I say yes…" He looked over his shoulder. "You save the company?" "Yes." "My employees?" "Yes." "My father's house?" "Everything that legally belongs to you remains yours." Elena swallowed. "And after one year?" "The marriage ends." Something about his certainty unsettled her. "You've planned this already." Damien gave her a faint smile. "You're finally asking the right questions." Before Elena could respond he walked away. She stayed standing in the middle of the office. Her father's company was collapsing. Her employees were about to lose everything. And the only person capable of saving them had just offered her the most unbelievable deal of her life. A marriage. A fake marriage. With a man who clearly hated her family. Elena looked down at the contract Damien had left behind. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it. The first page contained the agreement. The second the conditions. But the third page made her stop breathing. At the bottom was a handwritten note. You deserve to know why I chose you. Elena's eyes moved to the next line. Your father didn't die with all his secrets. Her heart pounded. Then she read the final sentence. Ask him who he really was. Elena slowly looked towards the door Damien had disappeared through. For the first time she wondered if saving her father's company had ever been the real reason he came for her. And somewhere outside of the office, Damien Cross stood alone in the corridor. His expression was no longer cold. It was haunted. He pulled out his phone and called someone. "She saw the contract." A woman's voice answered from the other end. "Did she agree?" Damien looked back at Elena's office door. "Not yet." "And if she refuses?" His eyes darkened. "She won't." " Why are you so certain ?" Damien was silent for a moment. Then he said, "Because she doesn't know the truth yet." The call ended. Damien slipped his phone into his pocket. He had spent six years waiting for this day. But there was one thing even he hadn't expected. He was beginning to wonder whether marrying Elena Marlowe would destroy his revenge... Or make him fall in love with the daughter of the man he had sworn to hate.