A proposal to consider
1356 Words
The dim glow of their bedside lamp cast long shadows across the cramped studio apartment as Lily sat cross-legged on the bed, the letter spread out in front of her like a riddle she couldn’t solve.
Emma paced back and forth, barefoot, still in her dress from the gala, her dark curls bouncing wildly with each step. “This is insane,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. “Marriage, Lily? Marriage? From a man you barely know?”
Lily stared at the words again, as if they might change upon a second reading. “It’s a contract. Not a real marriage.”
Emma scoffed. “Oh, great. That makes it so much better.”
Lily rubbed her temples. “Em, I don’t think Christian is the type to marry out of love.”
Emma huffed. “Yeah, no kidding. But why you?”
That was the question that had been haunting Lily since she opened the letter. Why her?
Sure, they had spent time together that night. He had taken an interest in her. But to go from dinner to this?
Lily tapped her fingers against the paper. “He must have a reason. A business reason. Maybe an image thing? Maybe he needs a wife for some corporate deal.”
Emma crossed her arms. “And you’re just considering it? Like it’s normal?”
Lily sighed. “Emma, think about it. This man just dropped fifty grand in my account for showing up to dinner. Imagine what he’ll offer if I actually say yes.”
Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Are you even hearing yourself? This isn’t just a job, Lily. This is your life. Your freedom.”
Lily looked around the tiny apartment, the peeling paint, the secondhand furniture, the lingering scent of coffee from her late-night café shifts.
Freedom.
She’d never really had that.
Emma softened slightly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I just don’t want you to regret this.”
Lily sighed. “Neither do I. But Em… I’m tired. I work two jobs just to scrape by, I get sabotaged at every turn, and let’s be honest my modeling career isn’t going anywhere fast.”
Emma bit her lip. “That’s not true.”
Lily gave her a small, knowing smile. “We both know it is.”
Emma exhaled, leaning back against the headboard. “So what, you’re just gonna go to his office tomorrow and say yes?”
Lily hesitated, staring down at the letter. The weight of the decision pressed against her chest.
Could she really do this?
Could she really marry Christian Lancaster?
She lifted her gaze, meeting Emma’s concerned eyes.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I think I am.”
Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of the tiny apartment, casting soft golden hues over the room. Lily sat at the small dining table, absentmindedly stirring a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. Her mind was still spinning from the night before, from the endless deliberation, the what-ifs, and Emma’s cautious but reluctant support.
Emma emerged from the bathroom, rubbing a towel through her damp curls. “So,” she said, plopping down on the couch and folding her legs beneath her. “Are you nervous?”
Lily let out a dry chuckle. “Terrified.”
Emma gave her a small smirk. “Good. That means you haven’t completely lost your mind.”
Lily rolled her eyes but smiled. “You really think I’m making a mistake?”
Emma exhaled. “I think…” She hesitated, then sighed. “I think you’re stepping into something really big, something you can’t control. But I also know you, Lily. You don’t back down from a challenge.”
Lily nodded, appreciating her best friend’s honesty. “I have to do this, Em.”
Emma studied her for a moment, then grinned. “Well, at least dress to kill when you go see him. If you’re about to agree to marry one of the most powerful men in the industry, you might as well remind him why he chose you.”
Lily laughed, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
Emma wiggled her eyebrows. “And you love me for it.”
Lily stood outside Lancaster Tower, her heart hammering as she tilted her head back to take in the sheer height of the skyscraper. The building was a masterpiece of modern architecture, all sleek glass and steel, towering above the rest of Manhattan like a king surveying his kingdom.
And Christian Lancaster was the king.
A doorman greeted her as she stepped inside, leading her to the elevator. The ride up was eerily smooth, each floor indicator lighting up silently until the doors slid open to reveal the topmost level of the tower.
The receptionist, a stunning woman with sharp features and an air of efficiency, gave her a polite smile. “Miss Lily, Mr. Lancaster is expecting you. Please, this way.”
Lily followed her down a sleek, minimalist hallway lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. At the end of the hall, the receptionist pushed open two massive doors, revealing a sprawling office with panoramic views of New York.
Christian stood by the window, his back to her, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit. The morning sun cast a golden glow over him, accentuating the sharp lines of his figure.
“You came,” he said without turning around.
Lily forced herself to steady her voice. “You invited me.”
He finally turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. “And yet, you could have refused.”
She swallowed. “I thought about it.”
His lips quirked slightly. “But you didn’t.”
Lily took a deep breath, stepping further into the office. “I need to understand why. Why me?”
Christian studied her for a long moment, then walked to his desk, picking up a sleek black folder. He slid it across the polished surface toward her.
“Read that.”
Lily hesitated before flipping the folder open. Inside were neatly typed documents—a contract. Her eyes skimmed over the words, catching phrases like six-month agreement, confidentiality clause, and public appearances required.
Her stomach twisted.
“You want to marry me for a business deal,” she stated, looking up at him.
Christian didn’t flinch. “I need a wife for an upcoming negotiation with the Valdez family. It’s a billion-dollar deal, and they only trust men who are ‘family-oriented.’”
Lily frowned. “So this is all for appearances?”
His expression remained unreadable. “For now.”
She exhaled, setting the contract down. “And what do I get out of this?”
Christian leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. “Security. A lifestyle most people can only dream of. A guaranteed career boost.” His eyes darkened slightly. “And freedom from the struggles you’ve been facing.”
Lily stiffened. “You looked into me.”
His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “I like to know who I’m dealing with.”
A silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.
Lily’s fingers brushed over the contract. “This… isn’t normal.”
Christian’s gaze didn’t waver. “Neither am I.”
Her heart pounded. She should say no. She should. But the thought of returning to her cramped apartment, of working herself to exhaustion just to make ends meet…
She lifted her chin. “I’ll need time to think about it.”
Christian nodded as if he had expected that. Then he picked up an envelope from his desk and handed it to her.
“Open this when you get home,” he said.
Lily hesitated before taking it. Their fingers brushed for the briefest moment, sending a strange jolt through her.
She swallowed and turned toward the door.
“Lily.”
She paused, glancing over her shoulder.
Christian’s eyes held something unreadable. “Don’t take too long.”
Her breath caught, but she nodded before walking out of the office, the weight of the envelope heavy in her hands.
- Writer
