Bound to a Life He Never Meant to Share

Contract Terms

I inhaled sharply and stepped inside, forcing my spine straight despite the tremor in my chest. The door clicked shut behind me with a quiet finality. Cedric, who had accompanied me in, gave a brief, respectful bow before excusing himself. His footsteps faded, and then.

I was alone.

Whatever this was, I felt it instantly. Power lived here. Not the loud kind. Not the kind that begged to be noticed. This was controlled, deliberate—wealth so vast it didn’t need to announce itself.

The room was expansive, flooded with soft natural light. Tall windows stretched across one wall, sheer curtains stirring gently as if the air itself moved on command. The furniture was minimalist yet unmistakably expensive—clean lines, dark polished wood, leather that looked untouched by time. Abstract designs were etched into the walls, subtle but masterful, like art meant only for those who knew how to look.

At the center stood a vast polished table, its surface pristine, stacked neatly with document files—contracts, I assumed. The faint scent of something floral lingered in the air, mixed with something sharper, richer. Not perfume. Not incense. But wealth.

My gaze wandered slow, careful... until it landed on him.

A man sat across the table, his back to me, framed by the window. The city stretched endlessly beyond him, but he didn’t look at it like someone admiring the view.

He looked like someone who owned it.

Heat coiled down my spine, sharp and unsettling. I lifted my chin, grounding myself.

No... Not like this. I would not shrink. Not today. Not for anyone. For Mia, I could endure anything.

Silence stretched between us—thick, deliberate. It pressed against my ears until finally, without turning, he spoke.

“I await your introduction.”

His voice was calm. Measured. The kind that didn’t need volume to command attention.

I snapped my head up, startled despite myself. “Uh... Hello, good morning,” I said, then steadied my breath. “My name is Elona. Cedric already informed me about the terms and the nature of the application.” My hands clasped tightly at my side, embarrassment and desperation burning beneath my skin. “And… I’m willing to comply.”

The words tasted bitter.

This... this was not the life I imagined for myself. Signing my name into a stranger’s life. Reducing marriage to ink and obligation.

But what choice did I have? Mia’s face rose unbidden in my mind. Pale. Fragile. Slipping away. All because of you, Damien.

Just wait. I will survive this. And I will never forget.

“What do you say, Miss Elona,” he asked quietly, still not looking at me. “Do you agree?”

For a second, I stood frozen, something about his composure unsettling me. If it were truly that simple, he wouldn’t sound so detached. So certain.

Summoning courage I wasn’t sure I possessed, I spoke. “Pardon me,” I said, my voice steady despite my racing heart. “But if I may ask, what are your true motives behind this contract?”

Slowly, deliberately, his chair turned.

And then, I saw him.

He rose slightly, leaning back into the chair with effortless control. His hair was dark, immaculately groomed. Broad shoulders filled the crisp white shirt beneath a tailored red silk jacket. His face was sculpted—sharp jawline, composed expression, but it was his eyes that held me captive. Dark. Piercing. Calculating. The kind that stripped you bare without touching you.

For a breathless moment, I forgot how to move. The air felt heavy, like it demanded reverence.

One brow lifted faintly as his gaze swept over me. Something that might have been surprise or perhaps distaste at the bruise blooming on my cheek. The expression vanished so quickly I wondered if I imagined it.

“Ahem.” A low sound left him, almost amused. “I like your confidence.” His lips curved into something that resembled a smile—though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“It’s rare to meet a woman confident enough to challenge words that clearly fall beneath her standards.”

Excuse me? His words only raised more questions. This was a contract—an arrangement. Of course there would be conversation before any agreement. Did he expect blind acceptance? A quiet yes without a second thought?

Judging by his presence alone, I doubted many people, especially women had the courage to question him once he spoke.

I swallowed. Wealth was one thing. But this man didn’t just have money, he wielded power.

“I don’t think asking questions makes this a challenge,” I said carefully, keeping my tone light. “It’s a mutual conversation. I’m only trying to understand your motives—just as you’ll want to understand mine. I have my reasons for being here.”

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze sharp and assessing, as if measuring exactly how much I understood, or how much I dared. Then he finally spoke.

“True,” he said, sliding the stack of files across the table toward me. “Cedric already explained most of it. As for me… let’s just say I’m taking over the company. Securing control over several corporations isn’t simple. Without marriage, I won’t stand a chance with my family or the board. And I have just a month left.”

He smirked. “So at a moment like this, I figured this was the only solution.”

“I’m sure Cedric mentioned some details, but here—go through the files. Make sure everything’s clear.”