Chapter 2“A Dangerous Proposition”
1201 Words
Emilia gritted her teeth, staring at the contract in her hands.
“You're out of your mind if you think I'd agree to this”, she snapped, pushing the papers back toward Alex.
He leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed. “You're passing up a once-in-a lifetime opportunity”.
“I don't care”. She stood up, heart pounding. “I won't be your fake fiancee, and I sure as hell won't let you have any right over my life”.
Alex's gaze darkened.
He tilted his head slightly, studying her like she was a puzzle he was close to solving.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Absolutely”, she hissed. “Now if we're done here–”
“Sitdown”.
It wasn't a request.
Her pulse skipped.
There was something dangerous in his tone, something that sent an unsettling chill down her spine.
But she refused to let him intimidate her.
“You can't order me order me around–”
“Sit. Down.”
She clenched her fists. Fine. She wouldn't let him think he scared her. Slowly, she sank back into the chair.
Alex tapped his fingers against the desk. “I did a little digging, Emilia”.
Her heart stopped.
“What?” she whispered.
“My assistant ran a background check”, he continued smoothly.
He paused for a second, watching her reaction before continuing.
“I was curious about you. About why you ran that night. About why a woman with your talent disappeared for years and suddenly turned up at my company”.
Emilia's breath hitched. He knew.
“And imagine my surprise”, Alex went on, “when I discovered that your stepmother and stepsister set you up that night”.
Her stomach dropped.
Alex's gaze hardened. “They planned to ruin you. And yet, somehow, you ended up in my bed instead of whatever bastard they arranged”.
She swallowed. Damn it.
He knew.
“How much do you really hate them, Emilia?” His voice was low, almost taunting.
“Enough to want to ruin them back?”
She forced herself to look him in the eye. “I don't need your help for that”.
Alex smirked. “No? Because from where I'm sitting, you don't have the sources or power to take back what they stole from your mother”.
Her fingers dug into the armrest.
“I do”. He leaned forward. “If you sign this contract, Emilia, I'll make sure they regret everything.”
Her chest tightened.
“You need help with your family, don't you?” he continued, voice deceptively soft. “I can crush them for you. All you have to do is pretend to be my fiancée”.
The offer hung between them.
A week ago, she would've said no. Would have walked away without hesitation.
But now?
She thought about her late mother. The properties stolen from her family. The step-mother who never wanted her. The stepsister who had laughed as she destroyed her reputation. The father who never really cared for her.
Her grip on the contract tightened.
Alex watched her with sharp, knowing eyes. He already knew she was considering it.
Finally, she let out a slow breath.
“I'll think about it”.
He smiled– like he had already won.
“You have one week.”
The One Person She Can't Hide
Emilia didn't want to sign that contract.
She spent the next few days convincing herself that there had to be another way.
But every time she tried to push Alex Clarkson out of her mind, he found a way back in.
Not just him.
His words. His power. His ability to take back what was stolen from her mother.
But most of all– his suspicion.
He was watching her.
And she knew it was only a matter of time before he figured out the truth.
Because Lily existed.
And Lily looked just like him.
Four days later — Local Park
“Mommy, hurry up!”
Lily's tiny voice rang through the air as she ran ahead, her little sneakers kicking up fallen leaves. Her wild, chestnut curls bounced with every step.
“Lily, wait for me”, Emilia called, smiling despite the weight in her chest.
Lily was a ball of sunshine —smart, witty, and too observant for her own good.
Too much like Alex.
She should've never come back here.
Not to this city. Not so close to him.
“Mommy, look! Ice cream!” Lily pointed at a small vendor by the fountain, her green eyes lit with excitement.
The same sharp green eyes that belonged to one man.
Emilia froze.
Because standing just a few feet away, staring directly at her daughter– was Alex.
Her stomach dropped.
Lily had no idea she was being watched.
She was too focused on choosing between chocolate or vanilla.
But Alex?
He wasn't just watching Lily.
He was analysing her.
Recognising something.
Emilia's breath came too fast.
His gaze lifted, locking onto hers. She knew, right then, that he had figured it out.
The realization flashed across his face. A mixture of shock. Rage. And something unreadable.
His lips parted slightly. He knew.
She grabbed Lily's hand. “Let's go”.
“But Mommy–”
“Now, Lily”.
She spun on her heel and walked away as fast as she could, her pulse pounding in her ears.
She could feel his stare burning into her back.
It was too late.
She couldn't never come back.
Alex knew.
And he wouldn't let this go.
Later that night — Emilia's Apartment
A knock on the door.
A hard, authoritative knock.
She didn't have to check who it was.
She already knew.
Her fingers trembled as she unlocked the door.
The second she opened it, Alex stepped inside.
No invitation. No hesitation.
Just anger.
“You lied to me”.
Emilia's throat tightened. “I don't know what you're talking about”.
His jaw clenched. “Don't play dumb”. His voice was low. Dangerous. “That little girl in the park today”.
Her stomach twisted.
“I saw her, Emilia”.
He took a step closer.
“She's mine, isn't she?”
Her entire body went rigid.
For four years, she had prepared for this moment. She had told herself that if he ever found out, she'd be strong.
That she wouldn't let him take Lily away from her.
But now, standing in front of him, she felt her world crumbling.
Alex's voice dropped even lower.
“You have five seconds to tell me the truth”.
Emilia's nails dug into her palms. She couldn't hide this anymore.
So she did the only thing she could.
She lifted her chin and whispered.
“You don't get to take her from me”.
Alex's expression darkened. “So it's true”.
A sharp breath.
He had already decided.
She was his.
Lily was his.
And he wasn't going to let them go.
- Writer
