A Deal with the Enemy

Chapter5

Silas Belmont sat in the back seat of his sleek black Bentley, fingers drumming against the polished wood of the armrest as he replayed the chaos of the board meeting in his head. The sheer spectacle of it had both amused and infuriated him. He had anticipated Richard Montgomery’s downfall, but he had expected the old man to witness his empire crumble before drawing his final breath. Now, fate had denied him that particular satisfaction.

Beside him was Julian Carter, his best friend and most trusted confidant who was leaning back with his arms crossed. “So, what now? The old bastard died before he could see the ruin you wanted for him. Does this change things?”

Silas exhaled slowly, his sharp gaze fixed outside the tinted window. “Not necessarily. The game has shifted, but it isn't over.”

Julian tilted his head. “You mean the girl?”

Silas smiled. “Yes. Vera Montgomery. She’s his only daughter and his greatest weakness, and now she’s stranded in the storm her uncle brewed. Victor thinks he has won, but I can use Vera to destroy everything Richard built.”

Julian shook his head, an edge of reluctance in his voice. “You’ve built your empire without them. You don’t need this.”

“It’s not about my need Julian. It’s about justice,” Silas said, his voice carrying the weight of years of bitterness. “Richard Montgomery ruined my father, left him to die a broken man. I won’t stop until his entire legacy is reduced to nothing.”

As they approached the building, Silas’s sharp eyes caught sight of Vera standing by the large stone columns outside the grand entrance of Montgomery Enterprises. Her slender figure trembled, and though she was trying to mask her distress, her tear streaked face betrayed her.

Silas stopped in his tracks, an idea forming in his mind. He turned to Julian, his lips curving into a slow, dangerous smile. ‘The plan isn’t over. It’s just taking a different route.”

Julian raised a brow. “You’re really going with the plan of using her?”

“Exactly. She’s the key to taking everything from them.”

Julian let out a breath but made no move to dissuade him. He knew Silas well enough to realize his mind was made up.

Silas straightened his jacket, squared his shoulders, and strode toward Vera with the confidence of a man who never heard the word ‘no.’

She didn’t notice him at first, too lost in her grief, but when he cleared his throat, she quickly wiped her tears and turned toward him. Recognition flashed in her red rimmed eyes. “You were at the meeting.”

“Silas Belmont,” he introduced himself, offering a brief, polite nod. “Investor in Montgomery Enterprises. I witnessed the rather unfortunate turn of events in there.”

She stiffened, lifting her chin slightly. “If you’re here to tell me how my uncle is the rightful CEO and I should step aside, save your breath.”

Silas grinned. “On the contrary, I don’t trust your uncle any more than you do. That’s why I have a proposition.”

Her brows furrowed as she studied him. “A proposition?”

“Yes. A mutually beneficial business arrangement,” Silas said smoothly. “A contract marriage.”

Her breath hitched, eyes widening. “A what?”

“You heard me,” Silas said, his voice calm and composed. “I own a significant percentage of Montgomery Enterprises’ shares. You have a portion as well. Individually, we don’t have enough to challenge Victor. But together, we could overthrow him. A marriage between us would make that possible.”

Vera stared at him as if he’d grown another head. “You want me to marry you… for business?”

Silas’s expression remained unreadable. “Precisely. It would be a purely strategic partnership. No emotions, no romantic obligations. Just two individuals combining their resources to achieve a common goal.”

Vera blinked, her mind racing. “And what’s in it for you?”

Silas’s smile was slight, but there was an unmistakable glint in his eyes. “That’s something we’ll discuss once you agree.”

Vera hesitated. Every logical part of her mind screamed that this was reckless, that she didn’t know this man well enough to trust him. But logic had been trampled the moment Victor walked into that meeting with her father’s will in hand. The betrayal, the humiliation… it burned deep. Her father had promised her everything, prepared her for this and yet, somehow, Victor had manipulated it all in his favor. The thought of watching him sit in her father’s chair, of him deciding when she was ‘worthy’ enough… it was unbearable, an impossibility.

Silas was offering her a way out. A way to fight back.

She swallowed hard and met his gaze. “How would this work?”

“We’d sign a contract outlining all terms. The marriage would be legally binding but strictly professional. Public appearances will be made when necessary, but beyond that, we will maintain separate lives.”

Vera exhaled sharply, her mind whirling. “And if I agree?”

“My lawyers will draft the contract, and we’ll make it official as soon as possible.”

She took a shaky breath, then squared her shoulders. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

Silas’s smirk deepened. “Excellent. You won’t regret this, Vera.”

She wasn’t so sure about that.

The moment Vera returned home, doubt began creeping into her mind. Had she just made a deal with the devil? She barely knew Silas Belmont, but everything about him screamed danger. He was cold, calculating, and unreadable.

But what choice did she have? Victor had stolen everything. If she didn’t act fast, she would be left with nothing, forced out of her father’s company altogether. Silas’s offer was her best shot at reclaiming what was rightfully hers.

A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. Charlie entered, looking wary. “Are you okay?”

Vera let out a bitter laugh. “Not even close.”

Charlie frowned. “And the guy you were talking to outside? Silas Belmont?”

She hesitated before saying, “He made me an offer. A contract marriage.”

Charlie’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. He owns a lot of shares in Montgomery Enterprises. If we combine our shares, we can challenge Victor.”

Charlie looked skeptical. “And you trust him?”

Vera bit her lip. “No. But I trust Victor even less.”

Charlie sighed. “Just… be careful. Belmont is dangerous. He didn’t build his empire by playing fair.”

“Neither did Victor,” Vera countered. “I don’t have the luxury of trusting anyone right now. I have to take my chances.”

Charlie studied her for a long moment before nodding. “Then I’ll stand by you. Just don’t let him control you Vera.”

Vera's jaw tightened. “I won’t.”

As she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap. But if Silas Belmont thought she was a pawn in his game, he was sorely mistaken.

She would play along, for now. But in the end, she would win.

She had to.