The Billionaire's Contract Bride

Chapter One The Offer Elena Hart knew exactly what it felt like to be noticed. She had spent most of her life being the girl people remembered after she left a room, the girl whose beauty attracted second glances even when she wasn't trying to attract attention. Today, however, she wished desperately that nobody would look at her at all. She stood in the marble lobby of Blackwood Enterprises, trying not to feel intimidated by the enormous glass walls, polished floors, and employees who seemed to move with the confidence of people who had never worried about whether their bank account could survive the month. Elena looked down at herself. A fitted cream blouse, black trousers, simple flats, and her long hair falling neatly over her shoulders. Nothing extravagant. She didn't need extravagance. Her natural appearance already made people look twice. Her features were striking, her eyes expressive, and there was something effortlessly elegant about the way she carried herself. She had a naturally feminine figure and a confidence that made her appear even more noticeable, despite the fact that she was currently doing everything possible to disappear. The receptionist looked up. “Miss Hart?” “Yes.” “Mr. Blackwood is expecting you.” Elena swallowed. “Thank you.” She walked toward the elevator. She had no idea why Adrian Blackwood wanted to see her. Actually, that was a lie. She had an idea. Money. Men like Adrian Blackwood didn't invite ordinary people into their private offices without a reason. And Elena needed money badly enough to be willing to hear him out. Her younger sister's school fees were overdue. The landlord had already warned them about the rent. There were still bills left behind after their mother's death, and every time Elena managed to clear one, another seemed to appear. She had been surviving by working harder. Adrian Blackwood had apparently decided she should survive differently. The elevator opened on the forty second floor. A woman in a black suit was waiting. “Miss Hart, this way.” Elena followed her through a quiet hallway. The assistant stopped at a pair of dark wooden doors and knocked once. “Come in.” The voice from inside was deep, calm, and completely certain of itself. The door opened. Elena stepped inside. Then she stopped. Adrian Blackwood stood beside the enormous windows overlooking the city. She had seen photographs of him online the night before. The photographs hadn't done him justice. He was exceptionally handsome, the kind of handsome that made a person understand why magazines enjoyed putting billionaires on their covers. Tall, broad shouldered, and impeccably dressed, he had dark hair, a sharply defined jaw, strong features, and intense eyes that seemed to notice everything. His suit fit perfectly. So did his expression. Controlled. Confident. Almost intimidating. Elena immediately understood why people lowered their voices when they said his name. Adrian turned fully toward her. His gaze moved over her for a moment before returning to her face. Something unreadable passed through his eyes. “You're Elena Hart.” She lifted an eyebrow. “You already knew that.” “Yes.” “Then why ask?” The corner of his mouth moved slightly. “Sit.” “I prefer standing.” His eyes narrowed with what might have been amusement. “You're not nervous.” “I am.” “You don't look it.” “I've had practice.” That earned her the faintest smile. Adrian walked toward his desk. “Then perhaps this meeting will be easier than I expected.” Elena remained where she was. “What exactly is this meeting about?” He opened a folder. “Marriage.” Elena stared at him. Silence filled the room. Then she laughed. Once. “You're serious.” “Yes.” “You want to marry me?” “I want you to marry me.” “That sounds even worse.” Adrian sat down. Elena finally took the chair opposite him. She crossed her arms. “Explain.” “My grandfather left a condition in his will.” “What kind of condition?” “If I'm unmarried by my twenty seventh birthday, I lose controlling ownership of Blackwood Enterprises.” Elena stared at him. “So your solution is to find a wife.” “Correct.” “And you chose me.” “Correct.” “Why?” Adrian slid a folder toward her. “Read it.” She opened it. The document was professionally prepared. Six months. A legal marriage. Public appearances. Confidentiality. Separate bedrooms. No interference in personal lives. A divorce after the agreed period. Then she reached the payment section. Her breath caught. She read the number again. It was enough to change her entire life. Adrian watched her carefully. “You understand the arrangement.” Elena closed the folder. “You investigated me.” “I needed to know who I was approaching.” “You investigated my family.” “Yes.” “My sister?” “Yes.” Her expression hardened. “You had no right.” “Perhaps not.” “Then why did you?” “Because I don't make important decisions blindly.” “And you think marrying a stranger is an important decision?” “For me, it's a necessary one.” Elena stood. “I don't think we're going to agree.” “You haven't heard everything.” “I heard enough.” She picked up her bag. Adrian didn't stop her. Instead, he said quietly, “Your sister's tuition is overdue.” Elena froze. She turned slowly. “How do you know that?” “I told you. I investigated you.” “That doesn't give you the right to use it against me.” “I'm not using it against you.” “It certainly sounds like it.” Adrian stood. At his full height, he seemed even more imposing. “I am offering you enough money to solve that problem.” Elena stared at him. “And in exchange, I become your wife.” “For six months.” “Pretend wife.” “Publicly, there will be no difference.” She shook her head. “You're insane.” “Possibly.” “You expect me to believe this is just business?” “It is.” “Then why me?” Adrian's expression changed. For the first time, the confidence slipped enough for something more serious to show beneath it. “Because I don't want someone who is already trying to become part of my life.” Elena said nothing. “I don't want someone impressed by my name,” he continued. “I don't want someone who has spent years dreaming about becoming Mrs. Blackwood.” “And you think I haven't?” “I know you haven't.” “How?” “Because when you walked into this room, you looked at the view before you looked at me.” Elena blinked. She hadn't realized he'd noticed. Adrian's gaze remained fixed on her. “You're not interested in my money.” “I am.” That surprised him. Elena smiled slightly. “I'm just not interested in you because of it.” For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Adrian laughed softly. It was the first genuinely human sound she'd heard from him. “I think I might actually like you.” “Don't.” “Why?” “Because this is supposed to be business.” His smile disappeared. “Exactly.” Elena looked down at the contract again. Six months. Six months could pay the bills. Six months could keep her sister in school. Six months could give them breathing room. But six months could also destroy the peaceful life she had fought so hard to maintain. She closed the folder. “I need time.” “You have forty eight hours.” “That's not much.” “My birthday is in two weeks.” “Then find someone else.” “I already did.” She looked at him. “What?” “You.” Elena stared. Adrian walked back toward the window. “I don't change my mind easily.” “And if I say no?” “My uncle takes control of the company.” “You'd really risk everything because I refused?” “No.” He looked over his shoulder. “I'd find another solution.” “Then why do you look like you already know I'll say yes?” “I don't.” He paused. “But I know you care about your sister.” That was the moment Elena hated him. Not because he was arrogant. Not because he was rich. Because he had found the one thing she couldn't ignore. She picked up the contract. “I'll read it.” “Good.” She walked toward the door. “Miss Hart.” She stopped. Adrian's voice was quieter this time. “If you agree, there will be one rule you cannot break.” She turned. “What rule?” “Once the contract is signed, nobody can know our marriage is fake.” Elena frowned. “Not even your family?” “Especially not my family.” “Why?” “My uncle has people watching everything I do.” “So this is more complicated than you told me.” “Yes.” She stared at him. “And you still expect me to agree?” “No.” Adrian's eyes met hers. “I expect you to decide for yourself.” Elena left. The elevator doors closed. Only then did she realize she was holding the contract against her chest. She looked down at it. Six months. A marriage. A billionaire. It sounded like the beginning of a terrible decision. Her phone rang. Her sister. Elena answered immediately. “Hey.” “Are you okay?” “I'm fine.” “You sound weird.” “I had a meeting.” “With the man who offered you the job?” Elena hesitated. “Something like that.” “Did you take it?” Elena looked at the contract. “No.” Her sister sighed. “It's okay. We'll figure things out.” Those words settled something inside Elena. She didn't want her sister worrying about money anymore. She didn't want to keep pretending everything was fine. When the elevator reached the lobby, Elena stepped outside. Rain had started falling. She stood beneath the entrance awning and opened the contract again. Then her phone vibrated. An unknown number. You should not marry Adrian Blackwood. Elena's brows pulled together. Another message arrived. You don't know what he has done. She stared at the screen. Before she could respond, a third message appeared. Ask him why he really chose you. Elena's heart began beating faster. She looked up at the Blackwood Enterprises building. Forty two floors above her, behind the glass of his private office, Adrian Blackwood was standing at the window. Watching her. Her phone vibrated one final time. This message wasn't from the unknown number. It was from Adrian. Come back upstairs. Elena looked at the contract in her hand. Then at Adrian's silhouette above her. She had come to Blackwood Enterprises expecting a job. Instead, she had been offered a marriage. And now someone was warning her not to accept it. For the first time, Elena wondered whether the six million dollars wasn't payment for becoming Adrian Blackwood's wife. Maybe it was compensation for what would happen after she did.