Owned by the Billionaire devil

SECRETS IN SILK

The world exploded the next morning.My phone wouldn't stop ringing. It was still dark outside, but my screen was glowing like a fire. I had over a hundred missed calls, dozens of texts, and more social media notifications than I could count.I scrolled through them, my head screamed.“Billionaire Damien Blackwood Engaged to Ava Sinclair!Tech Heiress Ava Sinclair said Yes to Blackwood Power!A Deal or a Love Story? Billionaire Engagement Shocks Industry!”I saw my face on a tabloid cover. I was standing next to Damien, I was holding his hand and the ring on my finger sparkled like a lie.I blinked hard.Then Layla’s text poped up in all caps:ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS???I texted her back with shaky fingers:Long story, come over and bring coffee.__Thirty minutes later, she burst into my apartment wearing a hoodie that said NO BS ALLOWED. Her hair was a mess, but her eyes were wide.She handed me a hot coffee like it was a life-saving device. “Are you okay?”I sat on the couch. “I think so. Maybe or no. Definitely not.”She sat next to me and pulled her legs up. “Tell me everything again and slowly this time.”So I didFrom the contract to the prenup, from the fake engagement to the deal with Damien. I explained it all while I stared at my coffee like it might disappear.When I finished, she was quiet for a long time.Then she said “Okay, so just to be clear, you are e engaged to Damien freaking Blackwood. The most powerful, cold-blooded billionaire in New York. You agreed to marry him for one year, to save Sinclair Tech, and there’s no touching, no love, no babies, no drama?”I nodded. “That’s the deal.”She whistled. “If I didn’t know you, I would think you were living inside a soap opera.”“I wish I was.”She stared at me for a second, then her voice softened. “How are you really feeling?”I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. There was a big, hard lump in my throat. I blinked fast to keep from crying.Layla reached for my hand and her grip was warm and steady. “You don’t have to carry all of this alone, Ava. You don’t always have to be strong.”I nodded again. But deep down, I feltl like I was breaking apart.___By the afternoon, a moving crew shows up.I didn’t call them. Damien’s team did.Four men in matching uniforms started packing up my life, they moved quickly, like they have done this a hundred times. They barely speak. They handle everything, my clothes, my books, even the blanket on my couch, with calm, robotic hands.Soon, my apartment looked like it didn’t belong to me anymore. It was Just boxes and dust.I got into a sleek black car waiting downstairs and the e driver said nothing.I stared out the window as the city passed me by. This place has always been loud, it was full of noise and life. But today, it felt quiet. It felt like something was ending.___Blackwood Tower was waiting for me.Damien was in the lobby when I arrived, he was dressed in another expensive suit and he looked like a prince carved from ice.His eyes traveled over me once. There was no smile. It was just that same sharp, unreadable expression.“Welcome home,” he said.I folded my arms. “It’s temporary.”He shrugged. “So is everything.”We rode the elevator in silence.The penthouse looked the same, cold, huge, full of glass and shadows. But now there were signs of me here. A tea set I like and my suitcase by the wall and Boxes with my name on them.It was strange. It was like someone else picked up my life and dropped it into a magazine spread.Damien lead me down a long hallway.“There are separate bedrooms,” he said. “You get this wing. I get the other. Privacy.”“Thanks,” I said softly.He paused outside my door. “Just a reminder, the press will be watching. Paparazzi, drones and hidden cameras. You need to act like we are in love. Especially in public.”I nodded. “I get it.”“We have another gala tonight.”I groaned. “Seriously? Again?”A small smirk played at the edge of his mouth. “Get used to it.”___My room was huge, too big.The bed was perfectly made and the closet was full of designer clothes. The makeup table had everything I have ever used, and more.It was beautiful.But it didn’t feel like mine.Later, I was trying on a dress when I heard the door open.“Damien, wait…”But it was too late.I was already in the middle of zipping up a black silk gown. It was just my lace bra and half the dress on.We both froze.His eyes flickered over me, once and slowly.And suddenly, the air changed. It was like it was charged with lightning.My skin burnt but then, he turn around.It was, fast, controlled, cold again.“My apologies,” he said, his voice was rougher now.Then he was gone.He didn't even slam the door.But I could still feel the heat he left behind.__That night, the gala was even worse.There were more cameras and brighter lights and everyone was looking at us.Damien wrapped an arm around my waist. It felt heavy, firm and unbreakable.“Smile like you are in love,” he whispered.So I did.I laughed when people made a boring jokes and I nodded at investors. I held Damien’s hand like it was made of gold and I even kissed his cheek when the cameras asked for it.And for a second… I almost forgot it was fake. Almost, not until I see him.Jason. My ex-fiancé.He was standing across the room, he wore a dark suit and his face was tight. His eyes were angry.He walked straight toward us and I froze.“Jason,” I whispered. My voice cracked.He didn’t smile and he didn’t stop.He looked Damien up and down, then looked straight at me.“You move on fast,” he said.Damien’s grip tightened. “Watch it.”Jason ignored him. “Did she tell you? Her father came to see you before he died. Said he regretted it. Said you made him choose between saving the company and saving his pride.”My heart dropped “Jason, don’t…”Jason stepped closer. “You didn’t know, did you?”Damien stepped forward, and shielded me. “That’s enough.”Jason laughed coldly. “Is it?”Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd.___The ride home was silent.We sat in the back of the limo, the city lights slided past the windows. Damien stared ahead and I stared at him.Finally, I spoke.“Did you blackmail my father before he died?”He didn't look at me.He just blinked once. Then slowly turned to face me.His voice was cold and his eyes were colder.“Do you really want the truth, Ava?”