The Ceo's Reluctant Wife

Chapter 3: First Sight

Ella stood outside the double doors longer than she meant to. Her hand was raised, ready to knock, but it just hovered there, frozen. She could hear voices inside, Victor's calm, steady tone, and then Alex's voice slicing through it, low and furious. Words like "blackmail" and "You can't force me" drifted out, muffled but sharp enough to make her stomach knot tighter.

She lowered her hand, wiped her palm on her skirt. The hallway felt too big, too quiet. Mrs. Lang was watching her from the assistant's desk, polite but curious.

Ella forced a small smile, then finally knocked softly, barely audible.

"Come in," Victor called.

She pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

The office was huge, all dark wood and glass, rain tapping against the massive windows like it was trying to get in. Victor was behind the desk, looking older than usual in the gray morning light. Alex stood off to the side, near the windows, back to her at first. His shoulders were rigid, hands shoved deep in his pockets.

Victor stood up, smiling like this was a normal meeting. "Ella. Thank you for coming. Come in, please. Have a seat." She walked across the room slowly, heels sinking into the plush carpet. There were two leather chairs in front of the desk. She took the one on the left, folding her hands in her lap to stop them shaking.

Alex turned. He didn't say anything at first. Just looked at her. Really looked, like he was trying to peel back every layer she had. His eyes were darker than she remembered, stormy and tired, with faint shadows under them. The suit jacket was gone, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, tie loosened. He looked like he'd been arguing for hours.

Victor cleared his throat. "Alexander, this is Ella Thompson. Ella, my son, Alex".

She nodded. "Hi."

Alex didn't nod back. Didn't smile or move. The silence dragged on long enough that Ella felt heat creeping up her neck. Finally, he spoke. Voice low, almost quiet. "So you're her."

Ella swallowed. "Yes."

He took one step closer, then another. Slow. Like he had all the time in the world. "Dad says you've agreed to this."

She glanced at Victor, who gave a small nod. "Yes, I have."

Alex stopped a few feet away. Close enough she could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"

Ella blinked. "Why... what?"

"Why would you say yes?" He tilted his head a little. "What's in it for you?"

Her mouth went dry. She had practiced answers on the subway ride over, calm, clear explanations. But now, under that stare, everything tangled up.

"My mother's sick," she said finally. "Very sick. The treatments are... expensive. More than I can manage."

He didn't blink. "And Dad offered to pay for everything if you marry me."

"Yes."

A faint, bitter smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. "That simple, huh?"

Ella's fingers tightened in her lap. "It's not simple at all."

"No?" He took another step. Now he was close enough she could smell his cologne, something clean and sharp, mixed with coffee. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks pretty straightforward. You need money. He has money. I'm the price tag."

"That's not..." She stopped, took a breath. "That's not how I see it."

"How do you see it, then?" His voice stayed low, but there was an edge now. "Tell me. I'm curious."

Ella looked down at her hands for a second, then back up. "I see it as... a way to save my mom. That's all. I'm not trying to trap you. I'm not excited about this. I don't want your lifestyle or your name or... any of it."

He studied her face, eyes flicking over her features like he was looking for cracks. "You've been living in his house for two years."

"Yes."

"Taking care of him."

"Yes."

"Listening to him talk about the company, the family, me."

She hesitated. "Sometimes."

"Did you ever think, even once, "This could be my ticket out?"

"No," The word came out firmer than she expected. "I thought about my mom. About keeping my job, paying rent and bills. I didn't think about you at all until he asked me."

Alex let out a soft breath, almost a laugh, but not quite. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I don't expect you to believe anything." she said quietly. "I'm just telling you the truth."

Victor shifted in his chair. "Alex..."

He held up a hand, not looking away from her. "Let her answer."

Ella lifted her chin a little. "What do you want me to say? That I'm thrilled to marry a stranger who clearly hated me? That I've been dreaming of this since I started working for your dad? I haven't. I cried the whole night after he asked me. I didn't sleep. I still don't want to do this." Her voice cracked on the last part. She hated that. Hated how small it made her sound.

Alex expression didn't change, but something shifted in his eyes. Not softer, more like he was seeing her for the first time.

"Then why say yes?" He asked again, quieter now.

"Because I'm running out of time," She met his gaze, steady even though her heart was pounding. "The doctors say the next treatment could make a real difference, but it's expensive. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. I've sold everything I can. I work double shifts when I can get them. It's still not enough. If I say no... she might not make it."

The room went quiet again. Just the rain against the windows, steady and soft.

Alex looked away first, turning toward the glass. He stared out at the city for a long moment. "You know this is insane, right?" he said finally, voice low. "Forcing two people who don't know each other, don't even like each other into marriage for money and personal gain."

Ella nodded slow. "I know."

He turned back. "And you're still okay with it?"

"I'm not okay with it." whe said "But I'm doing it anyway."

Victor spoke gently. "Ella, why don't you step out for a minute? Give us some time."

She stood, smoothing her skirt. "Of course." She walked to the door, hand on the handle.

"Ella." Alex voice stopped her. She looked back. He was watching her again, arms crossed now. "Three weeks. Mu assistant will send you everything, schedule, fittings and the venue. It will be at the estate upstate. Small guest list. Less media."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Don't expect me to be..." He paused, searching for the word. "...nice. Or involved. This is business. Nothing more."

"I don't expect anything," she said. She meant it. Ella slipped out, closing the doors softly behind her.

The hallway felt colder. She leaned against the wall for a second, eyes closed, breathing slow. Her chest felt tight, like she had been holding her breath the whole time.

Mrs. Lang offered a sympathetic smile. "Coffee?"

Ella shook her head. "No, thank you. I will wait downstairs."

She took the elevator down. In the lobby, she found a quiet corner by the windows and sat, watching people rush by outside under umbrellas. Her phone vibrated, a text from her mom.

How did the meeting go, sweetie?

Thinking of you.

Ella stared at the screen. Her thumbs hovered, then typed,

It went okay. Wedding's in three weeks.

Love you.

She hit send before she could overthink it.

Upstairs, Alex stood in the same spot, staring at the closed door.

Victor sighed. "You were hard on her."

Alex didn't answer right away. He walked to the desk, picked up the coffee Ella hadn't touched, took a sip. "She didn't back dien," he said finally.

"No," Victor agreed. "She didn't."

Alex set the cup down. "She's either telling the truth... or she's the best liar I've ever met."

Victor smiled faintly. "I've known her two years, son. She's not a liar."

Alex rubbed the back of his neck. "Doesn't make this any less fucked."

"No. But it's what we've got."

Alex walked back to the window. Rain was coming down harder now, blurring everything.

"She said she cried all night," he muttered.

Victor didn't respond.

Alex exhaled slowly. "Theee weeks."

"Three weeks," Vuctor echoed.

Alex nodded once, jaw tight. He didn't say it out loud, but the image of her standing there, small but steady, voice cracking but not breaking, stuck with him.

He told himself it didn't matter but it did. Just a little.