The Billionaire's Secret Contract

chapter 1

desperate as they were to be sure, but one at what holy cost? She'd never so much as caught sight of Adrian himself; merely ever seen his face splashed across the cover pages of tabloids and business weeklies. He was the kind of guy who governed using power and wealth and did not quite have an idea of social etiquette to be courteous with, so what on earth would he possibly want from her?

Emily was jarred out of her daydream by the tone of her mother's voice. "This has nothing to do with money, Emily. This is for a second chance at life, to be able to support our family."

"Marriage?" she breathed again. "To a stranger?

Richard took a step or two closer, his face solemn. "We have no choice. Adrian's father, Robert Blackwood, negotiated this wedding as a requirement himself. He wants it to bring the two families together in business and in society.".

Yes. Emily's head was reeling. Binds herself to a stranger for material comfort was a surrender of her own dreams and ambitions. How could she blind herself to the seriousness of things? Blackwood estate would be forfeited, and the rest was a bargain. The Blackwoods were offering an asylum, a rescue of a kind from her family heritage.

She could not articulate her fear until he burst through the door to the study. Adrian Blackwood himself. A giant of a man. Her breath caught in her throat as he stepped forward. Better looking than she had imagined from photos: hard and commanding-faced, his gigantic body massing the room. Dark eyes locked onto hers, piercing and unbreakable.

Adrian bent his head to her parents politely and only finally to her. "Miss Carter," he started in that silky, smooth voice. "I realize that I called you in haste, but I felt that it would be preferable if we spoke terms for our contract face-to-face."

Emily steeled herself to look into his eyes, where she saw distrust and curiosity strain against one another. "Mr. Blackwood this offer. it's suddenly accepted."

Adrian smiled, but only halfway up his cheeks. "It's so, I reckon. But I think it's a fair exchange. Your financial troubles will be over, and I'll have a good assistant to keep everything in line.".

They were beautiful words, but there was something beneath them that made her shiver. She was a pawn to be used for his purposes, but something about Adrian was not genuine. What did he want from her? And why would he of all men with all the women available to him, choose her?

She had no time to say anything before Adrian continued, more accurately. She read the words out as they were said, rather than committing them to paper. "I have had a solicitor draft the marriage contract. You can read it through and we can discuss things which are upsetting you. But discretion is what I must insist on from you: until public announcement this is to be between us alone.".

Emily shook her head, appalled. She prayed that she would not have to give her easy life that would be a life of freedom and love and not one of legal agreement. But she knew well the desperation of the family to be left with no choice.

Adrian remained in the doorway, his face twisted into a puzzle. "I realize that it is so inconvenient, but I assure you, Miss Carter, you will be adequately cared for. Our marriage, built on strictly mercenary foundations, can, with the lapse of time, develop into something more."

And that mysterious message, as well, he took with him when he vanished, leaving Emily with nothing but disillusionment, confusion, and incredulity. There were too many questions whirling in her head, and that sense of dread would just not let her be. What was Adrian really looking for in this marriage? Did he have some ulterior motive up his sleeve behind that so-noble offer?

The study door shut hard behind him, and walls were crashing around Emily. She was stepping into the realm of money and power; she did not know about it, of a man whose heart was not pure. That was the moment when she realized that she was going to leave behind something that would disturb her life.

It was penned in Emily's own hand, the lovely script flowing together in streams as she wept in her tears.