The Billionaire's Bargain

Chapter 2 : The Deal

Sofia stood frozen in the opulent lobby of Westwood Enterprises, her eyes wide as she processed the words that had just come from Alexander Westwood’s lips. The towering glass windows reflected the city’s skyline, but they seemed far away now, a distant blur. Her attention was solely on the man in front of her, whose presence seemed to consume the entire room.

"You heard me correctly, Ms. Morales," Alexander said, his voice as smooth and cold as the marble floors beneath them. "I’ll pay off your café’s debts, cover all the expenses, and give you a fresh start. In exchange, you’ll pretend to be my fiancée for a month."

Her heart began to beat faster, almost painfully. The room felt smaller, the air denser. She had known Alexander Westwood’s reputation—everyone in the city did. He was ruthless, calculating, and feared in the business world. But this offer? It was almost too much to comprehend.

For a moment, her mind went blank, the world outside the towering glass windows fading into a soft hum of static. "I don’t need you to solve my problems, Mr. Westwood," she finally said, her voice a little shakier than she’d intended. Her throat tightened as she struggled to hold onto her composure. "My café is my responsibility. I’ll figure it out."

She forced herself to meet his gaze, even as her heart threatened to race out of control. It wasn’t that she wasn’t desperate; she was. But she hated feeling weak, cornered, as though there was no other option. It made her feel small.

Alexander’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was the smile of someone who knew they had the upper hand. "And yet, you’re here, in my office, standing in front of me with your life hanging by a thread." His voice softened slightly, but there was no mistaking the underlying command in it. "You don’t have time, Ms. Morales. Your café is on the brink of bankruptcy. Every day you wait, it slips further away from you. My offer is your lifeline. You can take it or lose everything."

Sofia clenched her fists at her sides, the heat of his words stinging her pride. She wasn’t one to back down, not without a fight. The café was her father’s legacy. The idea of losing it, watching it slip through her fingers, felt like a betrayal to everything he had built. But then again, she had tried everything she could think of to save it. Nothing had worked.

"I’ll find another way," she said, her voice growing steadier despite the storm brewing inside her. "I don’t need you. I never asked for your help."

Alexander took a step toward her, his eyes darkening with something unreadable. The air between them thickened, heavy with the tension that seemed to radiate from him. "Let’s be honest, Ms. Morales. You’re out of options. You’re a businesswoman, I’m sure you’ve done your research. You’ve seen the numbers. A month from now, your café will be gone. I’m giving you an out. A way to keep your pride, to walk away with your dignity intact."

His words struck a nerve. She had never considered herself someone who would beg for help, but now, with her back against the wall, it seemed like the only choice. But then again, Alexander Westwood was no savior. He was a businessman, and every deal he made came with strings attached.

"And what do you get out of this, Mr. Westwood?" she asked, finally finding the strength to speak, her voice sharper now. "I’m no fool. I know there’s a catch. Why would you want to help me—someone you’ve never met—unless there’s something in it for you?"

Alexander’s lips twitched into something that could almost be called a smile, but it was all business. "I don’t want to help you, Ms. Morales. I’m helping myself." He paused, letting the silence hang between them like a thick fog. "My company is negotiating a merger. It’s complicated. I need to appear stable, committed. Investors need to see that I’m grounded, that I have something to lose. A fake engagement—nothing more. You’ll play the role of my fiancée for one month, and I’ll make sure your debts are erased. Your café will survive. You’ll be free."

Sofia’s breath caught in her throat. It made sense, in a cold, heartless sort of way. He wasn’t offering her charity—he was making a business arrangement, one that benefited him more than anyone else. She could see the calculation in his eyes. For a moment, she felt a flicker of resentment. How could he be so dispassionate, so devoid of any real care?

"And after the month is over? When you’ve gotten what you need?" she asked, her voice tight.

Alexander’s gaze didn’t waver. "When the deal is done, I’ll honor my end of the bargain. You’ll walk away, and I’ll take care of your debts. Simple as that."

Her pulse quickened. A part of her wanted to refuse him, to walk away and figure out another way to save her café. But another part—the practical, desperate part—knew this was her only chance. It was a deal with a man she could never truly trust, but it was a deal nonetheless. And sometimes, desperate times called for desperate measures.

"I’ll do it," she said, the words tasting like ash in her mouth. "But know this, Mr. Westwood. This is strictly business. Nothing more."

The moment the words left her lips, she felt a shift in the air. It was as if the weight of the world had settled between them, creating a delicate tension that neither of them could deny. Alexander’s expression softened ever so slightly, a trace of approval flickering in his eyes, though his posture remained as rigid as ever.

"I didn’t expect you to be thrilled about it," he said, his voice more measured now, almost a touch softer. "But you’ll see, Ms. Morales. This is the best option you have. We begin tomorrow."