THE BILLIONAIRE'S BARGAIN

MORNING AT ARIA'S PLACE Aria woke up to the sound of silence. No alarm blaring, no rush to get to work. It was Saturday. She stretched, yawned, and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet touching the worn carpet. Aria walked to the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, in search of breakfast. She opened the fridge, revealing a near empty shelf. A half empty jar of jam, a wilted lettuce, and a carton of expired milk stared back at her. The cupboards weren't any better...stale cereal, outdated crackers, and a bag of flour. She sighed, settling for toast with jam. Not her favorite, but it would do for just this morning. As she waited for the toast to pop up, her thoughts drifted to her financial struggles. Rent was overdue, and her savings decreasing rapidly. How would she make ends meet? The toast popped up, breaking her thoughts. Just as Aria took a bite of her toast, a knock was heard on the door. Aria knew who it was already,only her best friend visits her. "Aria, girl! Open up!" Beatrice's cheerful voice shouted from outside. Aria smiled, welcoming the distraction. She opened the door to find Beatrice holding a grocery bag and wearing a bright smile. "Hey, bestie! I brought breakfast" Beatrice said, waving the bag. Aria's eyes widened as Beatrice revealed a spread of fresh pastries, fruit, and coffee. "Thank goodness! My fridge is practically empty" Aria admitted. Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "Girl, when was the last time you went shopping?" Aria shrugged. "I've been putting it off. You know how it is" "Sit down and let's discuss" Beatrice said, suddenly looking serious and they sat down. "Now what?" "I found a job for you, but I'm not sure you'll like it" "What kind of job?" Beatrice took a deep breath. "It's...a dancing job at a club" Aria raised an eyebrow. "Dancing? What kind of dancing?" "Strip dancing, Aria"Her eyes widened in shock. "Hear me out, Aria. This job pays incredibly well. You'll make more in one night than you do in a week teaching. You can finally pay off your debts and start fresh" she said and Aria shook her head firmly. "No way, Bea. I'm a teacher, not a stripper. I have standards" Beatrice sighed. "I knew you'd react like this. But think about it, Aria. This is a chance, you can't keep struggling financially" "I appreciate your concern, Bea, but I'll find another way. This isn't for me" "Okay, I understand. But promise me you'll reconsider if things get desperate?" Aria hesitated before nodding. "I'll think about it, Bea. But I doubt it'll come to that" "I'm glad we cleared the air, Aria" Beatrice said, standing up. "That's actually why I stopped by...to tell you about the job opportunity. Now that we've discussed it, I have other places to be" Aria walked her to the door. "Thanks for thinking of me, Bea. I appreciate it" Beatrice smiled and hugged her. "Anytime, girl. Take care, and think about what I said" With that, Beatrice left, leaving Aria to think of her financial struggles and the tempting but distasteful job offer. She closed the door and leaned against it, her thoughts swirling. She had been fending for herself since leaving the orphanage, where she spent most of her life. The uncertainty surrounding her parents' fate still lingered. Were they alive? No one had ever told her they were dead, leaving her a glimmer of hope. She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on her present struggles. The teaching job she landed a few months ago was her lifeline. It barely covered her expenses, but it was something. As she stood there, lost in thought, a knock on the door jolted her back to reality. Who could it be? Beatrice had just left, and she wasn't expecting anyone else. She peeped through the peephole and and saw a man standing outside in a black suit and sung glasses and she became confused wondering who the person is. "Can I help you?" she asked when she opened the door. "Miss, I'm here to deliver a message from Mr. Sebastian Green, Chairman of Green's Corporation" he replied. Aria's eyes widened in surprise. Sebastian Green, the billionaire mogul? What could he want from her? "Mr. Green requests your presence at his office. He'd like to discuss a matter of mutual interest" the man continued. Aria's mind raced with thoughts, she had seen Sebastian Green on the news, read about his business deals, and admired his philanthropic efforts. But why would he want to meet with her? "How did he know my address?" she asked, trying to compose herself. "Mr. Green has his ways, Miss" "Okay I will consider his request,you can go now" "Mr. Green requests that you accompany me to his office immediately" Aria eyes widened in surprise. "Now? But I wasn't prepared for a meeting" "I apologize for the inconvenience but Mr. Green's schedule is tight, and he prefers to meet with you today" Aria hesitated, unsure of what to do. She hadn't expected this sudden summons. "What's this meeting about?" she asked. "Mr. Green will discuss the details with you personally, Miss" "Okay, give me a minute" she said, stepping back to grab her purse and keys. The man nodded and gestured toward the exit. "Shall we, Miss?" Aria took a deep breath and followed him out of her apartment. What did Sebastian Green want from her? Was it a business opportunity? A philanthropic endeavor? The man opened the door to the black Mercedes Benz car and ushered her in, Aria settled into the plush leather seat gently. They finally arrived at the glass and steel headquarters of Green's Corporation. Aria's eyes widened as they pulled up to the grand entrance. The man opened her door, and Aria stepped out, staring up at the towering building. She was in awe. "Right this way, Miss" the man said, leading her through the revolving doors. Inside, the lobby teemed with suits and business professionals, rushing to their next meeting. Aria followed the man through the crowds, passing security checks and arriving at a private elevator. He swiped a card, and the doors slid open. "Mr. Green's office" he announced. Aria stepped into the elevator nervously. The doors closed, and the elevator soared upward. When the doors opened again, Aria found herself in a lavish office suite. A modern desk dominated the room, and behind it sat Sebastian Green. "Ah, Miss Aria. Thank you for coming"he said and Aria's breath caught,she can't believe she's meeting this man in person. "Please, have a seat" he said, gesturing to the sit before him and Aria sat, trying to compose herself. "I'll get straight to the point, Miss Aria" he said, his voice commanding attention. "What's that,sir?" "Miss Aria, I've been watching you. Your... situation is well-known to me" "Situation?" "Miss Aria, I'm willing to offer you a life beyond your wildest dreams. Marry my son, Maverick, and provide him with an heir. In return, you'll receive a substantial monthly allowance and a secure future" Sebastian said. Aria's eyes widened as he handed her a folder containing the arrangement's terms. "Consider it a business proposal, dear" he added. "You'll be well taken care of, and our family's legacy will be secured" "What makes you think I'd agree?" Aria asked, trying to sound brave. "Like I said, I know your situation, dear. You have no family, no connections. I'm offering you a lifeline" Aria's grip on the folder tightened, her eyes locked on Sebastian's. "I'm not sure" she said. "Miss Aria, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You'll want for nothing. My son will provide for you, and our family's legacy will ensure your future" he said and Aria imagined a life of luxury, free from financial struggles. But at what cost? "What about love? We should marry for love right?" she asked and Sebastian's glared at her. "Love is a luxury we can't afford. This is business, Miss Aria. A mutually beneficial arrangement" "Does your son knows about this proposal?" "My son will do his duty. He understands the importance of securing our family's legacy so don't worry about him" Aria's heart sank. Duty, not love. A business arrangement, not a marriage. "What's the expectation for the heir?" she asked. "A male heir, preferably. To secure our family's future" She was being asked to bear a child, not for love, but for legacy. "I need time to think" she said and Sebastian nodded. "You have 48 hours. After that, the offer expires" Aria nodded, the folder still clutched in her hand. She left Sebastian's office, thinking about the offer since she only have 48 hours. She suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom. Glancing around, she spotted a corridor to her left and decided to find the restroom. Turning a corner, her eyes read the signs on the doors. Suddenly, she stopped outside an office door, frowning. Muffled moans drifted through the door, followed by a faint giggle. Aria's eyebrows shot up, her face warming. What was going on in there? Uncomfortable, she quickly moved away from the door and continued her search for the restroom. Finally, she spotted a sign reading "Ladies' Room" and rushed towards it. Once done, she freshened up and composed herself before exiting the restroom. As she stepped out, she noticed a lady coming out from the same office where she'd heard the moans. The lady smoothed her dress, blushing so hard, and quickly walked away without noticing Aria. She watched the woman disappear around the corner. Her eyes moved back to the office door, wondering what had transpired in there. Just then, a tall, broad-shouldered figure came out from the same office. Aria caught only a glimpse of his back, clad in a ash tailored suit, before he vanished from view. Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. *Rent is overdue. If payment isn't received within 24 hours, eviction proceedings will begin Aria's heart sank,she knew it was from the landlord. Where will she see that amount of money in the next 24 hours? Without thinking, she rushed back to Sebastian's office. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door, and stepped inside. "Ah, Miss Aria. I didn't expect you to make up your mind so quickly"Sebastian said smiling. "I accept your offer" Aria said and Sebastian's smile broadened. "Excellent choice, my dear" That was when Aria noticed another person in the room, standing with his back to her. The tailored ash suit seemed familiar. As Sebastian gestured, the man turned to face her and Aria's heart skipped a beat. It was him – the broad-shouldered figure from earlier. "Maverick, this is Miss Aria, the woman who will secure our family's legacy" Maverick's piercing look locked onto hers, his expression unreadable. Sebastian continued. "That's who you'll be marrying, Miss Aria. My son, Maverick Green" Aria's breath caught. She felt like she'd walked into a trap.