THE BILLIONAIRE'S ACCIDENTAL WIFE

CHAPTER TWO:The Mysterious Invitation

Ariana did not sleep much that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the message again. It was as though the words had become trapped inside her mind.

Your parents' debts are catching up with you. The rent deadline is days away. Your grandmother's medication won't last another day. Tell us, Miss Hayes... How much longer do you think you can keep pretending everything is under control?

She read those words over and over throughout the night, trying to understand them, but they still made no sense.

Before dawn, Ariana climbed out of bed and sat on the edge of the mattress with her phone in her hands. The apartment was silent except for the steady ticking of the old clock above the living room doorway. She stared at the screen, wondering how complete strangers knew things about her that even some of her relatives did not.

Her thumb hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed a reply.

I think you've contacted the wrong person. I don't know Blackwood Group. I don't know Mr. Damien Blackwood.

She sent the message and let out a slow breath.

Ten seconds later, another message appeared.

We never make mistakes, Miss Hayes.

A chill ran through her.

There was no attempt to persuade her. No explanation. Just quiet confidence, and somehow that unsettled her far more than an open threat would have.

Before she could gather her thoughts, her phone began to ring.

It was the same unknown number.

She stared at the screen as it continued vibrating in her hand. Every instinct told her to reject the call, yet curiosity won.

She answered.

"Hello?"

"Good evening, Miss Hayes."

The man's voice was calm and professional.

"My name is Noah Carter. I'm counsel for Blackwood Group."

Ariana sat up straighter.

"I'm sorry," she said carefully, "but I believe you've mistaken me for someone else."

"I'm afraid we haven't."

"I've never met anyone from your company."

"I know."

She frowned.

"Then why are you contacting me?"

"Because Mr. Damien Blackwood has requested a meeting with you."

Ariana let out a short laugh.

"I think you've confused me with another Ariana Hayes."

"No, Miss Hayes."

His reply came without hesitation.

"We know exactly who you are."

Something about his certainty made her tighten her grip on the phone.

"I'm an accountant," she said carefully. "I work for a financial firm. I don't have any connection to Blackwood Group."

"We're aware of your profession."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to. Not yet."

Silence settled between them.

Finally, Ariana asked the question that had been bothering her from the beginning.

"How did you get my number?"

"I'm afraid I can't discuss that over the phone."

"Then I'm afraid I can't meet someone who refuses to answer questions."

"That's understandable."

His tone remained polite, but it carried unmistakable confidence.

"Still, I'd advise you not to dismiss this invitation too quickly."

"I have work tomorrow."

"Afterward?"

"I'll be with my family."

Another brief pause followed.

"When you make your decision," Noah said, "think carefully about what's waiting for you at home."

Ariana's heartbeat faltered.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you'll understand soon enough."

Before she could ask another question, the line went dead.

Ariana slowly lowered the phone.

The apartment suddenly felt colder.

Noah had never threatened her. He had never raised his voice.

Yet his final words left her more unsettled than anything else he had said.

Ariana couldn't calm down.

She opened her laptop and searched for Blackwood Group.

Page after page filled the screen. The company owned luxury hotels, investment firms, technology companies, and real estate across the country. One name appeared more often than any other.

Damien Blackwood.

She clicked on his profile.

The photograph showed a man standing in front of a window overlooking the city skyline. His black suit fit him perfectly. His expression revealed nothing, yet there was an undeniable authority about him. The kind possessed by someone accustomed to making decisions that changed lives.

Ariana studied the image for several seconds before closing the page.

"What could someone like you possibly want with me?" she whispered.

There was no answer.

Morning came quickly.

The smell of fried eggs drifted from the kitchen, pulling Ariana from another failed attempt at sleep. She rubbed her eyes and walked into the living room.

Her younger brother looked up from the stove and immediately frowned.

"You look like you fought with sleep and lost."

Ariana managed a weak smile.

"Good morning to you too."

"I'm serious."

He set the spatula aside and studied her face.

"You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

She sat down in one of the dining chairs.

"Not much."

Concern replaced the teasing look on his face.

"What happened?"

For a moment she considered brushing the question aside. Instead, she unlocked her phone and handed it to him.

"Read the messages."

He scanned the screen.

His expression changed with every line.

When he finally looked up, disbelief was written all over his face.

"Blackwood Group?"

She nodded.

"I've never contacted them."

"And this Damien Blackwood wants to meet you?"

"Apparently."

He frowned.

"This doesn't feel right."

"I know."

"Maybe someone's playing a prank."

"I thought that too."

"So why are you worried?"

Ariana hesitated before answering.

"They know things they shouldn't."

His expression darkened.

"What kind of things?"

She told him about Noah's phone call. Carefully, she left out the comment about their family. Even repeating the conversation made her uneasy.

When she finished, he slowly placed the phone back on the table.

"I don't like this, Ari."

"Neither do I."

He leaned back in his chair, thinking.

"If they really wanted to help, why all the mystery?"

"I've asked myself the same question."

"They refused to explain anything unless I agreed to meet them."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Neither of them noticed Ariana's phone lighting up again on the table.

This time, the caller wasn't from Blackwood Group.

The name on the screen made her stomach tighten.

Mr. Daniels.

Their landlord.

Ariana closed her eyes briefly before reaching for the phone.

She already knew that whatever came next wouldn't make the day any easier.

Taking a breath, she answered.

"Good morning, Mr. Daniels."

The landlord's voice was polite, but there was a firmness to it that immediately put her on edge.

"Morning, Miss Hayes. I hope I'm not calling at a bad time."

"Not at all."

"I wanted to remind you that your rent is still outstanding."

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"I know."

"I've tried to be patient because I understand your circumstances. Unfortunately, I also have obligations. I can't continue extending the deadline."

"I understand," Ariana replied quietly. "I'm doing everything I can to raise the money."

A sigh drifted through the speaker.

"I believe you. But belief doesn't settle accounts. If the balance isn't paid by tomorrow evening, I'll have no choice but to ask you to vacate the apartment."

The words struck her like a blow.

"Tomorrow?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid so."

"Please... a little more time."

"I've already given you more time than I normally would."

Ariana closed her eyes and struggled to steady her voice.

"I promise I'll find a way."

"I sincerely hope you do, Miss Hayes."

The line went dead.

For several seconds she remained motionless, staring at the blank screen.

Across the table, her younger brother had heard enough to understand what had happened.

"They're making us leave, aren't they?"

Ariana forced a smile that failed to hide the worry in her eyes.

"It hasn't come to that yet."

He looked down at his hands.

"If I had a job, maybe things wouldn't be this hard."

She reached across the table and gently squeezed his hand.

"Don't ever blame yourself. None of this is your fault."

"You're carrying everything by yourself."

"I'm carrying it because you're my family."

His eyes glistened.

He quickly looked away.

"I hate seeing you struggle."

Ariana lowered her gaze.

"So do I," she said quietly.

Then she told herself they would get through this.

They always had.

She wasn't sure she believed it anymore.

After breakfast, Ariana picked up her handbag and left for work. She wanted to push everything else out of her mind. Worrying would not solve her problems, and losing her job would only make things worse.

By the time she arrived, the accounting department was already busy. Employees moved from one desk to another carrying files, while the steady sound of keyboards filled the office. For the first time in days, Ariana hoped working with numbers would help her forget everything else.

She had just switched on her computer when Mr. Carter walked over to her desk.

"Morning, Miss Hayes," he said.

"Morning, sir," Ariana replied.

He placed a file in front of her.

"I need you to go through this and make sure everything is correct. The client wants to know if there are any mistakes."

"I'll get it done," Ariana said.

"I know you will."

With that, Mr. Carter walked away.

Ariana opened the file and focused on the figures in front of her.

Numbers were simple.

They made sense.

For a little while, they helped her forget about everything happening outside the office.

Nearly two hours passed before her phone began to ring inside her desk drawer.

She ignored it.

A moment later, it rang again.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She opened the drawer, picked up the phone, and looked at the screen.

A message had appeared.

A car from Blackwood Group is waiting outside the building. Mr. Blackwood does not like to wait.

Ariana frowned.

She locked the phone without replying.

Her decision had not changed.

She was not about to leave work to meet complete strangers.

Ten minutes later, the office intercom buzzed.

"Miss Hayes, Mr. Carter would like to see you in the conference room."

A knot formed in Ariana's stomach.

She saved her work and headed for the conference room.

Mr. Carter was standing beside the table.

He did not look pleased.

"Close the door, please," he said.

Ariana quietly closed it behind her.

Without saying another word, he slid an envelope across the table.

"I believe this is for you."

Ariana lowered her eyes.

On the front of the envelope, embossed in silver letters, were the words:

Blackwood Group.

Her heartbeat quickened.

"Where did this come from?" she asked.

"A man brought it here and asked me to give it to you," Mr. Carter replied.

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I."

He folded his arms and studied her carefully.

"Are you looking for another job?"

"No, sir."

"Then why is a company like Blackwood Group sending people to my office asking for you?"

Ariana met his eyes.

"I honestly don't know."

For a long moment, Mr. Carter simply looked at her.

Then he gave a slow nod.

"I've never known you to lie, Ariana."

"I'm not lying now."

"I hope not," he replied, his voice softer than before.

He told her he valued her as one of the company's best employees, but he also had a responsibility to protect the workplace. If whatever was happening began affecting the office, he would have no choice but to act.

Ariana nodded.

"I understand."

And she truly did.

She left the conference room with the envelope still in her hands and returned to her desk.

As soon as Ariana returned to her desk, Sophia noticed the envelope in her hands.

"That's the company again, isn't it?"

Ariana nodded.

"I don't think they're going to give up."

Sophia glanced around the office before lowering her voice.

"Are you going to open it?"

Ariana hesitated.

Then, slowly, she opened the envelope.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

Only one sentence was written on it.

Miss Ariana Hayes, your future depends on the decision you make today.

Sophia leaned over and read it.

"That's dramatic," she said.

"It doesn't explain anything," Ariana replied.

"No," Sophia agreed. "But it definitely got your attention."

Before Ariana could respond, the receptionist walked over to her desk.

"Miss Hayes?"

"Yes?"

"There's someone here to see you."

Ariana's heartbeat quickened.

"Did he give his name?"

The receptionist nodded.

"He said you would know him as Noah Carter."

Ariana looked at Sophia.

"They actually came here," Sophia whispered.

Ariana lowered her eyes to the envelope still in her hand.

She had ignored the messages.

She had refused to answer the calls.

Now they had come to her workplace.

She didn't know who Damien Blackwood was.

One thing, however, was becoming painfully clear.

He did not like hearing the word no.

Ariana drew in a slow breath.

"I'll go see what this is about."

Sophia stood up immediately.

"If anything feels wrong, walk away."

"I will."

Picking up her handbag, Ariana headed toward the elevator.

Just as the doors began to close, her phone rang again.

She looked down at the screen.

A new message had arrived.

Mr. Blackwood is no longer waiting.

Confusion crossed her face.

Before she could understand what it meant, the elevator doors opened.

A sleek black car had just stopped outside the building.

The rear door opened.

A tall man stepped out.

He wore a perfectly tailored suit, and there was a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself.

People in the lobby instinctively moved aside as he walked toward Ariana.

Then their eyes met for the first time.

He stopped a few feet away and looked at her with complete certainty.

"You've kept me waiting long enough, Miss Hayes," he said.

Ariana's breath caught in her throat.

How did he know exactly who she was without anyone telling him?