The Proposal
1037 Words
“A marriage proposal?”
Aria’s voice came out sharper than intended.
For a moment, she simply stared at Damian Blackwood, waiting for him to laugh.
To tell her it was a joke.
A misunderstanding.
Anything.
Instead, he sat comfortably in his chair, his expression completely serious.
“Yes.”
The single word sent a wave of disbelief through her.
Her father was the first to recover.
“Mr. Blackwood, with all due respect, have you lost your mind?”
Damian’s gaze shifted to Richard Bennett.
“No.”
“Then explain yourself.”
The billionaire folded his hands together.
“I believe my proposal was clear.”
“It was absurd.”
A flicker of amusement crossed Damian’s face.
Aria could hardly blame her father.
The entire situation felt ridiculous.
A billionaire she’d never spoken to before had walked into her office and proposed marriage.
Who wouldn’t think he’d lost his mind?
“What exactly are you talking about?” she demanded.
Damian looked directly at her.
“I need a wife.”
Aria blinked.
“What?”
“And you need money.”
The bluntness of the statement irritated her.
His gray eyes remained fixed on hers.
“Your company will collapse within seven days.”
She hated how calmly he said it.
As though discussing the weather.
“As a matter of fact, that’s none of your business.”
“It becomes my business if I choose to invest.”
The room fell silent.
Aria’s heartbeat quickened.
Invest?
Her father leaned forward.
“Are you saying you’ll fund the company?”
“I’ll clear its debts.”
Neither Bennett spoke.
Damian continued.
“I’ll settle every outstanding loan.”
Aria’s pulse jumped.
“I’ll secure new operating capital.”
Her father looked stunned.
“And I’ll ensure Bennett Manufacturing remains in your family’s hands.”
The offer sounded too good to be true.
Because it was.
Nothing came without a price.
Especially not from a man like Damian Blackwood.
“What do you get?” she asked.
The billionaire’s gaze never wavered.
“You become my wife.”
Silence.
Again.
Aria let out a humorless laugh.
“No.”
Damian raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“I don’t even know you.”
“That can be corrected.”
She folded her arms.
“I’m not marrying a stranger.”
“You would rather lose the company?”
The question struck harder than she wanted to admit.
Because he wasn’t wrong.
The company was dying.
Every hour mattered.
Every day mattered.
But marriage?
Marriage wasn’t a business transaction.
Or at least it shouldn’t be.
“There are other options.”
“Name one.”
Aria opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because every option they had explored had failed.
Banks.
Investors.
Partnerships.
Asset sales.
All dead ends.
Damian noticed her silence.
Of course he did.
A man like him probably missed nothing.
“You don’t have another solution.”
The truth hurt.
And he knew it.
Her father suddenly stood.
“I think this meeting is over.”
Damian remained seated.
“If that’s your decision.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“It is.”
The billionaire rose smoothly to his feet.
Towering over everyone in the room.
For the first time, Aria noticed how intimidating he truly was.
Not because of his height.
Not because of his money.
Because of his confidence.
He moved through the world like a man who never lost.
Ever.
Without another word, he reached into his suit jacket.
Then he placed a black folder on the conference table.
“What is that?” Aria asked.
“A contract.”
She stared at it.
The folder suddenly felt dangerous.
“If you change your mind, my personal number is inside.”
Her father laughed bitterly.
“We won’t.”
Damian glanced at him.
Then looked back at Aria.
Something strange passed through his eyes.
Not confidence.
Certainty.
As though he already knew how this would end.
“You have six days remaining.”
The words hung in the air.
Six days.
Not seven anymore.
Six.
Time was running out.
Damian adjusted his cufflinks.
“I’ll wait for your call.”
Then he walked away.
The door closed behind him.
Silence immediately filled the room.
Neither Aria nor her father spoke.
They simply stared at the black folder resting on the table.
Finally, Richard sighed.
“Throw it away.”
Aria looked at him.
“What?”
“We’re not selling your future.”
“Dad—”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
The sound broke her heart.
“I’ve sacrificed enough already. I’m not sacrificing you too.”
Emotion tightened her throat.
He truly meant it.
Even now.
Even with bankruptcy staring them in the face.
Her father would rather lose everything than force her into a marriage she didn’t want.
But the problem remained.
The company still needed saving.
Hundreds of employees still depended on them.
Families still depended on them.
And unless a miracle happened…
everything would be gone within days.
Richard gathered his papers.
“We’ll find another way.”
Aria wished she believed him.
After he left the room, she remained alone.
The city lights glowed beyond the windows as evening settled over Manhattan.
Her eyes drifted back to the folder.
Just once.
Just to see.
That’s all.
Slowly, she reached for it.
Then opened it.
The first page nearly made her stop breathing.
Every debt.
Paid.
Every loan.
Cleared.
Every financial obligation.
Gone.
Her fingers trembled as she turned another page.
Then another.
And another.
The terms were shockingly simple.
One year.
A public marriage.
Attend events together.
Maintain appearances.
No discussion of private matters.
No questions about his personal life.
At the end of twelve months, they would divorce.
She reached the final page.
And froze.
A handwritten note rested at the bottom.
Only one sentence.
I am offering you a future, Miss Bennett. The question is whether you’re brave enough to take it.
Aria stared at the words.
A strange chill crawled down her spine.
For the first time since Damian Blackwood had entered her life…
she wondered why a billionaire needed a wife so badly.
And why he had chosen her.
- Writer
