MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND ISMY WORST ENEMY

The Photograph

Lena didn't call Adrian Black that night.

Instead, she went home, locked her door, and sat at her kitchen table with the photograph spread out before her. The overhead light cast harsh shadows across the image, making her father's smile look almost sinister.

But it wasn't sinister. She knew that smile. It was the same one he'd worn at her eighth birthday party, at her school recitals, at every moment that mattered. Warm. Genuine. Full of love.

The man beside him—Richard Black—wore a similar expression. Two friends, sharing a moment of triumph.

What happened? Lena wondered. What went wrong?

She pulled out her phone and began searching for information about Richard Black. The results were extensive. Richard Black was a titan of industry, a man who had built Blackstone International from a modest real estate firm into a multi-billion-dollar empire. He was respected, admired, and feared in equal measure.

According to the official biography, Richard had stepped down as CEO five years ago due to "health concerns." He now lived in semi-retirement, focusing on philanthropy and spending time with his family.

Philanthropy, Lena thought bitterly. Right.

She kept searching, digging deeper into the archives. It took hours, but eventually she found what she was looking for.

Carter & Co. and Blackstone International Announce Joint Venture

The article was dated fifteen years ago. Lena read it twice, her heart pounding.

"Daniel Carter and Richard Black announced today that their companies will collaborate on a major real estate development project. The project, known as Harbor Point, is expected to transform the city's waterfront district..."

Harbor Point. The name rang a bell, though she couldn't place it.

She kept reading.

"The two men, described by sources as close friends, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. 'Daniel and I have been friends for years,' Mr. Black said at the press conference. 'This project is the natural evolution of our shared vision.'"

Lena stared at the screen. Friends for years.

But that friendship had ended. She knew that much. The question was how—and why.

She searched for more articles, but the trail went cold. After the Harbor Point announcement, there was almost no mention of Richard Black in connection with her father. No joint ventures, no public appearances, no friendly press conferences.

It was as if the friendship had simply vanished.

Because it did, Lena thought. When Dad found out the truth.

She leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The pieces were there—the photograph, the joint venture, the sudden silence—but she couldn't fit them together. Not yet.

She needed more information.

And there was only one person who could give it to her.

---

The next morning, Lena stood outside Blackstone Tower, staring up at the sixty stories of dark glass and steel. The building was even more intimidating in person than it had been in photographs—a monument to power and ambition that seemed to pierce the sky itself.

You can do this, she told herself. You've faced worse.

But had she? The man waiting for her inside was a predator, and she was walking into his territory willingly.

She took a deep breath and pushed through the revolving doors.

The lobby was exactly what she'd expected: marble floors, soaring ceilings, a reception desk that looked like it belonged in a five-star hotel. The air smelled faintly of leather and something floral—expensive, understated.

"May I help you?" The receptionist's smile was professional but cool.

"I have a meeting with Adrian Black. Lena Carter."

The receptionist's expression flickered—just for an instant—before returning to neutral. "Of course, Miss Carter. Please have a seat. Someone will be down to escort you."

Lena sat in one of the leather chairs and waited. Her heart was pounding, but she kept her face calm. She'd learned long ago that showing weakness was a luxury she couldn't afford.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Lena checked her phone, pretending to be absorbed in her emails while her mind raced through everything she'd learned.

Adrian Black. Richard Black. Harbor Point. My father.

The connections were there, waiting to be made. She just needed the missing pieces.

"Miss Carter?"

She looked up. A young woman in a sharp suit stood before her. "I'm Diana, Mr. Black's assistant. Please follow me."

They rode the elevator in silence. Lena watched the numbers climb—forty, forty-five, fifty—until they reached the penthouse floor.

The doors opened onto a reception area that was quieter than the lobby below. Diana led her down a hallway lined with abstract art and stopped in front of a set of double doors.

"Mr. Black will see you now," Diana said, opening the doors.

Lena stepped inside.

The office was enormous. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city below. The furniture was minimal—a desk, a few chairs, a bookshelf—but every piece looked expensive. The overall effect was cold, controlled, and utterly intimidating.

And behind the desk, silhouetted against the window, stood Adrian Black.

He was taller than she'd expected. Broader, too. His dark suit fit him perfectly, emphasizing the lean lines of his body. His hair was black, styled with precision. His jaw was sharp, his cheekbones high, his mouth set in a line that suggested he rarely smiled.

But it was his eyes that held her attention. Dark gray, almost silver, they studied her with an intensity that made her want to look away.

She didn't.

"Miss Carter," he said. His voice was deep, smooth, and completely controlled. "Thank you for coming."

"You didn't leave me much choice," Lena replied.

Something flickered in his eyes—surprise, perhaps, or amusement. "I wasn't aware I'd forced you."

"The letter implied urgency. And I don't ignore letters from billionaires."

"Smart." He gestured to the chair opposite his desk. "Please, sit."

Lena hesitated, then crossed the room and sat. The chair was comfortable—too comfortable. She kept her back straight, her hands folded in her lap.

Adrian didn't sit. Instead, he moved to the window and looked out at the city below. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tension.

Finally, Lena spoke. "Why am I here, Mr. Black?"

He turned to face her. "I have a proposition for you."

"What kind of proposition?"

"The kind that could solve all your problems. Or create entirely new ones. Which would you prefer?"

Lena's jaw tightened. "I'd prefer you stop speaking in riddles."

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips—so brief she might have imagined it. "Fair enough." He moved to his desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a folder. "I've been doing some research on you, Miss Carter. Your company, your financial situation, your family history."

"Stalking me?"

"Due diligence. There's a difference."

"Not much of one."

He ignored the comment and placed the folder on the desk between them. "Your company is failing. You're three months from bankruptcy. Your suppliers are pulling out. Your landlord is threatening eviction." He paused. "And your sister is about to start college, which means you'll have tuition payments you can't afford."

Lena's blood ran cold. "How do you know about my sister?"

"I told you. Due diligence."

"That's not due diligence. That's invasion of privacy."

"Call it what you like. The facts remain the same." He sat down, fixing her with that silver gaze. "You're drowning, Miss Carter. And I'm offering you a lifeline."

Lena's heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat. "What kind of lifeline?"

Adrian leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "I need a wife."

The words hung in the air between them.

Lena stared at him. "Excuse me?"

"A wife. For twelve months. A contractual arrangement, nothing more." His tone was perfectly matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing a business merger. "You would live in my home, attend events with me, and present yourself as my spouse. In exchange, I would provide financial compensation sufficient to solve all your current problems."

Lena's mind was racing. This was insane. This was absolutely insane.

"Why me?" she managed.

"Because you need money, and I need someone who won't mistake this arrangement for something romantic." He paused. "You have a reputation for integrity. You're intelligent, presentable, and capable of conducting yourself in social situations. You're exactly what I need."

"And what do I get out of this?"

"As I said—financial compensation. More than enough to save your company and pay for your sister's education."

Lena's hands were shaking. She pressed them flat against her thighs, forcing herself to stay calm. "I'm not for sale."

"Everyone has a price, Miss Carter. The question is what yours is."

"Not everything can be bought."

Adrian studied her for a long moment. Then he reached into the folder and pulled out another document. "Before you refuse, read this. It concerns your father."

Lena's blood froze.

She looked at the document—a single sheet of paper, covered in legal text. Her eyes caught on a name: Daniel Carter.

Her father's name.

She looked back at Adrian, her voice barely a whisper. "What is this?"

"Read it."

She picked up the paper with trembling hands. The text was dense, but certain phrases jumped out at her: allegations of fraud... evidence tampering... witness testimony...

This wasn't just information. This was a map to the truth.

"Where did you get this?" she demanded.

"That's my business. The question is whether you want to know more."

Lena's chest was tight. The air felt thick, heavy. She'd spent six years trying to prove her father's innocence, six years chasing leads that went nowhere, six years watching her family's name rot in the public memory.

And now Adrian Black was offering her a key to the truth.

"What do you know about my father?" she asked.

Adrian's expression didn't change. "Enough to help you. If you're willing to help me in return."

"By marrying you."

"By agreeing to a temporary arrangement that benefits us both."

Lena stared at him, searching for any sign of deception. His face was unreadable—a mask of perfect control.

But something in his eyes flickered when she said her father's name. Something dark. Something dangerous.

He's hiding something, she thought. He's not telling me everything.

But the document in her hands was real. The information was real. And the chance to finally uncover the truth was more tempting than she wanted to admit.

She stood up, still holding the paper. "I need to think about this."

"Of course."

"I'm not saying yes."

"I didn't expect you to. Not yet."

Lena turned toward the door, then paused. "Why did you choose me, Mr. Black? Really?"

For a long moment, he didn't answer. Then: "Because you're exactly what I need. Nothing more."

It wasn't an answer. They both knew it.

But Lena didn't push. Instead, she walked out of the office, down the hallway, and back into the elevator.

As the doors closed behind her, she finally allowed herself to breathe.

---

She made it three blocks before her legs gave out.

Lena collapsed onto a bench, her hands still clutching the document Adrian had given her. The city moved around her—cars honking, pedestrians rushing, life continuing as if her world hadn't just been turned upside down.

A wife.

Adrian Black wanted her to be his wife.

It was absurd. It was insulting. It was—

Tempting.

She hated herself for thinking it, but the truth was undeniable. His offer would solve everything. Her company, her sister's education, the mountain of debt that had been crushing her for years. All of it, wiped away.

And in exchange, she would have access to information about her father's case.

That's what makes it dangerous, she thought. He knows exactly what I want. He's using it against me.

But was that so wrong? If he was willing to give her the truth, did his motives matter?

She looked down at the document. The paper was thick, expensive, covered in dense legal text. Her eyes found the name again—Daniel Carter—and her chest tightened.

I'll figure this out, she told herself. I'll find another way.

But even as she thought it, she knew there was no other way. Not one that didn't involve years more of struggle, years more of dead ends and closed doors.

Adrian Black was offering her a shortcut.

The question was whether she was willing to pay the price.

She pulled out her phone and called Ava.

"Lena? Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." Lena forced brightness into her voice. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Are you sure? You sound weird."

"I'm sure." She paused. "Ava, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What would you do if you had a chance to find out the truth about Dad? But it meant making a deal with someone you didn't trust?"

The silence on the other end was heavy. When Ava finally spoke, her voice was quiet. "I'd do it. Whatever it took."

"Even if it meant getting hurt?"

"Lena, we've been hurt before. We survived. But not knowing? Not having answers? That's worse." Ava paused. "Why are you asking?"

Lena closed her eyes. "No reason. Just thinking."

"Lena—"

"I have to go. I'll call you later."

She hung up before Ava could push further.

We've been hurt before. We survived.

Lena looked at the document one more time, then folded it carefully and slipped it into her bag.

She wasn't saying yes.

But she wasn't saying no either.

Not yet.