CHAPTER 1: A DEAL SHE NEVER AGREED

The city of Lagos never truly slept. The roads were always alive — horns blaring, street vendors shouting, and people chasing money like it was oxygen.Amara tightened her grip on her small handbag as she stepped out of the old taxi. The driver had already complained twice about “small money,” but she ignored him. Today was too important for distractions.She looked up at the tall glass building in front of her.Kingsley Group of Companies.Her heart sank a little.“Why did they call me here again?” she whispered to herself.Amara was not rich. She wasn’t famous. She was just a young graduate trying to survive in a city that didn’t care who you were unless you had connections or money.And she had neither.Still, the message she received this morning was clear:“Come for an urgent meeting. You’ve been selected for a private proposal discussion with the CEO.”She didn’t even apply for anything.Yet here she was.Taking a deep breath, she walked into the building.The inside was nothing like her world — marble floors, air conditioning so cold it felt unreal, and people moving like they owned time itself.A receptionist looked at her from head to toe.“Yes?”“I… I was called for a meeting,” Amara said softly.The woman checked her system.“Ah. Miss Amara?”She nodded quickly.“Top floor. The CEO is waiting.”Her stomach twisted.The CEO? Waiting for me?She entered the elevator alone. Every number that lit up felt heavier than the last.When the doors finally opened, two security men stood outside a large door.One of them knocked once.A deep voice came from inside.“Let her in.”The guards opened the door.And that was the moment Amara’s life quietly shifted forever.Inside, the office was massive — glass walls, a long table, and a man standing by the window with his back turned.Powerful. Calm. Dangerous in a silent way.He slowly turned.Their eyes met.And Amara forgot how to breathe.Because standing there was Damián Kingsley — one of the youngest and most feared CEOs in Nigeria’s business world.He studied her like she was a problem he already solved.“You’re late,” he said.“I… I wasn’t told the time,” she replied quickly.A slight smirk touched his lips.“Doesn’t matter. Sit.”She didn’t move.“I didn’t come for trouble, sir.”“That’s unfortunate,” he said calmly. “Because trouble is exactly what you signed up for.”Amara frowned.“I didn’t sign anything.”Damián walked closer, placing a thin file on the table.“Your name did.”She froze.“My… name?”He slid the file toward her.“Read it.”Her hands shook as she opened it.And what she saw made her blood run cold.A marriage contract.Her name was already printed.Signed.Stamped.Approved.Amara looked up sharply.“This is a mistake!”Damián’s eyes stayed fixed on her.“No. It’s a solution.”“A solution to what?!”He stepped closer now, voice lower.“To my problem… and now yours too.”Silence filled the room.Then he said the words that changed everything:“I need a wife. And you… are going to be her.