Episode 2: the billionaire's proposal

THE BILLIONAIRE'S PROPOSAL

The elevator doors opened on the forty-fifth floor.

Isabella stepped out and stared at the magnificent office before her. Glass walls overlooked the glittering New York skyline, while expensive paintings decorated the room.

Adrian walked behind his desk and gestured toward a chair.

"Sit down, Miss Hayes."

She sat, clutching her handbag.

"You said you had a job for me," she reminded him. "I'm listening."

Adrian opened a drawer and removed a thick folder.

"How much money do you need?"

Isabella frowned. "What?"

"Your application says you have experience in business administration. You wouldn't be looking for work this desperately unless something were wrong."

She stiffened.

"My family's problems are none of your business."

"You're right." He closed the folder. "Then let's discuss something that could benefit us both."

He slid a document across the desk.

Isabella looked down at it.

MARRIAGE AGREEMENT.

She stared at the words, then slowly raised her eyes.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"I don't joke about business."

"You want me to marry you?"

"For one year."

Isabella stood so quickly that her chair scraped against the floor.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Adrian remained calm.

"My grandfather recently passed away. His will contains a condition: I must be married before my thirtieth birthday to inherit controlling ownership of Blackwood Industries."

"And you couldn't find a woman willing to marry you?"

His expression hardened.

"I don't need a woman who wants my money. I need someone who understands the terms of an agreement."

Isabella laughed in disbelief.

"And you think I'm that woman?"

"I think you're someone who needs money."

The words stung because they were true.

Adrian continued.

"I'll pay your family's debts, provide you with a comfortable home, and transfer an agreed sum to you each month. In return, you'll play the role of my wife for twelve months."

"And afterward?"

"We divorce. You walk away with your money. I retain my inheritance."

Isabella looked at the agreement again.

It could solve every problem keeping her awake at night.

But marrying a stranger?

Living with a man who looked at people as though they were business transactions?

Absolutely not.

"Why me?" she asked quietly.

Adrian was silent for a moment.

"Because you looked me in the eyes and told me I had no manners."

She blinked.

"That's your reason?"

"It's a better reason than most."

For the first time, Isabella noticed something beneath his cold expression. Perhaps it was loneliness. Perhaps it was simply exhaustion.

Whatever it was, she couldn't understand it.

She picked up the agreement.

"I need time to think."

"You have twenty-four hours."

"And if I refuse?"

"I'll respect your decision."

She studied him, surprised by his answer.

Then she walked toward the door.

"Miss Hayes?"

She turned.

"One more thing," Adrian said. "My former fiancée will probably make your life difficult."

"Why?"

"Because she expected to become my wife."

Isabella shook her head.

"Your life is complicated, Mr. Blackwood."

"You have no idea."

She left the office with the contract in her handbag and a thousand questions in her mind.

Outside, her phone rang.

It was her younger sister.

"Isabella!" Her sister's voice trembled. "You need to come home. Someone is here, and they're saying we have until tomorrow to pay what we owe."

Isabella stopped walking.

Tomorrow.

The same deadline Adrian had given her.

She looked back at the elevator doors.

Perhaps the billionaire's proposal wasn't a coincidence after all.