Olivia Douglas stood in front of the imposing glass doors of King Enterprises. The building towered above her, a sleek and modern testament to Nicholas King's empire. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she squared her shoulders and stepped inside. The cool air-conditioning was a sharp contrast to the warmth outside, but it did nothing to calm her nerves.
The receptionist barely looked up when Olivia approached. "I'm here to see Mr. King," Olivia said, her voice steadier than she felt.
The woman finally glanced at her, eyes sweeping over Olivia's figure before giving a curt nod. "Top floor. He's expecting you."
Of course, he was. Nicholas King had orchestrated this entire charade, and now she was walking right into his lair. With a deep breath, Olivia entered the elevator, watching the numbers tick higher and higher until she reached the top floor. As the doors slid open, she was met with a view of the sprawling city below, the skyline shimmering through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Nicholas's office.
A heavy wooden desk dominated the room, and behind it sat Nicholas King. He didn't stand to greet her. In fact, he barely acknowledged her at all, his eyes fixed on his computer screen.
"Close the door," he said, his tone sharp, without lifting his gaze.
Olivia swallowed, already feeling the weight of his arrogance. She did as he asked, then stood there, waiting for him to look at her. But Nicholas King wasn't one to offer courtesy. He let the silence stretch out, as if deliberately trying to make her uncomfortable. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he leaned back in his chair and studied her, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers.
"So, you're Olivia Douglas," he said, his voice low, almost mocking.
Olivia clenched her hands into fists at her sides but forced a calm expression. "Yes. I assume you already know why I'm here."
Nicholas smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Of course. Your father's debt." He said the word like it was a punchline to some cruel joke. "You've agreed to this arrangement, haven't you? Marrying me to save Daddy's little empire."
She hated the way he said it, like it was all a game. Like she was just another pawn on his chessboard. Olivia straightened her spine. "I'm doing this for my family, yes. But don't mistake me for someone who will just roll over and do whatever you say."
Nicholas chuckled, a cold, humorless sound that made her skin crawl. "Oh, sweetheart, I don't expect you to roll over. Not yet, anyway." He stood then, moving around his desk with a predator's grace. His tall, imposing frame seemed to fill the room, and Olivia had to fight the instinct to take a step back.
He stopped just in front of her, looking down at her with those icy blue eyes that gave nothing away. "This isn't a love story, Olivia. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is anything more than a contract. I get what I want, and you... you get to keep your father's business afloat."
Her chest tightened with anger. "And what is it that you want, Nicholas? Control? Revenge?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.
He tilted his head, considering her for a moment. Then, with that same cold smirk, he leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. "I want you to play your role. And I want your father to watch as everything he worked for slips through his fingers. Slowly. Painfully."
Olivia recoiled slightly, eyes narrowing. "So that's it? You want to ruin him? You're willing to use me just to get back at my father?"
Nicholas raised an eyebrow, as if the answer should've been obvious. "Yes. And don't pretend you're innocent in this. You've agreed to this farce, didn't you???. You'll be my wife in name, you'll show up at my side when I need you to, and you'll keep quiet about the rest. Simple."
His arrogance was suffocating. The way he spoke to her like she was just another asset to be controlled made Olivia's blood boil. She took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but Nicholas was relentless. He closed the gap in an instant, his hand gently brushing her arm, but there was nothing gentle in his gaze.
"You'll be mine, Olivia. In every way that matters. And whether you like it or not, you'll learn to play your part."
Olivia yanked her arm away, her heart hammering in her chest. "You don't own me," she hissed, her voice trembling with anger.
Nicholas's smirk widened. "I will. Once that ring is on your finger, you'll belong to me. And trust me, I don't plan on being the kind of husband who ignores his... obligations."
Her skin prickled at his words, a mix of revulsion and fear clawing at her. This man, this arrogant, controlling monster, was going to be her husband. And there was no way out.
"I'll never be yours," she spat, her voice rising.
Nicholas's eyes darkened, and for a moment, a flicker of something, anger, maybe—passed over his face. But then it was gone, replaced by that same cold, calculating expression.
"You will be. Whether you like it or not."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, suffocating her. Olivia's mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. How had she ended up here, trapped in this twisted arrangement with a man who saw her as nothing more than a tool for his revenge? She needed to get out of this room, away from him, before she suffocated under the weight of his presence.
She turned on her heel, heading for the door. But just as her hand touched the doorknob, Nicholas's voice stopped her cold.
"One more thing," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Olivia froze, her hand still on the knob, but she didn't turn around. She didn't want to see that smug look on his face again.
"When we're married, Olivia," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance, "you'll satisfy my every need. And I'll make sure you know exactly what that means."
A shiver ran down her spine, a mix of fear and disgust churning in her stomach. She yanked the door open and stepped into the hallway, her pulse racing. But even as the door closed behind her, Nicholas's voice echoed in her mind.
You'll satisfy my every need.
She pressed her back against the wall, trying to steady her breathing. She couldn't let him get to her like this. But deep down, she knew—no matter how much she resisted, Nicholas King was the kind of man who always got what he wanted. And now, he wanted her.