Inside the sleek black SUV, Lena felt a sense of suffocating isolation as if the world outside had dimmed to a distant whisper.
Rain pounded relentlessly against the tinted windows, transforming the vibrant skyline of Astoria into a hazy impression of glimmering lights.
The atmosphere was charged with thick with unspoken words and the cool scent of leather mingling with Damien's cologne, a complex blend of cedar and something metallic that echoed the unforgiving nature of the city.
Lena shifted uneasily in her seat as the plush leather wrapping around her like a cocoon that both comforted and confined her. Her hands trembled slightly in her lap, gripping the marriage certificate that felt more like a shackle than a badge of honor.
The words "Lena Blackwood" emblazoned on the document echoed in her mind, weightier than any marriage vow.
She cast a sidelong glance at Damien, who sat rigidly across from her, his gray suit immaculate despite the rain-soaked world outside. The glow from his phone illuminated his sharp features casting shadows that made him appear even more formidable.
He scrolled through messages with a focus that suggested the act of marrying her had been more of an obligation than a milestone.
"So what happens now?" she finally asked, breaking the oppressive silence that had settled between them like a heavy fog. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her nervousness.
Damien's gaze remained fixed on his phone while his expression was unreadable.
"You'll do what I say. Be where I need you to be. And no complaints
This arrangement is simple but crucial."
"Arrangement?" Lena repeated, her voice rising slightly. "That's all this is? Just a transaction?"
At last, he looked up from his phone, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "It's your new reality, Lena. You need to embrace it or it will consume you."
Wake up , this is reality and it's no joke. I really need you to do this deal for me, no emotions or worry.
The weight of his words clung to her. Just as she was about to respond, he reached into his suit jacket, a movement so smooth it sent her heart racing.
Lena held her breath, a knot of uncertainty filled up her chest as Damien withdrew a small green velvet box. He extended it toward her, his expression still impassive, but something in the air seemed to shift.
"Here," he said, his voice flat, devoid of warmth.
Her pulse quickened as she took the box, the soft velvet contrasting sharply with the growing tension within her. With trembling hands, she opened it to reveal the diamond ring nestled inside, glimmering against the dark fabric.
It was breathtaking, a flawless stone housed in a sleek platinum band, yet what should have felt like a gift transformed into something suffocating. It was beautiful but cursed, igniting conflicting emotions deep within her.
"You must never be seen without it," Damien continued, his tone as cold as the ring itself. "It's part of the deal."
Lena slipped the ring onto her finger, the weight of it pressing down on her. "What's the purpose of all this, Damien? Why this marriage?"
"Act like it's real. Dinners, press appearances, functions. My circle doesn't tolerate inconsistencies," he replied, his voice sharp slicing through her confusion.
"Okay," she replied, trying to assert herself. "But why do you need this marriage?"
For a brief moment, Damien's gaze darkened, a flicker of vulnerability flashing through his icy demeanor. "Because it is a necessity."
"What kind of necessity? If this is just business, why not keep it simple?" she prodded, feeling a surge of defiance.
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper, drawing her in as though sharing a dangerous secret. "Because my life is filled with threats. There are eyes everywhere. Trust me when I say you don't want to draw attention."
A chill swept through Lena, the implications of his words wrapping around her like a fog. "What kind of eyes?" "eyes everywhere"
Damien's expression hardened, and for a split second, she saw a flicker of something darker lurking beneath his composed facade. "You don't need to know. Just understand that this facade isn't just a performance , it's a battle that needs to be fought."
As the SUV slowed, revealing the imposing silhouette of Blackwood Tower against the cloudy stormy sky, Lena's stomach tightened with emptiness.
The way he spoke hinted at dangers that shadowed their seemingly glamorous lives.
The diamond on her finger sparkled menacingly, each glint reminding her of the life she had chosen or perhaps had been forced into.
Damien turned his gaze back to the window, his attention consumed by the towering structure ahead. "You'll find yourself moving in circles you've never imagined. My connections mean power, but they also come with consequences."
"What do you mean?" she pressed, her curiosity increasingly overshadowed by fear.
His jaw tightened as he shifted his gaze back to her, making the air heavy with tension. "Just do what you're told. Don't question." His voice was calm, yet it carried an edge that hinted at explosive ramifications if she failed to comply.
Lena swallowed hard, battling the questions that simmered just beneath the surface.
What was lurking behind the polished exterior of Blackwood Innovations?
What secrets lay hidden in the shadows of Damien's life?
She thought of her home, her sister, her mother's illness and how this marriage was meant to provide a lifeline but and yet it felt like stepping into a cage.
As they arrived at the lavish entrance of Blackwood Tower, Damien exited the vehicle with practiced grace, his long strides conveying confidence that sent a ripple of anxiety through Lena. She hesitated before following, clutching the edge of her coat tightly, the ring heavy on her finger like a chain binding her to a destiny she feared.
In the elevator, its mirrored walls reflecting a version of herself that felt increasingly foreign, she caught sight of the ring glinting. "You can do this," she whispered, but the words felt hollow against the hum of the machinery.
Damien's words echoed in her mind. What lies ahead? Could she really navigate this perilous path?
With one final glance at her reflection, a flicker of determination ignited within her ; a resolve that she'd fight to find her place in this new world, no matter the cost.