The next morning, I woke to the harsh sunlight streaming through my apartment window, but the weight of the previous night's conversation refused to lift. My father's words echoed in my mind, an unrelenting drumbeat.
"I've arranged a marriage for you. The papers are already being drawn up."
I sat up in bed, clutching my blanket as though it could shield me from the storm that was brewing. Daemon Reynolds. Even the name sent a shiver down my spine.
I didn't know much about him—just whispers, rumors of a man with a ruthless reputation. He was a force to be reckoned with in the corporate world, his family's pharmaceutical empire dominating industries far beyond medicine. But there was something else about him, something darker.
A knock at my door startled me, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Who is it?" I called, my voice hoarse from sleep—or maybe from the strain of holding back last night's tears.
"It's Sophie," came the cheerful reply. My best friend's voice was a welcome relief, though I wasn't sure I was ready to face anyone just yet.
Dragging myself out of bed, I opened the door to find Sophie holding a tray of coffee and croissants. Her blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her bright smile faltered the moment she saw my face.
"Whoa, you look like you've been hit by a truck. What happened?" she asked, pushing past me into the apartment.
I shut the door and leaned against it, crossing my arms. "It's my dad," I said flatly.
Sophie set the tray down on the kitchen counter, her eyebrows knitting together. "What did he do this time?"
"He's forcing me to marry someone. For a business deal." The words tasted bitter in my mouth, and saying them out loud made it all feel even more real.
Sophie's eyes widened. "What? Aurora, that's insane!"
"Tell me about it." I collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. "He's threatening to let the company go under if I don't go through with it."
Her expression darkened as she sat beside me. "And you're just going to let him get away with that?"
"What choice do I have, Sophie? If the company falls, everything my mom worked for falls with it. I can't let that happen."
Sophie frowned, clearly unhappy with my reasoning, but she didn't argue. Instead, she reached for her coffee and took a long sip.
"So, who's the lucky guy?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"Daemon Reynolds."
The cup froze halfway to her lips, and her eyes widened. "Daemon Reynolds? Aurora, are you kidding me?"
I shook my head. "Why? What do you know about him?"
Sophie set her coffee down and leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He's… intense. People say he's brilliant, but also cold and calculating. And there are rumors, Aurora. Bad ones."
"What kind of rumors?"
She hesitated, as though saying them out loud might summon him. "People say he's not just a businessman. That he's connected to… other things. Dangerous things. If your father thinks he's just getting a business partner, he might be in for more than he bargained for."
My stomach churned at her words. As if the situation wasn't bad enough, now I had to worry about who—or what—I was walking into.
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I grabbed it, my heart sinking when I saw the name on the screen.
"It's my dad," I muttered, showing Sophie the screen.
"Answer it," she urged.
I hesitated but finally swiped to accept the call. "What now, Dad?"
"Daemon wants to meet you," he said, his tone brisk and unyielding. "I've arranged a lunch for the two of you. Be ready by noon."
"What? No!" I protested, but he cut me off.
"This isn't up for debate, Aurora. Be ready."
The line went dead, and I stared at the phone in disbelief.
"What did he say?" Sophie asked, leaning closer.
"He set up a lunch for me and Daemon." I let out a shaky breath, the reality of it all hitting me like a freight train. "I'm supposed to meet him today."
Sophie grabbed my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to do this."
But we both knew that wasn't true.
Noon came faster than I expected, and before I knew it, I was standing outside an upscale restaurant, my nerves threatening to get the better of me.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The hostess led me to a private room at the back of the restaurant, her polite smile doing little to ease my anxiety.
And then I saw him.
Daemon Reynolds was nothing like I'd expected. He was tall, with dark, neatly combed hair and piercing gray eyes that seemed to see right through me. He was dressed in a tailored suit, every inch the powerful businessman. But there was an edge to him, a quiet intensity that made the air in the room feel heavier.
"Aurora Sinclair," he said, standing as I entered. His voice was deep, smooth, and completely unreadable.
"Daemon Reynolds," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady as I took the seat across from him.
He studied me for a moment, his gaze sharp and calculating. "I've heard a lot about you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Funny, I can't say the same about you."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Your father told me you'd be... hesitant about this arrangement. I respect that. But I think you'll find that we can be good for each other."
"Good for each other?" I repeated, my tone laced with disbelief. "This isn't a relationship, Mr. Reynolds. It's a business transaction."
His smirk widened, but there was no humor in it. "Perhaps. But I assure you, Miss Sinclair, I don't enter into any transaction lightly."
There was something in his tone, something that sent a chill down my spine. For the first time, I realized just how out of my depth I was.