"Elena Monroe, you're the last hope your family has."
The words echoed in Elena's ears as she stood at the gates of Blackwood Corporation — the fortress of the man she'd sworn never to meet. The man she was about to marry.
Her fingers tightened around the contract in her hand. Marriage for one year. In exchange, her younger brother would get the surgery he needed — fully paid. And her bankrupt family would receive enough money to survive.
All she had to do was become Mrs. Damien Blackwood.
She took a deep breath and walked into the lion's den.
—
The elevator doors opened with a cold chime on the top floor. Everything was silent. Pristine. Expensive.
Then she saw him.
Damien Blackwood stood behind a black glass desk, back turned to her, city skyline behind him like he owned the world. Which he nearly did.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in a custom black suit. He turned around slowly, eyes cold and unreadable.
His gaze raked over her. "You're late."
Elena swallowed the insult. "Traffic."
"Or hesitation," he said coolly. "Most women would kill to wear my ring."
"I'm not most women," she replied, lifting her chin.
A flicker of amusement touched his lips. "That's what makes you useful."
He stepped closer, closing the distance with slow, confident strides. "You sign the contract, you become my wife. In public, we'll play happy couple. In private, you'll stay out of my way."
Elena's voice was steady. "And my brother?"
"He'll have the best doctors in the country, starting tomorrow."
Silence.
She looked down at the pen in his hand… then at his face. So sharp, so perfect, yet so cold it made her bones ache.
"Why me?" she asked. "Why not any of the plastic dolls throwing themselves at you?"
Damien leaned in. "Because you hate me. And that means you'll never fall in love with me."
His voice was low. Dangerous.
"And that, Miss Monroe, makes you the safest choice."
Elena stared into his eyes. The devil himself looked back.
With trembling fingers, she signed.
Damien took the papers, slid on a ring, and smirked. "Congratulations, Mrs. Blackwood."
Elena stepped back. Her world had changed with a signature.
She had just sold herself to the devil — and the game was only beginning.