Chapter 1 — The Man in the Black Suit
Rain hammered against the pavement, drowning the campus in a gray curtain. Amara Reed stood under the thin shelter of the library steps, clutching her backpack like it was a lifeline. She was already late. The kind of late that made you consider faking a fever just to avoid showing up at all.
But today wasn't just another shift at the campus café. Today was the day she was supposed to meet the "special client" her manager had warned her about — someone important enough that her job, and maybe her scholarship, could depend on making a good impression.
A black car slid to a stop at the curb. It wasn't the kind of car you parked on this side of campus — sleek, expensive, the kind you only saw in movies. The tinted window rolled down just enough for her to glimpse a pair of storm-gray eyes, assessing her in a single, piercing glance.
"You're late," a deep voice said.
Amara blinked, glancing around. "Uh… are you talking to me?"
The man stepped out. He was tall, wearing a tailored black suit that looked absurdly out of place against the backdrop of college students in hoodies. Rain beaded on his broad shoulders, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Amara Reed?"
She hesitated. "…Yes?"
He looked her up and down, not with interest, but with the detached scrutiny of someone inspecting a product. "Get in."
"I—what?"
"You're the assistant the café sent. I don't have time for explanations. We'll talk in the car."
Amara's brain screamed stranger danger, but something in his tone — cold, commanding — made her feet move before she could think. She slid into the leather seat, heart hammering.
The man shut the door behind her, then walked around and got in beside her. His cologne was expensive, subtle, the kind that clung in the air without being overwhelming.
"Who exactly are you?" she asked, gripping her backpack tighter.
He glanced at her, the corner of his mouth twitching — not quite a smile. "Adrian Cole."
The name sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it.
"You work for me now," he continued, as if that settled everything.
Amara shook her head. "No, I work at Brew & Books Café. I was told I'd be delivering coffee."
"And now you'll be delivering more than that," Adrian said smoothly. "For the next six months, you'll act as my girlfriend."
The words landed like a punch to the chest. "Excuse me?"
He pulled a document from the folder beside him and slid it across the seat. "It's a contract. You'll attend public events with me, smile for the cameras, and help silence certain… rumors."
"This is insane," she said, trying to shove the folder back at him.
"It's also non-negotiable. If you refuse, I'll make sure the café lets you go."
Her stomach dropped. "You can't—"
"I can," he said, voice like steel. "My family owns the land your café sits on. And your scholarship? It's funded by the same board of trustees I'm part of."
Amara stared at him, stunned. Now she remembered the name — Adrian Cole, heir to the Cole Enterprises empire, the man who could buy half the city without blinking.
She swallowed hard. "Why me?"
"You were convenient," he said without hesitation. "And you're… presentable enough."
Her pride flared. "Presentable enough? Gee, thanks."
A faint smirk ghosted over his lips. "If it's any consolation, you're not my first choice either. But you're here, and I don't have time to find someone else."
She wanted to tell him to shove his contract and his arrogance where the sun didn't shine. But the thought of losing her scholarship — of throwing away years of hard work — made her throat tighten.
Her fingers hovered over the folder. "What exactly do I have to do?"
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, deliberate murmur. "Pretend you're in love with me. In public, at least. Smile when I hold your hand. Look at me like I'm the center of your universe. And under no circumstances, fall for me for real."
Amara let out a sharp laugh. "Trust me, that won't be a problem."
Something flickered in his eyes, something unreadable. He held out a pen. "Sign, Miss Reed. Your future depends on it."
The rain outside turned to a soft drizzle, but inside the car, the air felt thick and unyielding.
With a deep breath, Amara took the pen. The moment her name bled onto the page, she had the sinking feeling she'd just signed away more than six months of her life.
Adrian took the contract back, tucking it neatly into the folder. "Good. You start tonight. Black dress. Seven o'clock. Don't be late this time."
Before she could respond, the car door opened, and she found herself standing back on the sidewalk, the warmth of the leather seat replaced by the cold bite of the rain.
She watched the black car glide away, her heart pounding in her ears.
She'd just made a deal with the devil.
And God help her, part of her already wanted to know what it would cost.