Chapter 2: The Proposal No Woman Wanted
The grocery bag slipped from Elena Carter's hand, scattering apples across the pavement. Pedestrians stopped, gawking at the absurd scene unfolding before them.
Adrian Blackwood—once the untouchable CEO, now the man plastered across headlines for his downfall—stood before her, cold and composed, as if humiliation meant nothing.
And then there was his outrageous declaration.
"Marry me."
Elena's lips parted, then snapped shut again. Surely she had misheard. Surely this was some kind of cruel joke.
"…What?" Her voice trembled between disbelief and fury.
Adrian didn't repeat himself. He simply looked at her, gaze sharp and unwavering, as though he had all the time in the world and she was the only option left on earth.
Elena laughed. It was sharp, brittle, and entirely humorless. "You've finally lost it, Blackwood. Do you expect me to faint into your arms at those words? Or clap like an idiot for your performance?"
His jaw tightened, but he didn't flinch.
"Elena Carter," he said slowly, as though her name itself was a contract being inked. "Marry me."
The crowd erupted in whispers.
"Did he just propose?"
"To her? Isn't she just some ordinary woman?"
"Is this a publicity stunt after being kicked out of his own company?"
Phones came up, recording. The tabloids would eat this alive.
Elena's cheeks burned. She stooped to pick up her apples, deliberately ignoring the hand he extended to help her. "You're insane," she hissed under her breath. "Stay out of my life."
But Adrian's hand didn't waver.
Behind him, the translucent system screen blinked.
[ Mission Two: Convince Target to meet privately within 48 hours. ]
[ Reward: Restoration of luxury penthouse residence. ]
[ Punishment for failure: Exposure of Host's humiliating proposal video to all media outlets. ]
Adrian's pupils contracted.
Exposure? He turned his head slightly. Already, half the street had their cameras aimed at him. If this footage spread, his reputation would sink deeper than the Mariana Trench.
He needed her cooperation.
"Elena." His voice lowered, deep and commanding, laced with a steel that had once bent entire corporations to his will. "This is not a joke."
She shot him a glare. "You think saying my name like a king issuing orders will change anything? Don't forget—I worked under you. I know what kind of man you are."
The words stung more than they should have. She had worked under him, and more than once, her boldness had left him momentarily at a loss in boardroom meetings. Unlike others, she hadn't flattered him, hadn't tried to crawl into his bed, hadn't begged for promotions. She'd challenged him—and maybe that was why he still remembered her.
But remembering her was different from being forced to marry her.
"Elena," he said again, softer this time, though his pride screamed at him for it. "Give me one evening. Dinner. We'll talk. If you still refuse after that… I'll never bother you again."
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "One evening?"
"Yes."
She studied him for a long moment, then glanced at the gawking crowd, the phones, the cameras flashing like wildfire.
She exhaled slowly. "Fine. One evening."
The system chimed immediately.
[ Mission Completed. ]
[ Reward Unlocked: Penthouse residence restored. ]
Adrian didn't let his relief show. But inwardly, the tight coil in his chest loosened.
---
That evening, Elena sat stiffly across from him in the most exclusive restaurant in the city. She had refused his chauffeured car, arriving by taxi instead, yet she still looked like she belonged among chandeliers and crystal. A simple blouse, dark jeans, no jewelry—but her confidence filled the room more than diamonds could.
She didn't touch the wine he poured for her.
"Say what you want, Blackwood," she said, voice flat. "I've already given you more time than you deserve."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. He wasn't used to explaining himself. Negotiation, yes. Threats, often. But explanation? Rarely.
Still, the system's countdown ticked mercilessly in his head.
[ Remaining Time: 6 Days, 12 Hours. ]
Straight to the point, then.
"I need a wife."
Elena choked on her water. "Excuse me?"
"A contract marriage," Adrian clarified. His tone was businesslike, as though he were discussing quarterly reports. "No emotions. No strings. Mutual benefit. One year."
Her lips parted in disbelief, then curved into a bitter smile. "Do you even hear yourself? You barge into my life after six months, humiliate me in public, and now you're offering me—what? A job disguised as a marriage?"
"It wouldn't be a job," Adrian countered. "It would be an agreement. In exchange, you'll receive financial security, protection, and anything else you require."
Elena laughed outright. "Financial security? Protection? I've survived just fine without you, thank you. I don't need a man—especially you—to play savior."
The system screen flashed urgently.
[ Mission Triggered: Convince Target of mutual benefit within 24 hours. ]
[ Reward: 20% company shares secured. ]
[ Punishment: Target hostility increases ×2. ]
Adrian's mind sharpened. He couldn't push too hard—she was already defensive. He had to find her weakness, her need, her unspoken desire.
"Elena," he said finally, voice dropping lower. "I'm not asking you to depend on me. I'm asking you to use me."
Her brows shot up. "Use you?"
"Yes." His gaze locked onto hers. "You hate my arrogance, don't you? You hate men who think power is everything. Fine. Then use my power. Take what you need. For one year, I'll be your shield. After that, we go our separate ways."
For the first time, Elena hesitated.
Her younger brother's face flashed in her mind—his hospital bills stacking higher, the way she worked two jobs just to keep them afloat. She had vowed never to crawl back to Blackwood Enterprises, never to bend before Adrian Blackwood's shadow again.
And yet… one year of financial security. One year without fear of eviction notices, without unpaid medical bills.
Her heart twisted in conflict.
Adrian watched her carefully. He could read hesitation the way a wolf smelled blood. He didn't press further. He let silence speak for him, let her imagination fill in the blanks.
Finally, Elena pushed her chair back with a scrape. "I need time."
The system blinked.
[ Temporary Acceptance Detected. ]
[ Host Progress: 32% toward Contract Marriage. ]
Adrian's lips curved slightly. A small victory.
"Take all the time you need," he said smoothly, though the countdown in his mind screamed otherwise. "But remember—my offer doesn't stay forever."
She shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. "Don't act like you're doing me a favor, Blackwood. If I agree, it will be on my terms, not yours."
And with that, she walked out, leaving him alone in the golden glow of the chandelier.
Adrian exhaled, loosening the collar of his shirt.
The system chimed once more.
[ Warning: Rival Target detected. ]
[ New Mission: Prevent Rival from approaching Elena within 72 hours. ]
Adrian's eyes darkened.
Rival target?
Who dared?