The rain pounded against the windows of the tiny café, drowning out the chatter of the evening crowd. Ariana Lopez stirred her coffee absentmindedly, watching the steam curl upward as if it carried her fading dreams with it.
She had never imagined her life would crumble so quickly. Just weeks ago, she was on her way to finishing her fashion design degree, dreaming of her own boutique. But her father's company—her family's pride—had fallen into crippling debt. Overnight, they went from respected to ruined.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She frowned before answering. "Hello?"
"Miss Lopez." The voice was smooth, deep, commanding. "Meet me at the Grand Empire Hotel. Presidential Suite. Ten o'clock sharp."
Ariana froze. She didn't recognize the voice, but something about the way he said her name made her heart pound. "Who is this?"
The line went dead.
---
At 9:58 p.m., Ariana stood before the gleaming glass doors of the Grand Empire Hotel. Every instinct screamed to turn around. But she couldn't. Not when her father's creditors were circling like vultures. Not when her younger brother still needed school tuition.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. When the doors finally opened, she was met with silence—thick, heavy, intimidating. She pushed open the door of the suite and gasped.
He was there.
Alexander Reid.
The youngest CEO of Reid Global Enterprises. A man known across the city as both brilliant and ruthless. His icy blue eyes lifted from the documents in his hand, locking on her with unsettling precision.
"You're late." His voice cut through the room like a blade.
Ariana bristled. "It's 10 o'clock exactly."
"Close enough." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."
Reluctantly, she did. "Why am I here, Mr. Reid?"
He leaned back in his chair, studying her as if she were a puzzle. The tension stretched until she thought she would break. Then, he dropped the bomb.
"Marry me."
Ariana's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." His tone was calm, as if discussing a business deal. "Marry me, and I'll pay off your family's debts. Every cent."
Her heart hammered. "This is insane. You don't even know me."
Alexander's lips curved into a humorless smile. "I don't need to know you. I need a wife. My board is pressuring me. They think a 'stable family image' is necessary for the upcoming merger. I don't have time for love, or games, Miss Lopez. I need someone who can follow rules."
Ariana's breath caught. The offer was madness… but so was her life right now. Her father had been humiliated. Their house was on the brink of foreclosure. If she agreed, she could save them.
But marry a man like him? A man whose heart seemed carved from ice?
"What if I refuse?" she asked softly.
He set down his glass of whiskey with a sharp click. "Then your father's company collapses tomorrow morning. And I'll make sure no bank in this city touches your name again."
Her blood ran cold. This wasn't a proposal. It was blackmail.
Alexander leaned forward, his gaze pinning her in place. "You have one night to decide, Ariana. Tomorrow, you either walk into City Hall as my wife… or you walk away with nothing."
Her chest tightened as the weight of the choice crashed down on her. Save her family, or save herself.
And as she stared into those merciless eyes, Ariana realized—whatever decision she made tonight would change her life forever.