Chapter 1
Elena adjusted her backpack as she stepped onto the busy city street. The morning sun caught her hair, and for a moment, she felt the ordinary weight of her life — long hours at the office, unpaid overtime, and endless reports that never seemed to end. She loved her job at Blackwood Enterprises, but sometimes she wondered if her life would ever hold more than spreadsheets and late-night emails. Calm, organized, and kind-hearted, Elena had a quiet way of handling chaos — a trait her coworkers admired but rarely noticed.
After grabbing a coffee, she walked into the office lobby, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Today, like every other day, she would immerse herself in the familiar hum of printers, phone calls, and keyboard clicks.
Miles above the city, Adrian Blackwood surveyed the skyline from his office. Billionaire, businessman, perfectionist — he had it all. And yet, the weight of expectation pressed heavily on him. His parents were relentless. "You need to marry," they insisted. "It's time for a proper family. Stability. Appearances."
Adrian had long ignored their wishes, focusing instead on business deals, acquisitions, and maintaining control. Yet, the more he tried to dodge their pressure, the louder it became. He sighed and poured himself a glass of scotch, thinking about the delicate balance between duty and desire. There was no room in his carefully ordered life for disruption — until he noticed her.
It happened in the elevator. Elena, clutching her coffee, bumped into Adrian as the doors slid open.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she said, startled.
Adrian raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "No harm done," he said, his voice calm but commanding. From that moment, he noticed her — the way she remained composed under pressure, the quiet intelligence in her eyes, the warmth she carried without even trying. She was… different.
Over the next few weeks, their paths crossed more often: the office printer, the conference room, shared elevators. Adrian found himself observing her small habits — how she organized files meticulously, how she treated interns with respect, how her laughter, though rare, lit up a room. Elena noticed him too, though she wouldn't admit it. There was something about the tall, mysterious businessman that unnerved her — yet intrigued her — every time he glanced her way.
Elena's morning continued in its usual rhythm: emails, meetings, and the occasional request for reports she hadn't even finished yet. She prided herself on her composure, but today, something felt different — an unusual tension in the office, whispers that died when she walked by. She shrugged it off, focusing on her tasks. In the corner of her eye, she noticed him — Adrian Blackwood — stepping out of the elevator, perfectly dressed, perfectly composed, every bit the intimidating CEO everyone whispered about. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second, and Elena felt her chest tighten. It was nothing, she told herself. Just a fleeting glance.
Adrian spent the day watching her discreetly. Not in a way that was inappropriate, but in the way someone notices a rare and remarkable pattern in an otherwise predictable world. She didn't flinch when deadlines piled on, didn't complain when interns fumbled, and somehow managed to maintain a calm aura even in chaos. He found himself drawn to her presence, a stark contrast to the calculated, cold world he usually navigated. And yet, he reminded himself of the rules: no attachment. This was business.
It happened at the office lounge. Elena was preparing coffee when Adrian approached.
"You handle stress well," he said, leaning casually against the counter.
She looked up, surprised. "Excuse me?"
"I said… you handle stress well. Most people crumble under pressure. You… don't." His tone was calm, yet something in it made her heart skip a beat.
"Thank you," she replied softly, unsure why his praise affected her so much. A silence lingered between them, filled with unspoken curiosity. It was the first time they truly noticed each other outside brief greetings.
That evening, Adrian's parents called — again. Their insistence on marriage grew louder with each conversation.
"I need a solution," Adrian muttered to himself after hanging up. "Someone calm, reliable, someone… like her." He hadn't intended to involve her. She was just an office colleague, nothing more. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized she might be the answer to his problem — and perhaps, unknowingly, the key to something far deeper.
The next morning, Adrian called her into his office.
"I have a proposition," he began, voice steady. "It's unusual, but hear me out."
Her heart skipped. She had no idea what he could want.
"I'm under pressure from my family to marry. I need someone… dependable. Someone rational, composed, and trustworthy. I'd like to propose a contract marriage."
Elena blinked, caught off guard. The words hung between them. It sounded surreal, but Adrian's calm, serious demeanor made it impossible to dismiss outright.
"I… I need time to think," she said finally, her mind racing.
"Of course," he replied. "Take your time. But know this: I chose you because you're steady. Reliable. And… remarkable."