Elena stood frozen in the grand hall of Blake Tower, her hands still dusted with petals and her apron smudged with pollen. The gala staff moved around her like a tide—servers adjusting silverware, decorators fixing drapes—but her attention was locked on one man: Adrian Blake.
His words hung in the air, sharp and commanding.
> "Stay. I may have a business proposition for you."
Elena blinked, wondering if she had misheard. She glanced toward Isabella Grant, who looked as though she'd just swallowed something bitter.
"A… proposition?" Elena repeated cautiously.
Adrian's gaze was unwavering. "Yes. Come with me."
Without waiting for her answer, he turned and strode toward a side door. The sheer confidence in his movements demanded obedience, and against her better judgment, Elena followed. Isabella's sharp laugh echoed behind them, mocking.
The door led into a private lounge, far quieter than the glittering chaos of the gala preparations. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the city skyline, and the leather furniture gleamed under warm golden light. Adrian closed the door, leaving them in silence.
Elena swallowed hard, her voice firmer than she felt. "Look, Mr. Blake, if this is about the flowers being late, I already explained—"
He raised a hand, silencing her. "This isn't about the flowers."
She frowned. "Then what is this about?"
Adrian studied her in a way that made her shift uncomfortably, as though he could see beyond her posture and her carefully chosen words—straight through to her soul.
Finally, he spoke. "You're independent. Strong-willed. Not easily intimidated. That's rare."
Elena blinked, stunned. Was that… a compliment?
Before she could respond, his tone hardened. "I need a wife."
Elena nearly choked. "Excuse me?"
"A wife," he repeated calmly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "On paper, at least. A marriage arrangement."
For a moment, she just stared at him. She half-expected him to laugh, to tell her this was some cruel joke. But Adrian Blake wasn't joking. His face was stone, his voice measured.
"This is insane," Elena said finally. "You don't even know me."
"I don't need to know you," he countered smoothly. "What I need is someone who can play the role convincingly."
Her mind raced. "Why me?"
He moved closer, his towering presence making her instinctively step back. "Because you're not after my money. You run your own business, don't you? You clearly value your independence. That makes you… less dangerous than most."
She stared at him. "Less dangerous?"
"Women like Isabella," he said, his jaw tightening, "are vultures. They cling, they manipulate. I can't afford another scandal, not now."
Elena shook her head, incredulous. "So what—you just choose the first woman who talks back to you and decide she'll be your wife?"
His lips curved into the faintest smirk. "You're not the first woman who's talked back to me. But you are the first one who's done it without flinching."
Her cheeks flushed with heat. She hated the strange flutter in her chest at his words.
"You're out of your mind," she muttered, turning toward the door.
"Think about it, Miss Carter," his voice followed her, low and steady. "Your shop is drowning in debt. Your father's medical bills are piling up. I've already had my finance department look into it."
Elena froze, her hand on the doorknob. A wave of indignation surged through her. "You… you investigated me?"
Adrian's expression didn't change. "I don't make offers without knowing what I'm dealing with."
Her heart pounded. Shame and fury collided inside her. Yes, everything he said was true—but the arrogance in his tone made her want to scream.
"You think you can just buy me because I'm desperate?" she snapped.
He stepped closer again, his voice dangerously calm. "Not buy you. Offer you a partnership. One that benefits us both."
She glared at him. "What exactly are you offering?"
For the first time, his eyes softened—though only slightly. "You help me silence the board of directors and secure my inheritance. In return, I'll clear your father's debts. Your shop will be safe. You'll have financial security for life."
Elena's breath caught. It was everything she wanted—everything she needed. But at what cost?
Her throat tightened as she forced the words out. "And what do you get?"
Adrian's eyes locked onto hers. "A wife. A Blake in name only. No questions asked. No emotions involved."
Elena's stomach twisted. A marriage with no love. A contract binding her to a man who radiated coldness like ice.
Yet, as she looked at him standing there, so certain, so unshakable, a part of her whispered that refusing him would be impossible.
She opened the door with trembling fingers. "You're insane, Mr. Blake. I could never agree to something like that."
His voice followed her again, low and unyielding.
> "You will. Because whether you admit it or not, you need me."
Elena stormed out of the lounge, her chest heaving, her thoughts a tangled mess. She told herself she'd never see him again. She told herself she'd forget his words.
But deep down, she already knew: Adrian Blake wasn't the kind of ma
n who gave up.
And this proposal—this outrageous, impossible proposal—was only the beginning.