Sophia Hart couldn't stop staring at the numbers on her phone screen. The red digits felt like a countdown to her inevitable failure. The family business—her father's life's work—was in a freefall, bleeding money faster than she could find ways to plug the holes.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath, raking a hand through her dark hair. Her reflection in the window of her small apartment looked tired, worn. She barely recognized herself anymore. The ambitious woman who had dreams of expanding her father's business was now drowning in a sea of debt collectors and empty promises.
A knock at the door broke through her spiral of thoughts. Sophia hesitated before walking over, tugging her robe tighter around her. It was late, and she wasn't expecting anyone. The landlord, maybe? A final warning before he kicked her out?
She swung the door open, and her breath caught in her throat. Standing there was Alexander Maddox, the man who had haunted her nightmares and fantasies for months. Tall and devastatingly handsome, Alexander was everything she didn't need in her life right now—a ruthless billionaire who always got what he wanted. And tonight, for some reason, he was here.
"Sophia." His voice was smooth, but there was something dangerous lurking beneath it.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she snapped, refusing to let the familiar rush of attraction cloud her judgment. Alexander Maddox wasn't someone you played games with.
He smirked, taking a step forward into her tiny apartment without waiting for an invitation. "Nice to see you too. I assume you've seen the latest figures. I told you it would come to this."
Sophia clenched her jaw, hating that he was right. Months ago, she had stubbornly refused his offer to bail out the family business. It had been her pride speaking then, the belief that she could fix everything on her own. But now... now she wasn't so sure.
"You came all the way here just to gloat?" she asked, arms crossed over her chest.
"Not exactly." Alexander's gaze flicked over her, as if he were assessing her, weighing her worth. "I came to offer you a solution."
Sophia's heart pounded. She knew what he was going to say before the words even left his mouth.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "Absolutely not."
"You haven't even heard the terms," he said, stepping closer, his voice low and seductive. "One signature, Sophia, and your family's business will be saved. Your father's legacy will live on, and you won't have to worry about debt or losing everything you've worked for. All you have to do is marry me."
There it was. The offer she had been dreading.
Sophia's throat tightened. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I'm very serious," Alexander replied, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "This isn't about love, Sophia. It's a contract. A year, maybe two. You'll have all the financial stability you need. In exchange, you'll be Mrs. Maddox."
"You're insane," she breathed, backing away from him. But her feet hit the couch, trapping her between him and the worn-out cushions.
"Insane?" He chuckled darkly, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. "No, I'm just a businessman, offering you a way out. You know you need me. Don't pretend you don't."
Sophia's mind raced. She didn't want to marry him. Hell, she didn't even like him. But could she really watch her father's company die? Could she live with herself knowing that she had the chance to save it and didn't take it?
"You want to use me as some trophy wife," she said bitterly.
Alexander's expression hardened. "You're not a trophy, Sophia. I need a wife, and you need money. It's that simple."
It wasn't simple. Nothing about this was simple. But God, she was running out of options. Her father's face flashed in her mind, proud and smiling before his health had declined. Before everything had fallen apart.
"How do I know you won't screw me over?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"You'll have everything in writing. Full legal protection. I won't lay a finger on you unless you want me to." His lips curved into a predatory smile at the last part, and Sophia's stomach flipped.
She wanted to laugh, to scream at him for even suggesting this, but instead, her hands trembled. She was so damn tired of fighting. Of being strong.
"I can't believe I'm even considering this," she muttered, looking anywhere but at him.
"You're smarter than you give yourself credit for," Alexander said, his tone softening for the first time. "Think about it. You'll have control over the business, and once our contract is up, you'll walk away with more than enough to live your life however you want."
Sophia exhaled shakily. "And what do you get out of this? What's your angle?"
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something raw there—something he was hiding behind his cold exterior. "I need a wife. For appearances. The kind of woman who can handle this world without flinching. You fit the bill."
A wife for appearances. Of course. It was all about image, about keeping up his ruthless, polished persona. She was just a pawn in his larger game.
But if it saved her family… could she really walk away?
"I need time," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"You've got until tomorrow," he said, turning and walking towards the door. "If I don't have your answer by then, the deal's off, and I'll make sure you never have another chance like this again."
Sophia stood there, frozen, as the door closed behind him.
Tomorrow. She had until tomorrow to decide if she was willing to marry the devil to save her soul—or at least her father's legacy.