Aria stood in the center of Damien's grand office, her nervous eyes darting around the sleek, impersonal space. The marble floors and dark walls felt cold, suffocating, but that was nothing compared to the icy gaze Damien leveled at her. He leaned back in his chair, eyebrows slightly raised, watching her stumble over her words with an expression of impatient curiosity.
"What help?" he asked, his voice deep, almost mocking. "I mean, what type of help do you want from me?"
Aria's heart pounded wildly. She'd rehearsed this moment over and over, but standing here now, in front of him, she felt the words choke her, refusing to leave her throat. She clenched her hands together tightly, her palms damp with sweat. "It's… It's…"
Damien's smirk faded, replaced by a look of exasperation. "Spit it out, Miss Aria. I don't have all day for you."
The bluntness of his words made her flinch, but it also gave her a momentary surge of determination. She took a shaky breath and looked him squarely in the eyes. Her voice, though trembling, finally found its way out. "Please… marry me."
The silence that followed was deafening. Damien's eyes widened, a rare flicker of surprise breaking through his usual cool demeanor. For the first time, she'd managed to catch him off guard. But he recovered quickly, tilting his head and regarding her with a skeptical gaze, as if he were trying to decide if she was in her right mind.
"What?" he asked, voice carefully controlled. "Are you even thinking straight? What on earth are you saying?"
The dismissive tone in his voice stung, and she felt her face grow warm with embarrassment, but she couldn't back down now. She forced herself to stay calm, willing herself to explain. "Don't misunderstand me," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want you to love me. I'm… I'm asking for a contract marriage."
As the words "contract marriage" left her lips, Damien's face darkened. A flash of anger lit his eyes, and he slammed his palm down on the table with such force that the sound echoed through the office, causing her to jump. He leaned forward, his jaw clenched tightly, and glared at her as though her words were a personal insult.
"Are you joking with me right now?" he asked, his voice a deadly whisper. "If so, I suggest you stop. It's not even remotely funny."
Aria's stomach twisted, and a wave of regret crashed over her. She knew her request sounded absurd—insane even. But she also knew she had no other choice. This was the only way out of the nightmare her life had become, the only way she could see a glimmer of hope. Gathering every last ounce of courage, she met his steely gaze, refusing to look away.
"No, I'm serious," she said, her voice firmer now, though a hint of desperation clung to her words. "I just… I need to marry you. You're the only one who can help me. I'll do anything in return."
Damien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her, his gaze intense, almost unnerving. He slowly rose from his chair, his towering presence suddenly feeling imposing, suffocating. Each step he took toward her seemed deliberate, calculated, as though he wanted her to feel the weight of every second she dared to take up his time.
He stopped just in front of her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him, and leaned down until his face was inches from hers. His hands rested on either arm of her chair, trapping her, his tall frame casting a shadow over her as he spoke.
"You may leave now," he said, his voice low and cold, each word fanning his breath across her ear. It sent a shiver through her, a strange mix of fear and something she couldn't name tightening in her chest.
Goosebumps pricked her skin, and her pulse thundered in her ears. She felt a strange flutter in her stomach, a sensation that only intensified as he lingered close, his intense gaze boring into her. Her breath hitched, and she realized she was staring back at him, unable to break away. She hadn't expected him to react this way, hadn't expected the rush of emotions now whirling inside her.
But she couldn't leave—not like this.
"No, no, please don't say no," she stammered, her voice trembling, but she managed to keep speaking, determined to get through to him. "I promise… I'll do everything—anything—in return. Just… please, don't reject me right away. Please… just think about it." Her voice cracked slightly as she looked up at him, her eyes pleading.
Damien watched her in silence, his gaze unreadable, yet intense. For a moment, she saw something in his eyes—a flicker of something he quickly masked, perhaps an emotion he didn't want her to see. But then his face hardened again, and he stepped back, straightening himself and turning his back to her.
Aria felt the burn of tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back, refusing to let her vulnerability show. She had come here resolute, her mind set on securing Damien's help, no matter what it cost her. She wouldn't back down now. She couldn't afford to.
Even if it meant begging on her knees, she would do it. The thought of falling to such lows once would have horrified her, but that was before she'd faced the reality of her situation, a reality only Damien could change. She clung to that truth with every ounce of strength she had left.
As she watched him turn his back, heading toward his seat without so much as a glance in her direction, the pang of rejection pierced her heart. His dismissal felt colder than any refusal, his indifference sharper than any cutting words he could have spoken.
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