Grace's POV
I wasn't one used to begging. Not from anyone at all. But this was totally different. My political career—everything about my entire future—was on the line, and I had no choice but to summon courage, swallow my pride and make the deal happen, the deal that would change everything for me. I just hoped it would work for good.
I stood speechless outside Sebastian Knight's office, the nerves developed in my stomach threatening to betray me. It felt strange, like the whole world was watching, waiting for me to take a step, to make my move. His office was in stark resemblance to his features, cold, sleek, and sterile—nothing different from him. Every part of it demonstrated and creamed power and control, and I wasn't sure if I could face what was about to unfold in there.
I had done everything possible, spent months planning this. Behind the scenes, I had observed carefully, watched his reputation crumble to piece—his sexuality was been questioned, his every move scrutinized. I knew from that very moment that he was the one person who could help me out, but I also was not ignorant of how ruthless he could be. If he didn't see reason with me, I'd be left with nothing. No career to pursue, no future.
I took a deep breath before pushing open the door.
Sebastian was already sitting behind his desk, he was literally backing me, staring out into space, or perhaps the window. His posture was what I could describe as perfect, a man who had mastered control. The moment he turned around to face me, I could feel the heat of his gaze, melting me down from where I stood, cold as ice but sharp, and could be compared to a predator sizing up its prey.
"You are Grace," he said, his voice low, but not friendly. "What brings you to my office today?"
I forced myself to step inside, to steady my movements, my heels clicking hard on the polished floor despite my composure. "Mr. Sebastian," I said, trying my very best to keep my voice calm, even as my heart rate accelerated in seconds. "I came bearing an offer, a business deal."
He leaned back comfortably in his chair, his eyes narrowing while scanning my every body movement. "I'm listening, go on."
I took a seat quietly across from him, pretending to not have observed the way his gaze seemed to pierce through me mercilessly. I had to be careful, to be mindful of my statements. Sebastian Knight wasn't just any regular kind of businessman—he was a big force to be reckoned with if favored. I knew that his reputation was everything to him, though he pretended not to have cared, but even at that, I knew that if I wasn't careful, I could ruin everything like my mother.
"I won't dare waste your time," I began, trying to appear more confident than I felt already. "I need your urgent help, Sebastian. Everything about my political career is at risk. There are terrible rumors circulating about me, things that could destroy all that I've built entirely, and it's only but a matter of time before my horrible opponents use them against me. I am seriously in need of someone who can protect not just me, but help to revive my dead career, someone with power."
He let out a small smile, raising an eyebrow, and even at that, his expression was still unreadable. "And you concluded that I'm the one to help you?"
"I know you can if you decide to," I said, my voice steady despite the confusion brewing inside me. "You don't just have a say in politics, but you also have the power to silence the rumors. I've also watched you through your own scandal, haven't you? I saw how your reputation took a hit because of it, but you amazingly stood still. You know how to navigate things like this, things that wants to tarnish your image."
Sebastian made no effort to speak right away. He just watched me in amusement, his gaze was cold but calculating. I was almost weighed down by the piecing gaze from him, his judgment of who should have a deal with him pressing down on me.
"You should be aware by now that I'm not interested in politics, Grace," he said finally, his tone not encouraging but flat. "You know the details about that."
"I'm not in any way making request for you to join my campaign," I added quickly. "My request is something much simpler."
He leaned forward, his eyes sparkled with curiosity, though he tried to hide it. "What exactly are you asking for, then?"
I inhaled deeply to his question. This was the moment. There was no turning back, rather, I will face him and make my request known to him.
"I would need you to marry one of my beautiful daughters," I said, my voice calm despite the loud pounding in my chest. "It would be a contract marriage. Something to shut down the rumors entirely, to help amend both of our reputations."
He blinked uncontrollably in disbelief, his expression unreadable. "A marriage and a contract? You think marrying any of your daughters is going to solve all your problems?"
"Yes, for now," I replied firmly. "I do believe so. I know exactly what you're going through right now, Sebastian. The public somehow thinks you're a joke right now. But if you succeed and marry one of my beautiful daughters, I think you'll have the legitimacy you need. And of course, I'll finally have the protection I desire for my career."
Sebastian didn't make any effort to respond immediately. He just sat there blankly, staring at me, his eyes narrowed at me, as if he were contemplating every possible angle. I could feel how thick the air in the room was, it was eerily silent.
"You're requesting that I marry someone I don't know, a stranger," he said finally in a low voice. "Someone that I haven't crossed paths with before. And you're offering me a deal that's connected to politics, a political solution that doesn't even guarantee anything to me."
I didn't flinch at the question as expected. "It guarantees that the public view of you will change, that they will see you as a man of integrity, your reputation will become clean once more. This will also ensure that I won't lose everything I've worked hard for."
He sneered, leaned back in his chair, his lips forming into a small, it was an amused smile. "And what's in it for you or you will do all that for free, Grace? Why not concentrate on just finding someone else?"
I fixed my gaze steadily on him. "Because I no other person is like you, I seriously need you, Sebastian. I need someone with your kind of record, someone who may not necessarily focus on the help that may come with it. I don't want my career to be in a mess, to be too late to save. My opponents are already watching in earnest, circling, and waiting for me to slip up a little and get tracked down."
"And you concluded that using my name will save you and your career?" he asked, his voice obviously laced with every bit of cynicism. "You think this is the best, that a marriage to me will bring down the rumors, and make it to disappear?"
"I didn't just think it," I said, my voice a little confident. "I know it for sure. You're and I'm definite that the only one who can change the narrative, and help me."
The long silence stretched on again between us. I could literally feel the weight of his gaze descending on me, but I didn't look away as expected. I couldn't afford to give him the wrong impression."
Finally, he opened his mouth to talk again, his voice was no more as cold as it was from the beginning, it was low but determined. "Fine. I accept to save you, I will marry your daughter. But I need to clarify you on one thing, Grace. I'm not in anyway doing this for you. I'm doing this just to save the day for myself. And immediately all of this is when it's over, I'm out for good. Don't forget, no strings attached."
I exhaled in relief at the condition he gave, though my heart wouldn't stop pounding in my chest. This was it, the connection I have been seeking for. The deal was made to my favor. But even as I made my way out of his office, I still had the feeling that things didn't go well as I expected. Something wasn't right.
It's true that he had agreed, but it felt more like there was more to his decision beyond my view than he was willing to letting on.