Serena Vale sat in the grand yet soulless office, her back stiff, fingers curled into her lap. The city skyline stretched beyond the glass walls, lights flickering against the velvet night. The weight of her family's ruined legacy pressed against her chest, but she refused to show weakness. Not here. Not in front of him.
Adrian Blackwood.
The man who owned half of Manhattan. The man who could single-handedly pull her family's name from the grave—or bury it forever. He sat across from her, a vision of power in his tailored black suit. Everything about him was sharp—his jawline, his gaze, the ruthless curve of his lips.
And now, she was supposed to be his wife.
"One year, Miss Vale," Adrian said, his voice smooth but edged with an unmistakable authority. "You'll be my wife in name. In public. We'll live together, attend events together, and play the part of a perfect couple."
Serena lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on. "And in private?"
His lips quirked, as if amused by her defiance. "In private, you'll have no obligations. No expectations. As far as I'm concerned, you can live your life as you please—within reason."
"Within reason," she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism.
Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished desk. "That means no scandals. No lovers. You will belong to me for the duration of this arrangement." His voice dipped, dark and possessive, sending a shiver down her spine.
Serena forced herself to stay calm, even as heat curled low in her stomach. This man was dangerous—not in the way criminals were, but in the way that made women forget themselves.
"You need me," he continued, tilting his head. "Your family's company is drowning in debt. Your father left you a disaster. And we both know the vultures are circling, waiting for you to fail."
Serena's fingers twitched. She hated that he was right.
Her father's gambling addiction had left Vale Industries in ruins. Investors had pulled out. Banks had refused loans. She had fought, clawed, and sacrificed, but it wasn't enough. Adrian Blackwood was her last chance.
"And what do you get out of this?" she asked, though she already knew.
Adrian smirked, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes. "My investors prefer stability. A married man is seen as dependable. Trustworthy. And I need to secure a deal worth billions. You will help me do that."
A business transaction. Cold. Calculated.
And yet, the way he was looking at her was anything but detached. His gaze lingered too long, tracing the curve of her lips, the line of her throat.
Serena exhaled, ignoring the traitorous thrill that sparked in her veins. "And after the year is up?"
"You walk away with your family's company restored and enough money to start over. No strings attached."
No strings. No complications.
It sounded simple. But nothing about Adrian Blackwood was simple.
Serena picked up the contract, her pulse drumming in her ears. A marriage built on lies, bound by ink.
She met his gaze one last time before lowering the pen to paper.
The moment she signed, she knew—she had just sold her soul to the devil.
And the devil was watching her like he couldn't wait to collect.
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