The bell above the shop door jingled, breaking the peaceful silence of the small flower shop. Lunara barely looked up from the tulip arrangement she was working on. Customers weren't exactly frequent these days, and she wasn't expecting anyone special too.
"Welcome," she called out absently, trimming a stubborn stem.
The sound of heavy footsteps and the distinct click of polished shoes caught her attention. She glanced up, and her eyes landed on a man who seemed completely out of place in her humble shop.
He wore a sharp, tailored suit that probably cost more than she made in a year, and his slicked-back hair framed a face that screamed power. Behind him stood another man in a plain blazer, holding a tablet and folders, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
The suited man surveyed the shop with an air of mild disdain before his sharp gaze settled on Lunara. His lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"You must be Lilith Hayes'... child," the man said, his tone laced with something she couldn't quite place.
Lunara frowned, stepping around the counter. "And who are you?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. Then, after a few moments, he scoffed in amusement, "I was thinking of proposing a deal... but I didn't expect her kid to be a boy."
Lunara froze, her eyes narrowing. She instinctively glanced down at herself, baggy jeans, a loose sweatshirt, short-cropped hair that barely reached her ears. Sure, she looked a bit rough around the edges, but a boy?
Her hands went to her hips, her posture defensive. "I don't know what's worse," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The fact that you barged into my shop like you own it, or the fact that you clearly need glasses." She gestured broadly at her chest. "In case you haven't noticed, these 'boyish' features of mine are pretty hard to miss."
The assistant instantly coughed, surprised by the bold statement Lunara just spurted out. But the man remained unfazed. If anything, his smirk deepened.
"My mistake," he said smoothly, though there was no trace of apology in his tone. "Let's start over. I'm Eryx Cryrus Grantham."
"Great, such a nice name. And now that I know your name, you can use it to introduce yourself outside my shop," she walked closer to him, pointing a thumb toward the door.
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen," Eryx replied, going straight for the chair and leaning back as if settling in for a long conversation. "I'm here to discuss a loan your mother took out a year ago. You're aware of it, I presume?"
Lunara's eyes instantly furrowed. "What loan?"
Eryx sighed, pulling a piece of paper from his inner jacket pocket and holding it up. "Lilith Hayes borrowed a significant sum from me to keep this shop afloat. Unfortunately, she's fallen behind on her payments. Quite substantially, I might add."
Lunara snatched the paper, her eyes scanning the numbers and terms that made her head spin. Her mother's familiar signature stared back at her like a ghost.
"She never told me about this," she muttered, her voice barely heard.
"That's unfortunate and yes, sad," Eryx said, his tone flat. "But not my concern. What is my concern is the debt she's left behind. Either you pay it off, or this shop becomes mine."
Her head snapped up, fire blazing in her eyes. "You can't just take it! This shop is all my mother has!"
Eryx stood, adjusting his cuffs calmly. "You're right, I can't just take it. That's why I am here, trying to offer you a way out."
Lunara crossed her arms, glaring at him. "And what way is that?"
He gestured to his assistant, who quickly handed him a sleek leather folder. Eryx pulled out another document and handed it toward her.
She didn't take it. "What is this?"
"A proposal," he said simply.
Lunara eyed him warily. "A proposal for what?"
Eryx met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Marriage."
For a moment, Lunara thought she'd misheard him. "Marriage?" she echoed, her voice rising in pitch before she grabbed the paper that had been hanging for a while.
"Yes," he replied, as though it were the most reasonable suggestion in the world. "I'll clear your mother's debt entirely. In return, you'll marry me."
She stared at him, dumbfounded. "Are you out of your mind? And do you think that I would agree to this absurd suggestion?" She crumpled the paper that she didn't even finish reading and threw it on the floor.
Eryx shrugged. "Possibly. But it's a mutually beneficial arrangement. You keep your shop, and I get what I need."
"And what exactly do you need?"
"That's none of your concern," he said smoothly. "All you need to know is that this deal benefits both of us."
Lunara's laugh echoed through the room, sharp and filled with disbelief. "How many other women do you offer this sweet deal to? Is it your go-to for people who owe you money, or am I just lucky?"
Eryx's expression remained cool, unfazed by her sarcasm. "Only the ones who are worth it," he said, his voice smooth. "But don't worry, you're not the first to be offered this deal."
Lunara raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with mockery. "Oh? So I'm just another name on your list? How many wives do you have already?"
Eryx didn't flinch. His eyes swept over her, cool and calculating, as if mentally evaluating her. There was a flicker of something like judgment before he spoke. "None at the moment," he said, his tone steady. "But I'm open to offers… especially if they come with the right… advantages."
She scoffed, narrowing her eyes. "Right. So, what makes me worthy of your 'deal' then?"
Eryx studied her for a moment, his eyes briefly stopping at her short hair and boyish look. A small smirk tugged at his lips, as if he had already made up his mind. "Maybe because you don't look like the type to make things... complicated," he said, his tone calm, like he saw her as the safest choice.
He stood up slowly, glancing at his assistant. "Give her my card."
"Here you go, Miss Lunara," the assistant said politely, handing her the card.
Eryx gave her a cool smile. "Contact me once you've made your decision." Without another word, he turned and walked out of the shop.
Lunara froze for a moment, feeling a rush of anger. Was that how he saw her? Like someone who could be easily controlled, someone whose future wouldn't mess up his plans? The audacity!