Chapter 2 – The Deal That Wasn’t A Choice

Ava's head was spinning as she stormed out of Adrian's office, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floors of Blackwood Enterprises. She should've been furious. She was furious. But all she could hear was the word he'd spoken fiancée.

Adrian Blackwood had the audacity to think he could manipulate her into a situation like this. A forced marriage? Forcing her to save his company's reputation after a scandal he probably orchestrated?

She slammed the door to her own office behind her, ignoring the startled looks from her colleagues.

"Ava?" Emily, her closest friend and confidante, peeked around the corner. "Are you okay?"

Ava clenched her fists, willing herself not to explode.

"I'm fine," she bit out, but her voice was tight with barely contained rage.

Emily raised an eyebro, You don't look fine.

Ava barely heard her. Her mind was racing, trying to make sense of the situation. There had to be a way out of this. There had to be.

She turned to her computer screen, trying to focus on the reports she'd been working on before Adrian had summoned her. But the words blurred in front of her eyes. All she could see was his face cold, unbothered, as he handed her a marriage contract like it was just another piece of paper.

The door to her office opened again, and Emily stepped inside, a concerned look on her face.

"What happened in there?"

Ava spun around, her chair creaking beneath her. I'm getting married to Adrian Blackwood.

Emily blinked. "What?"

"Yeah, you heard me." Ava ran her hands through her hair, pacing. Apparently, my promotion is the least of my problems now. I'm marrying the man I can barely stand.

"Wait. Wait, wait. What?" Emily said, eyes wide with disbelief. Did he seriously just

"He had a choice, and apparently, I didn't." Ava's voice cracked with frustration. She let out a deep breath. "He said I was already his fiancée."

Emily's eyes widened. "Oh, my God."

Adrian Blackwood, meanwhile, was not panicking.

Not in the slightest. He never panicked. The situation was inconvenient, yes. But in his world, problems were just puzzles to be solved—nothing more, nothing less.

He had his back against the sleek glass window of his office, looking out at the city, his mind not on the view but on his next steps. He had a million things to handle, but this marriage—this deal with Ava Sinclair—had to happen.

Adrian didn't expect her to like it. She would resist, push back, and fight him every step of the way. But he was counting on it. Her fire, her strength, it was part of what had drawn him to her in the first place.

The press would eat it up. They would paint them as the perfect corporate power couple. The backlash would die down in a matter of days. The only thing left to do was to make sure she understood who was in charge here.

"Mr. Blackwood?"

Oliver's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"What is it?"

Oliver stepped into the room, his expression more serious than usual. "The media has already caught wind of the situation. We need to get ahead of the story. They're calling it a scandalous affair, and the engagement will—"

"I know what they're calling it." Adrian's tone was sharp, but it softened when he spoke again. "Set up a press conference. We announce it tomorrow."

Oliver hesitated. "Should we—?"

"Just make sure everything is controlled. If anyone leaks anything before then, I'll handle it." Adrian's eyes narrowed.

Back in her office, Ava's mind was still racing.

This was a nightmare. How could he just decide her fate like this? She couldn't believe it. But more than that, she couldn't believe she was going to have to pretend to be his fiancée.

Her fingers hovered over her phone, considering a call to her lawyer. But she knew that wasn't going to change anything. She was stuck.

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen Adrian Blackwood.

Her stomach twisted, and for a moment, she debated letting it go to voicemail. But that would only make him more insufferable.

With a sigh, she answered.

"Ava," his voice was smooth, but there was a coldness to it. We need to talk logistics

Ava's throat tightened, Logistics? About what? Our pretend marriage?

He chuckled, a deep, low sound that sent a shiver down her spine. We're not pretending, Ava, This is happening.