Chapter 8: The Request for Offer

The mellow twilight hues tinted the evening sky, illuminating Lucas's study's big bay windows with a cozy glow. With its dark wood paneling and leather-bound books filling the shelves, the room radiated authority and strength, making it the ideal setting for the discussion that was about to take place. Lucas was tall and commanding as he stood by the fireplace, his face's strong angles emphasized by the flickering flames. The contents of the tiny folder he was holding weighed more than any document he had ever carried.

With hesitation, Tessa walked in, looking around the room as though it could provide some hint as to her purpose. There was an unspoken tension in the air between them as she gripped her coat tightly.

Despite the uneasiness building in her chest, she asked in a firm voice, "You wanted to see me?"

Lucas spun around, his amber eyes meeting hers with such ferocity that she gasped. Indeed. I appreciate you coming. He pointed to the chair on the other side of his desk. "Please take a seat."

She obeyed, her steps deliberate and cautious. As she nestled in, her eyes never leaving his, the leather groaned quietly under her weight. With his fingers resting on the edges of the folder for a while, Lucas set it on the tabletop between them and slid it in her direction.

"What is this?" With a furrowed brow, Tessa asked.

"An opportunity," Lucas stated in a calm voice. "One that could address both of our issues."

After a moment of hesitation, she opened the folder. Her perplexity grew when she read the document that was within. She looked up at him incredulously and exclaimed, "A… marriage contract?"

Lucas nodded, a composed but unreadable expression on his face. It is precisely what it seems to be. a legal contract that outlines our shared advantages.

Tessa gripped the paper tighter as her gut wrenched. She remarked, "You can't be serious." "Why would you even propose such a thing?"

Lucas answered in a stern but gentle voice, "Because it makes sense." "To keep your house intact, you must be financially stable. I need someone by my side that I can trust. Both would be provided by this arrangement.

She stared at him, trying to read his intentions, her heart racing. She shook her head and replied, "This isn't normal." "Marriages aren't just for convenience."

"Don't they?" Lucas leaned forward a little in response. Contracts are the cornerstone of all relationships in my universe. Partnerships, alliances, and business. This is not any different.

"However, marriage isn't a business transaction," Tessa countered, raising her voice. "It should have some significance."

Lucas's posture stayed calm, but his eyes softened. "Tessa, I'm not requesting a conventional marriage. This is only a matter of practicality. However, that does not exclude anything from being meaningful in its own right.

With the proposal weighing heavily on her, she shook her head. And what occurs when you find it inconvenient? Do you simply leave?

"That is also specified in the contract," Lucas stated in a firm voice. "Everything is spelled out in detail, including clauses that allow for dissolution if either of us decides to terminate the agreement."

With her head spinning, Tessa gazed at him. This was more than she had ever imagined when she had first met him. She was being offered a lifeline by the man who had previously looked so mysterious and aloof, but it contained conditions she wasn't sure she could understand.

At last, her voice was almost audible above a whisper, "I need time to think about this."

With an inscrutable gaze, Lucas nodded. "Take as much time as you require. However, keep in mind that neither of us has a lot of time.

In Tessa's tiny living room, the rain pattered softly on the windows, providing a calming background to her racing thoughts. The folder Lucas had handed her lay on the coffee table in front of her like a silent reproach as she cuddled up on the couch. Beside it, an unopened cup of tea sat with delicate tendrils of steam flowing upward.

Her mind was racing with uncertainties and questions as she gazed at the documents. Was she capable of doing this? Could she put her name on something so calculating, so impersonal, and act like it was simply another choice? The concept itself seemed terrible, but the harsh, punishing weight of her reality hung over her.

She looked at the pile of banknotes on the counter, each one serving as a reminder of the thin line she was walking. She could still clearly recall the red letters that burned into her memory from the bank's last notification. All of that would be erased by Lucas's offer, which would allow her to recover and breathe. But at what price?

She was shocked out of her reverie by a knock on the door. She got up slowly and came closer, her heart racing. She opened it to see Landon standing on the porch with a worried yet irritated look on his face.

Before she could reply, he added, "I need to talk to you," and went inside. "What on earth is happening with Lucas?"

With her shoulders slumping, Tessa shut the door. "It's difficult," she explained as she ushered him into the living room.

Landon's jaw tensed as his gaze instantly fell upon the folder. "What is that?"

"A contract," she acknowledged as she sank back on the sofa. "He desires for me to wed him. As... a commercial agreement.

Landon's expression was one of disbelief as he gazed at her. "And you're really thinking about it?"

"What am I supposed to do?" Tessa retorted, raising her voice. "The notices are visible to you. You are aware of the stakes. He's giving me an escape route.

"How much does it cost?" Landon made a demand. This isn't you, Tessa. This is not how you make deals. To fix your difficulties, you don't have to sell yourself.

His comments caused her to wince, her eyes aching from unshed tears. "Landon, I don't currently enjoy the luxury of pride. Perhaps it will be worthwhile if this is what it takes to preserve my house and prevent my life from collapsing.

A hand swept through Landon's hair, clearly frustrated. Tess, you're being used by him. I have no idea what his strategy is, but I am aware that it is more complicated than he is portraying it.

"Perhaps it isn't," she said. However, I must act in my own best interests. even if it means risking something... out of the ordinary.

With an agonized face, Landon shook his head. "Just swear to me that you will exercise caution. Lucas Greystone never does action without a purpose. Don't allow him to entice you into an unbreakable situation.

Despite her sad heart, Tessa nodded. The rain kept falling as Landon departed, its steady rhythm reflecting the chaos in her head. With the weight of her choice bearing down on her like an unavoidable storm, she returned her attention to the folder.

Tessa's inner turmoil was reflected in the storm outside, as raindrops pelted the window with unrelenting fervor. The contract Lucas gave her was unread next to her as she sat at the kitchen table, her fingers creating invisible patterns on the wood. Landon paced the room, his jaw clenched and his shoulders moving sharply as he expressed his fury.

Over the roar of the storm, he replied, "Tessa, you can't really be thinking about this." "This is not merely a business transaction. It is your life.

Her eyes were heavy with fatigue as she gazed up at him. Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she asked, "What do I have, Landon?" "I have no other choices. I have no idea what else to do, and the bank is breathing down my neck.

He halted in front of her and insisted, "There must be another way." Together, we can find something out. Lucas Greystone doesn't need you to sell yourself.

Her hands curled into fists on the table as she winced at what he had spoken. Although the hesitancy in her voice betrayed her, she said, "It's not like that." He is providing me with a remedy. A means of preserving my house and store. How should I proceed? Simply let everything collapse?

"Yes," Landon yelled back, his blue eyes flashing, "if it means maintaining your dignity." He is abusing you, Tessa. He is aware of your weakness. Don't allow him to exploit you.

Her chair scraped the floor as she jerked to her feet. Her voice trembled as she snapped, "You think I don't know that?" You don't think that the implications of this frighten me? But, Landon, I don't currently enjoy the luxury of pride. He's tossing me a lifeline while I drown.

With a softer smile, Landon reached for her and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. I'm not suggesting it's simple, Tessa. However, there is always an alternative. All you need to do is have faith that we can find it together.

She withdrew, her eyes falling to the ground. She muttered, "I don't have time to find another way." "Every second I waste puts me one step closer to losing everything, and the clock is ticking."

With a groan, Landon combed through his hair. "Just tell me you'll give it some thought," he said. "Really consider what you stand to lose if you follow through on this."

Tessa nodded, but it didn't make her heart any lighter. The thunder rolled in the background like a warning, and the storm outside showed no signs of abating as Landon walked away.

The Greystone estate's magnificent ballroom was a symphony of luxury. The area was filled with a warm, golden glow from crystal chandeliers, which danced their light across gilded mirrors and polished marble flooring. As servers silently passed among the guests carrying trays of champagne, the guests mixed in groups, their chatter and laughter filling the air.

Standing close to the room's edge, Tessa felt conspicuously uncomfortable in her modest attire. Her eyes darted nervously across the throng as she gripped her glass of water. Lucas had demanded that she go, explaining that it would give her a chance to get to know the individuals who would soon be a part of her life. But now that she was standing in the middle of the sparkling mayhem, she questioned whether she had made a mistake.

Gabrielle Richards walked in across the room with a grace that made others take notice. Her red gown fit her like a second skin, and her raven-black hair was styled into a sophisticated chignon. Her black eyes scanned the crowd with a precise precision, and she moved with the assurance of someone who knew exactly how much power she possessed.

Something changed in her demeanor when her eyes found Tessa. Although it didn't reach her eyes, she grinned. With slow, methodical steps, Gabrielle crossed the room until she was standing squarely in front of Tessa.

Gabrielle's voice was silky smooth as she said, "You must be Tessa Moonridge." "I have heard a lot about you."

The increased attention took Tessa by surprise, and she blinked. Her voice trailed off a little as she said, "I… I didn't realize I was being talked about."

Though it was all teeth, Gabrielle's smile grew. "Well, people talk a lot about you these days. Lucas has expressed his interest in you quite a bit.

Tessa resisted the want to back off as her gut constricted. With caution, she stated, "We're just... discussing a potential arrangement."

Gabrielle's delight glistened in her dark eyes. With a tone full of derision, she asked, "Is that what they're calling it now?" "You're a courageous girl for entering his world. Tell me, though, do you truly believe you belong here?

Tessa straightened her back, not wanting Gabrielle to see her wobble, even if the words were more painful than she wanted to acknowledge. She tried to keep her voice steady as she answered, "I don't know what you mean."

Gabrielle smiled steadily as she leaned in a little. She said, "I mean, Lucas Greystone never does anything without a reason." And those who are similar to you? You serve only as a tool.

Despite her racing heart, Tessa looked directly into Gabrielle's eyes. "Thank you for your concern," she stated firmly. "However, I am capable of making my own choices."

The mask briefly came off, and Gabrielle's smile dimmed. There was a flare of something dark in her eyes, maybe rage or exasperation. Then, as swiftly, it vanished, to be replaced by her typical composure.

Gabrielle responded, "Of course you are," in a lovely yet venomous tone. But, Miss Moonridge, exercise caution. This world isn't as tolerant as you may believe.

She then turned and left, leaving Tessa standing by herself, her hands shaking as she held her glass. The warmth of the chandeliers suddenly seemed far away, and the room felt cooler. In order to prepare herself for the fear that was beginning to seep into her chest, Tessa took a deep breath. Tessa was certain of one thing, whatever of Gabrielle's intentions: she would not be intimidated into compromising.