Chapter 2 The proposal

Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Elena's pulse thundered in her ears as she processed Damien Blackwood's words.

"Be yours?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damien tilted his head, his gaze never wavering. "Yes. In name, at least."

Elena let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I don't understand. You want me to… what? Pretend to be your—"

"Partner," he interrupted smoothly. "Publicly, at least. A temporary arrangement that benefits us both."

She narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping in. "And why would a man like you need a fake partner?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned, walking back toward his desk with the same controlled, predatory grace he'd displayed before. "Because there are people watching me, Miss Carter. Investors. Competitors. Family."

The way he said the last word held a bitter edge.

Elena folded her arms. "You're one of the most powerful men in the country. I doubt anyone questions your decisions."

His lips curled into something resembling amusement. "You're not as naïve as I thought."

"I'm not naïve at all," she countered.

"Good," he said, his expression unreadable. "Then you understand the world I live in. In business, perception is everything. A man like me is more… agreeable when he appears to have stability."

She arched a brow. "So, you need a girlfriend for PR purposes?"

"More or less," he admitted. "A distraction. Someone the media can focus on while I handle matters that require my attention."

Elena's stomach twisted. The journalist in her itched to ask what those "matters" were, but the rational part of her warned that she was already in too deep.

She exhaled slowly. "And what do I get in return?"

Damien leaned against his desk, his expression unreadable. "Exclusive access to my life. A story no other journalist will ever have. Every headline, every secret—yours."

Her heart skipped a beat. The offer was insane. Unbelievable.

And incredibly tempting.

She had spent years clawing her way up in the world of journalism, always overshadowed by bigger names, more powerful connections. A story like this—an unfiltered look into the life of Damien Blackwood—could change everything.

She could finally make a name for herself.

But at what cost?

Elena met his gaze, searching for any sign that this was a joke. There was none. Damien Blackwood wasn't a man who joked.

"I don't sleep with sources," she said firmly.

His expression didn't change. "I don't mix business with pleasure."

She hated that her body relaxed slightly at his words.

Still, doubt gnawed at her. "How long?"

"Three months."

"And then?"

"Then we go our separate ways. You get your story. I get what I need."

It was madness. And yet, the rational part of her knew she was considering it.

"Take your time," Damien said, as if reading her hesitation. "But not too much. I don't like waiting."

Elena swallowed hard. If she did this, there would be no turning back.

But one thing was certain—Damien Blackwood was offering her a deal she might never get again.

And she wasn't sure if she was brave enough to refuse.

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