Chapter 2 Face to Face With The Devil

Elena had never felt smaller in her life.

Standing outside King Enterprises, she tilted her head back, staring up at the massive skyscraper that loomed over Manhattan like a fortress. The sleek black glass gleamed under the afternoon sun, reflecting the world around it with a cold, detached elegance.

She had walked through those doors once as an ambitious intern, full of dreams and determination.

Now, she was here as a desperate woman, about to beg the man who had ruined her life for help.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

She hated this. Hated that she had no other choice.

But she wasn't doing this for herself.

She was doing it for her mother.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and stepped inside.

The Lion's Den

The lobby of King Enterprises was as intimidating as she remembered—sleek marble floors, towering glass windows, and a sea of employees in expensive suits moving with quiet urgency. The air smelled of polished wood, leather, and power.

Everywhere she looked, people walked with purpose, their gazes fixed ahead, as if their lives depended on their next move.

And maybe they did.

Elena swallowed the lump in her throat and approached the front desk, where a sharply dressed receptionist was typing away at her computer.

"I need to see Mr. King," Elena said, keeping her voice steady.

The receptionist barely glanced up. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but—"

"Then Mr. King is unavailable."

Elena clenched her fists. She had expected this. Alexander King wasn't the kind of man who entertained uninvited guests.

Still, she wasn't going to walk away.

"I worked here before," she said, trying again. "Tell him it's Elena Carter."

The receptionist hesitated, her fingers pausing over the keyboard. Finally, she sighed and picked up the phone.

Elena held her breath as the woman murmured something into the receiver.

A few seconds later, the receptionist's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Mr. King says he doesn't know you."

Elena's stomach twisted.

Of course, he didn't. He probably fired people so often that he didn't bother remembering their names.

Or maybe he did remember her—and just didn't care.

The receptionist gave her a pointed look, as if waiting for her to leave.

But just as Elena opened her mouth to argue, a deep, familiar voice cut through the air.

"What is she doing here?"

The room seemed to freeze.

A shiver ran down Elena's spine as she turned.

And there he was.

Alexander King.

He stood at the top of the grand staircase leading to the executive offices, looking down at her like she was an unwanted problem he had to deal with.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly handsome in a tailored black suit, he exuded raw power. His chiseled jaw was tense, his cold blue eyes piercing through her like ice.

A man like him wasn't meant to be real. He belonged in the pages of a magazine, a king ruling over his empire with ruthless efficiency.

And yet, here he was.

Her enemy.

Her only hope.

Elena forced herself to meet his gaze. "I need to talk to you."

Alexander arched a brow. "I don't recall us having anything to discuss, Miss Carter."

His voice was smooth as silk, yet razor-sharp.

He turned, already dismissing her.

Panic surged through her veins.

This was her only chance.

"It's about a proposal," she blurted out.

That made him stop.

Slowly, he turned back to her, interest flickering in his eyes. "A proposal?"

Elena's heart pounded.

She could feel every set of eyes in the lobby watching them, the tension crackling in the air.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "Yes. A business proposal."

For a long moment, Alexander just studied her, his expression unreadable.

Then, to her surprise, he smirked.

"Fine." He turned and started walking toward his office. "You have five minutes."

A Dangerous Deal

Elena followed Alexander through the halls of King Enterprises, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The further they went, the quieter it became, until they finally reached his office—a massive, glass-walled space with a breathtaking view of Manhattan.

But Elena barely noticed the view.

Her entire focus was on the man standing in front of her, watching her with cool amusement as he leaned against his desk.

"Well?" he said, crossing his arms. "You have my attention, Miss Carter. Use it wisely."

Elena exhaled slowly, gripping her purse tightly.

She had rehearsed this in her head over and over again.

Now, it was time to take the biggest gamble of her life.

"I know about your situation," she said, keeping her voice steady. "The board is pressuring you to get married. They don't trust an unmarried CEO to lead the company. If you don't settle down soon, they could push you out."

Alexander's smirk didn't fade, but his eyes darkened slightly.

"You've been keeping tabs on me?"

"Everyone has."

His gaze swept over her, slow and assessing, like he was trying to decide whether she was worth his time.

"And what exactly are you offering, Miss Carter?"

Elena swallowed hard. "A contract marriage."

For the first time, Alexander looked genuinely surprised.

Then, he laughed.

It was a sharp, low sound—one that sent a strange shiver down her spine.

"You want to marry me?" he mused, as if the idea was ridiculous.

Elena's cheeks burned, but she refused to back down. "Not because I want to. But because it benefits us both."

Alexander tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "And what do you get out of this?"

Elena's throat tightened. "Money."

For the first time, she let herself say it out loud.

She hated admitting it. Hated that she had been forced into this position.

But she had no pride left to protect.

She was willing to sell her soul if it meant saving her mother.

For a moment, Alexander said nothing.

Then, he pushed off the desk and walked toward her.

Slowly. Deliberately.

Every step he took made the air feel heavier, until he was standing right in front of her.

"You want me to pay you to be my wife?" His voice was dangerously soft.

Elena refused to flinch. "Yes."

He studied her for a long moment, his gaze lingering on her face, searching.

Then, something in his expression shifted.

"Interesting."

A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips, but there was nothing warm about it.

It was a predator's smile.

Elena's pulse pounded as she realized something terrifying.

She had stepped into a game far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

And Alexander King never played fair.