Chapter 2 - The Proposal

Anna stood frozen in Jaden’s lavish office, her mind struggling to process his words. The quiet hum of the city below was the only sound, and for a moment, she wondered if she’d heard him wrong.

“Marry you?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaden leaned against his desk, crossing his arms as if this conversation were routine. “That’s what I said. It’s a simple arrangement. You need money, and I need a wife. Problem solved.”

Her chest tightened. This wasn’t the solution she had come here for. She had expected rejection, maybe pity, but not this.

“This is insane,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t even know you.”

“You don’t need to know me,” Jaden repeated, his tone sharp. “This isn’t about romance. It’s a business deal. Think of it as a contract, mutually beneficial.”

Anna’s hands trembled as she clutched the folder containing her sister’s medical records. “You’re asking me to sell my life for money.”

“No,” Jaden corrected, stepping closer. “I’m offering you a lifeline. Your sister gets the treatment she needs, and you help me keep my company. Six months of marriage. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Six months?” she echoed.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “After that, we’ll part ways. I’ll make sure you’re compensated beyond what you’ve asked for, and your life can go back to normal. No strings attached.”

Anna’s mind raced. Six months of pretending to be married to a man she barely knew. A man who clearly had no regard for emotions or personal boundaries. It sounded like a nightmare.

But then she thought of Lily. Her little sister’s laughter, her bright smile, the way she still clung to hope despite the pain and exhaustion. How could she say no when this man held the key to saving her?

“What’s in it for you?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

Jaden’s lips curled into a smirk. “Let’s just say my parents have decided to play God with my future. They won’t hand over the company unless I get married. You’re the perfect solution. Completely uninvolved in my world and unlikely to develop complications.”

Complications. He didn’t even need to say the word; she understood. Love. Commitment. Anything that made relationships real.

Anna stared at him, her mind swimming. This was her chance to save Lily, but the cost was staggering.

“I need time to think,” she said finally, her voice trembling.

“You don’t have much time,” Jaden said, his expression darkening. “My parents expect results soon, and your sister doesn’t have time to waste, does she?”

His words hit her like a slap. He wasn’t wrong, but the bluntness of his tone made her want to scream.

“I’ll give you twenty-four hours,” he continued. “After that, the offer’s off the table.”

Anna clenched her fists, her heart pounding as she turned and left the office. The elevator ride down felt endless, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of fear and desperation.

*****

Back in her small apartment, Anna sat on the edge of her worn-out couch, staring at the medical bills spread across the coffee table.

“What am I going to do?” Anna whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

She picked up her sister’s latest test results, her gaze blurring as she read the grim prognosis. Without the experimental treatment, Lily’s chances were slim. But the treatment was far beyond anything Anna could afford, even with two jobs and a third on the horizon.

Her phone buzzed on the table, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was her best friend, Emily.

“Hey,” Anna said, trying to steady her voice.

“Hey, how did it go?” Emily asked. “Did that guy help you?”

Anna hesitated. “Not, exactly. He made me an offer, though.”

“What kind of offer?”

Anna explained Jaden’s proposal, her voice faltering as she recounted the details.

“Wait, hold on,” Emily said, disbelief clear in her tone. “He wants you to marry him? Like, fake marry him?”

“Yes,” Anna said quietly.

“And you’re actually considering it?”

“I don’t know what else to do,” Anna admitted, her voice cracking. “Lily’s running out of time, and I don’t have any other options.”

Emily sighed. “Anna, this sounds dangerous. He’s a billionaire, and guys like him don’t play by the same rules as the rest of us. Are you sure you can trust him?”

“I don’t have to trust him,” Anna said, her resolve hardening. “I just have to survive six months. If it means saving Lily, I’ll do it.”

******

The next morning, Anna found herself back at Blackwell Enterprises, her heart pounding as she stood outside Jaden’s office.

She took a deep breath and knocked.

“Come in,” his voice called.

Anna stepped inside, finding him seated at his desk, reviewing a stack of documents. He looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.

“Well?” he said, setting the papers aside. “Have you made a decision?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “I’ll do it.”

Jaden’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Good,” he said, rising to his feet. “We’ll have a contract drawn up by the end of the day. My lawyers will outline everything. What’s expected, what you’ll receive, and what happens when this ends.”

“Fine,” Anna said, her hands clenched at her sides.

“Remember,” Jaden said, his tone colder than ever, “this isn’t a love story. Don’t expect anything from me beyond what’s written in the contract.”

“I won’t, you're not my type,” Anna replied, her voice firm.

“Then we have a deal,” he said, extending his hand.

Anna hesitated for a moment before shaking it, sealing the agreement that would change both of their lives forever.