The Contract Bride's Dilemma

Chapter 2: The Proposal No One Expected

The lounge was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the dazzling ballroom they had just left behind. The murmur of the gala faded, leaving only the quiet hum of tension between them.

Jason shut the door with infuriating calm, as though he had orchestrated every second of this encounter. Elena refused to give him the satisfaction of rattling her. Instead, she folded her arms, lifting her chin in defiance.

"If you're expecting an apology, don't hold your breath."

Jason chuckled, a deep, amused sound that only fueled her irritation. "Oh, I wouldn't expect that. That would require admitting you were wrong."

Her teeth clenched. "You're insufferable."

He leaned against the bar, studying her with a smirk that made her skin crawl. "Tell me, Elena—what exactly did you hope to achieve with that little scene? Publicly humiliating me? Did you think throwing a glass of wine at me would somehow undo everything that happened to your father?"

The words cut deeper than she expected, and the lump in her throat was impossible to swallow. That was exactly what she had wanted—to wound him the way he had wounded her.

Elena's nails dug into her palms. "I want justice."

Jason sighed, as if bored. "Justice is a fantasy, sweetheart. Business is war. Your father lost."

Her stomach churned. "You—"

"However," he interrupted smoothly, stepping closer, "I could help you. In exchange for something I need."

Elena frowned. "What could you possibly want from me?"

Jason's eyes glinted with something unreadable, something cold and calculated. "A business arrangement disguised as marriage."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"A contract marriage," he clarified, his tone smooth, deliberate. "For one year. I need a wife to secure a major merger—one that requires stability, family values, and the perfect image."

Elena let out a sharp laugh, the absurdity of the situation making her chest tighten. "You can't be serious."

Jason merely arched a brow. "I rarely joke."

Her pulse pounded. A marriage? To him? The very thought made her stomach churn. "You must be out of your mind."

Jason's expression didn't change. "Think about it. You need something from me as much as I need something from you."

Elena scoffed. "And what exactly do I get out of this twisted arrangement?"

Jason took a measured step closer. "Your family's name restored. The respect your father lost. And your boutique? I'll ensure it thrives."

Her throat tightened. That was the one thing he knew she couldn't ignore.

"And in return?" she asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.

Jason's smirk deepened. "You play the role of my devoted wife. Attend events, smile for the cameras, convince the world we're madly in love."

Elena's blood boiled. "You want a trophy wife."

Jason lifted a brow. "That's the idea."

She could barely breathe past the frustration clawing at her chest. "You're insane."

Jason leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Am I? Or am I your only option?"

---

A Devil's Bargain

Elena's fingers trembled as she clenched her fists. The weight of her father's downfall, the humiliation her family had endured, came rushing back in a tidal wave of helplessness.

She remembered the day her father had come home, shoulders slumped, his voice hollow as he admitted defeat. How her mother had spent countless nights pretending everything was fine while their family name was dragged through the mud. Everything they had built was gone.

Jason must have seen something shift in her expression because his voice softened—just slightly. "You're out of options, Elena. We both know it."

Her pride warred with the cold truth of her situation. "I'd rather burn my boutique to the ground than owe you anything."

Jason sighed, rubbing his temple as though dealing with a stubborn business associate. "Sentimental, but impractical. Your boutique wouldn't last another three months without an investor. And guess what? No one in this city is willing to gamble on the daughter of a ruined man."

Elena's breath hitched. "How do you know that?"

Jason smirked. "I make it my business to know everything about people who interest me."

Her stomach twisted. He had been watching her. Calculating. How long had he been waiting to make this move?

She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. "I don't trust you."

Jason's gaze remained locked on hers. "You don't have to. But you do have to decide."

Elena took a shaky breath. "And if I say no?"

Jason exhaled slowly. "Then I walk away, and your boutique collapses within months. You keep your pride, but you lose everything else."

Silence stretched between them.

Jason tilted his head. "Tick tock, sweetheart. What's it going to be?"

Elena's heart pounded in her chest. She had never felt so cornered in her life.