đź“– Chapter 2: A Deal with the Devil
The phone slipped slightly in Elena's trembling hand.
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might tear through her chest.
"This isn't funny…" she whispered, her voice unsteady. "Who is this?"
On the other end, the man let out a low, almost bored breath.
"Ten minutes," he repeated calmly. "You're already wasting time."
Elena's fingers tightened around the phone. "My father is dead," she insisted, louder this time, as if saying it with more force would make it true. "He died years ago. Stop playing games with me!"
Silence.
Then—
"Black SUV. Across the street," the man said. "Look."
Her breath caught.
Slowly, almost unwillingly, Elena turned her head.
And there it was.
A sleek black vehicle parked under the dim streetlight, engine still running. The tinted windows made it impossible to see inside, but something about it felt… wrong.
Dangerous.
Her pulse quickened.
"Who are you?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice.
The car door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in a dark suit that seemed to swallow the light around him. Even from a distance, his presence felt heavy—like something powerful had just entered her world without permission.
Elena froze.
"Get in the car," the voice on the phone said.
Her stomach dropped.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said, backing away slightly. "If this is some kind of joke—"
"It's not," he cut in.
The man across the street began walking toward her.
Slow. Controlled. Certain.
Every step he took made her heart race faster.
"You have two choices, Elena," the voice continued. "Walk away… and watch your father die."
Her breath hitched.
"Or come with me… and maybe you'll get answers."
Maybe.
That word echoed dangerously in her mind.
She shook her head, panic rising. "I don't even know you!"
"No," he agreed. "But I know you."
A chill ran down her spine.
The man stopped just a few steps in front of her now. Up close, he was even more intimidating. Sharp features. Cold eyes. The kind of face that didn't show emotion—didn't need to.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Elena swallowed hard. "Who are you?" she asked again, this time directly to him.
His gaze held hers.
Unmoving.
Then, finally—
"Adrian Blackwood."
The name hit her like a sudden storm.
Of course she knew it.
Everyone did.
A billionaire. A man whispered about in business circles and feared in private conversations. Ruthless. Untouchable.
Dangerous.
Elena took a small step back. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. Instead, his eyes flicked briefly to the building behind her—the ballroom she had just left.
As if he already knew everything that had happened inside.
"You don't have time for questions," he said flatly. "Only decisions."
Her chest tightened.
"This doesn't make any sense…" she murmured, her mind spinning. "If my father is alive… why hasn't he come to me? Why now?"
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"Because he couldn't."
The words were simple.
But heavy.
Elena's throat went dry. "I need proof," she said, forcing strength into her voice. "I'm not going anywhere unless I see proof."
For a second, Adrian just stared at her.
Then he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his phone.
He tapped the screen once… then held it out to her.
Elena hesitated before taking it.
Her hands shook as she looked down.
And then—
Her world stopped.
The image on the screen showed a man tied to a chair. His face bruised. His clothes torn. But despite the years that had passed…
She knew that face.
She would always know that face.
"Dad…" the word broke from her lips before she could stop it.
Her vision blurred instantly.
It was him.
Alive.
Suffering.
A strangled sob escaped her throat as she clutched the phone tighter. "No… no, this can't be real…"
"Now you understand," Adrian said quietly.
Elena looked up at him, tears spilling freely now. "Please… help him," she begged. "You have to help him!"
Adrian's gaze remained steady.
"I will," he said.
Hope flickered inside her chest—
And then died just as quickly.
"But not for free."
Her breath caught.
"What…?" she whispered.
He stepped closer.
Close enough that she could feel the cold authority radiating from him.
"Marry me," Adrian said.
The words hit harder than anything else that night.
Elena stared at him, unable to process what she had just heard.
"What are you talking about…?" she asked, shaking her head. "This isn't the time for jokes!"
"I don't joke," he replied.
His voice was calm.
Deadly serious.
"This is a contract marriage," he continued. "You become my wife… and your father lives."
Her heart pounded violently.
"This is insane…" she said, backing away again. "You can't just—just force someone into marriage like this!"
"I'm not forcing you," Adrian said coldly. "I'm giving you a choice."
Choice.
The same word again.
But it didn't feel like one.
Elena's mind raced.
Marry him?
A stranger?
A man like Adrian Blackwood?
Everything in her screamed to run.
But then—
She looked back at the phone in her hand.
At the image of her father.
Bruised.
Broken.
Alive.
Tears streamed down her face as her chest tightened painfully.
If she walked away now…
He would die.
And she would have to live with that forever.
Her fingers curled into fists.
Why was this happening?
First Daniel.
Now this.
Wasn't one heartbreak enough?
Her voice trembled as she spoke. "If I agree… you promise he'll be safe?"
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
One word.
Firm.
Certain.
Elena closed her eyes.
For a moment, everything went quiet.
Her past.
Her pain.
Her fear.
And when she opened them again…
Something had changed.
The innocent girl who walked into that ballroom earlier tonight—
Was gone.
"Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."
Adrian studied her for a second… as if confirming she meant it.
Then he nodded once.
"Get in the car."
Elena hesitated only for a second this time.
Then she moved.
Each step felt like she was walking into something she couldn't escape.
Something dark.
Something dangerous.
As she reached the car, she paused… her hand hovering over the door handle.
"This doesn't end here," she said quietly, not looking at him. "After this… I want the truth. All of it."
Adrian's voice came from behind her.
"You'll get what you deserve."
Her grip tightened.
She didn't know if that was a promise…
Or a warning.
Elena opened the car door and got in.
The door shut behind her with a soft click.
And just like that—
Her old life ended.
The car began to move.
Taking her somewhere unknown.
Toward a future she never chose.
Toward a man she didn't trust.
Toward a marriage that would change everything.
And as the city lights blurred past the window…
Elena didn't realize one thing.
She wasn't the only one hiding secrets.
And Adrian Blackwood…
Was far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.