"What do you mean it's over, Dad?" I shouted into my phone as I ran up the stairs of the Blackwood Tower. "They can't just take Voss Architectural like that!"
My father's voice cracked on the line. "Elara, please, stay home. The board meeting is already happening. It's done."
"Done? Over my dead body!" I snapped, shoving past the receptionist. "You built that firm from nothing in Lagos. We moved to New York for this dream. I'm not letting some billionaire erase it!"
The receptionist jumped up. "Miss, you need an appointment. The boardroom is closed!"
"Closed to family? Watch me!" I shot back, pushing the double doors open with both hands.
The room went silent. Twenty executives stared. My father sank lower in his chair at the far end. "Elara, no," he begged.
Damien Blackwood sat at the head like he owned the universe. His icy blue eyes locked on me. "Miss Voss, this is a private meeting. Leave immediately or I will have security remove you."
"Private? You're destroying my family on live news and you call it private?" I marched straight to him. "Mr. Blackwood, how dare you? My father was recovering from heart surgery when you pounced with your takeover!"
He leaned back, calm as ever. "Business, Miss Voss. Your father overextended. We acquired the assets legally. End of discussion."
"Legally? You lowballed every offer! You knew we were struggling!" I yelled. "Dad, tell him! Say something!"
Dad sighed. "Elara, the debts were real. I signed the papers. It's my fault."
"Your fault? No, it's his!" I pointed at Damien. "You think money makes you god? Our Lagos Heritage Tower won awards. Clients loved the fusion design. Now you'll turn it into some soulless box?"
A woman in red beside him laughed. "She's fiery. Maybe we should hire her as entertainment."
"Entertainment?" I whirled on her. "Try respect! This company fed my family for twenty-five years. My mother is fighting cancer back in Lagos waiting for the money this firm provided. And you laugh?"
Damien stood slowly. "Your mother's illness is unfortunate, Miss Voss, but irrelevant. Blackwood Empire offered fair market value. Most employees stay. Take the severance and move on."
"Fair? Twenty cents on the dollar is fair?" I stepped closer. "You didn't even meet with us. Just a press release at nine a.m. announcing the swallow. 'Blackwood Empire acquires Voss.' Like we're nothing!"
He tilted his head. "Why waste time on losers? Numbers don't lie. Your designs are decent but inefficient. We will streamline."
"Decent? Our work has soul! You wouldn't know soul if it slapped you!" I shouted.
The room gasped. Damien's assistant whispered, "Sir, cameras outside are rolling. This is going viral."
"Good," Damien said coldly. "Let the world see what happens when you interrupt me. Miss Voss, you are embarrassing your father. Security!"
The guard grabbed my arm. "Miss, time to go."
"Get off me!" I twisted free. "Mr. Blackwood, do you even have a heart? Or is it just ice and dollar signs?"
He walked around the table until he stood right in front of me. "Heart? Hearts lose money. I win. That's the difference."
"Win by crushing people? My father is sixty and broken because of you!" I said. "My mother calls every day asking if the bills are paid. What do I tell her now? Thanks to Damien Blackwood, we're ruined?"
Damien's jaw tightened. "Tell her life isn't fair. Now leave before I lose patience."
"Lose patience? I've already lost everything!" I fired back. "You're a monster. A cold, heartless shark who enjoys this."
He smirked. "Monster? Most women beg me for attention. You insult me. Refreshing."
"Beg? I'd rather die!" I said. "Undo this takeover or I swear—"
"Or what?" he cut in. "You have nothing left to threaten with."
That was it. My hand flew before I could stop it. The slap cracked across his face like thunder. His head snapped sideways. A red print bloomed on his perfect jaw.
Gasps exploded. My father cried out, "Elara!"
Damien touched his cheek slowly, turning back to me. His eyes burned now. "You slapped me. On camera. In front of my board."
"Yes, and I'd do it again!" I shouted. "You deserve worse for what you did to us!"
The assistant was on his phone. "Sir, #SlapTheCEO is already trending."
Damien stared at me for a long second. Then he nodded to the lawyer sitting quietly. "Mr. Harrington, give her the envelope."
The lawyer stood, pulling a thick manila folder from his briefcase. "Miss Voss, Mr. Blackwood has a proposition for you. Read it carefully."
I snatched it, hands shaking. "Another trick? More papers to sign away what's left of my soul?"
"Open it," Damien ordered, voice low and dangerous. "It could save your mother's life… or end everything for you. Your choice."
I tore the seal. The first page hit me like a punch.
Marriage contract. One year. Fifty million dollars. Live as his wife in public. No real feelings. No touching unless required.
My eyes flew up to his. "What the hell is this?"
Damien's lips curved into the coldest smile I had ever seen. "Read the fine print, Elara. Sign it and your family's debts vanish. Your mother gets the best treatment in New York. Refuse… and watch the rest burn. The choice is yours."
"What the hell is this?" I demanded, waving the thick contract at Damien.
He didn't blink. "Read it out loud if you're confused, Elara. Page one. One-year marriage. Public appearances only. Fifty million dollars on the final day. Simple."
"Simple?" I laughed bitterly. "You want me to pretend to be your wife? Live in your house? Smile for cameras while you destroyed my family?"
"Pretend is the key word," he replied flatly. "No real feelings. No intimacy. Touching only when photographers are present. Break any rule and the deal dies."
The lawyer coughed. "Miss Voss, clause 3.4 is important. You must share the penthouse. Separate bedrooms, of course."
"Separate bedrooms?" I snapped. "Why even bother with this charade? Pick some model who actually wants you!"
Damien leaned forward. "Because models fall in love and complicate everything. You hate me. Perfect. No risk. Sign and your father's company debts disappear by sunrise. Your mother gets private care at Mount Sinai starting tomorrow."
I grabbed my phone. "Dad? Dad, answer me. He wants me to marry him for money!"