Cornered

Gabriella stepped into the office.

The door shut behind her with a soft click that echoed louder than it should have.

Her fingers curled at her sides as she walked forward cautiously, her pulse already uneven.

Alexander stood by the window. His back turned, hands tucked in his pockets.

He didn’t move. He didn’t speak.

Just stood there, waiting.

The silence dragged on.

“Sit,” he finally said.

Gabriella hesitated briefly, then lowered herself into the chair, her movements controlled but tense.

Her heartbeat was unsteady, her breathing ragged.

Alexander turned slowly.

His expression was calm. Too calm.

Not like someone whose company was on the verge of collapse.

Or maybe…

He had already found his solution.

His gaze settled on her.

He walked towards the desk deliberately and took his seat.

“Let’s not waste any more time.”

Something in his tone made her stomach drop.

“You’ve had time to think,” he said.

Gabriella swallowed, lifting her chin slightly.

“I have, and my answer remains no.”

Alexander didn’t react. He didn’t even blink. He leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully.

“You should really think about this logically.”

Gabriella clenched her jaw.

“I already gave you my answer, and it is final,” she said firmly.

“And I told you,” he replied calmly, “that you would change your mind.”

Her heart pounded violently.

“I won’t.”

“Won’t?” he repeated, tilting his head.

He opened a drawer and reached for something inside.

Gabriella’s eyes followed his movement, confusion crossing her features.

Alexander pulled out a file and slid it across the desk to her.

Her name was written on the front page.

Gabriella Whyte.

Her fingers stiffened.

She flipped through the pages slowly.

Her college.

Her loan records.

Her employment history.

They all stared back at her mockingly.

She lifted her gaze.

“How did you…”

“That’s not important,” he cut her off sharply.

“What’s important is that I can help you.”

Gabriella stared at him, a flash of anger in her eyes.

“Having me investigated is completely inappropriate.”

“You’re reacting emotionally, not logically.”

“Logically?” She said. “You asked me to marry you!”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“Like it’s some kind of business deal?”

“It is a business deal.”

The bluntness of his words hit her hard.

She stared at him in disbelief.

“This is unbelievable,” she breathed.

“Listen,” Alexander started.

“I can make all of this,” he waved his hand over the file. “Go away.”

Her fingers dug into her palms.

“I’ll clear your debts. Every single one,” he said. “And ensure you never have to worry about money again.”

Gabriella shook her head fervently.

“It doesn’t matter what you offer me,” she said firmly.

“I’m not selling my life.”

“You need stability, and I’m offering you that.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Your rent is overdue.”

Her heart sank.

“If you don’t pay up soon, you’ll get evicted, Gabriella.”

An insistent pounding erupted in her chest.

“You moved here with barely enough savings to sustain yourself,” he added. “How many months did you spend unemployed before I hired you?”

Gabriella couldn’t find her voice. Each word felt like a spotlight, exposing her problems one after the other.

“You’ve not had much luck, have you?”

Gabriella felt her eyes begin to sting, and she desperately tried to keep them at bay.

“Thank you for your offer, sir. But my decision stands. I don’t need your money.”

Alexander watched her carefully.

“I’m giving you a solution, and you want to throw it away?”

“Marrying you is not a solution,” she replied.

The air in the room shifted.

Alexander held her gaze.

“One year. Just one year of marriage,” he continued, “We don’t need to have any emotional connections. Just keep up public appearances. After one year, we get a divorce and go our separate ways.”

For a moment, Gabriella’s resolve wavered.

Just a little.

She imagined it.

Just one year. And she never had to worry about rent, or loans, or bills again.

But then… she forced it down.

“No. I can’t marry a man I barely know for money.”

Her voice came out stronger this time.

Alexander’s gaze hardened slightly.

Then suddenly it relaxed again.

He shrugged.

“Alright then.”

He took the file and placed it back in the drawer.

Gabriella watched him, confused.

Was he really dropping it?

“You can leave.”

She eyed him suspiciously.

“Really?”

He nodded. “I tried to give you a life-changing offer, but if you don’t want it, then fine.”

She hesitated for a second.

“Umm.. Okay.”

She exhaled deeply and was about to get up to leave, when..

“Let me just make something clear,” his voice shifted into something dangerous.

Gabriella felt it immediately.

The sudden shift in his tone.

“Walk out that door,” he said calmly, “and you will no longer have a position here.”

Her breath hitched.

“You won’t find another opportunity like this. Not in this city, not anywhere.”

His words settled slowly.

Gabriella stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re firing me?”

“I’m giving you a choice.”

“That’s not a choice,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “That’s coercion.”

“I didn’t want it to come to this,” he continued, “but you’re being unreasonably stubborn.”

Her chest rose and fell unevenly.

“If the company folds, you’ll lose your job anyway.”

That hit too close.

Because deep down, she knew it was true.

Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had spent seven good months job hunting.

She couldn’t go back to that torture again.

“This isn’t right,” she whispered.

Alexander didn’t respond.

He didn’t need to.

Gabriella’s hands tightened on her seat.

Her mind raced.

Her heart pounded.

Every option felt like a trap closing in around her.

Lose her job? Or marry a man she barely knew.

“If you don’t want to agree, we can just get it over with,” he said casually.

She stared back at him.

“So now you’re threatening me,” she said accusingly.

Alexander straightened slightly.

“I’m a very powerful man, Gabriella,” he said quietly.

“And if you walk away from this, you will find every other door closing in front of you.”

Shock and disbelief crossed her features at once.

He leaned forward on his desk, interlacing his fingers together.

His gaze locked onto hers.

“So,” he said. His voice dropped lower.

“What’s it going to be, Gabriella?”