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CHAPTER 20: BUSINESS DINNER
publish date:
2026-06-13 23:03:50
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One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 20: BUSINESS DINNER
The dinner was with potential investors from Tokyo and Lucien had been preparing for weeks. Presentations, financial projections, market analysis for a proposed development in Shibuya that could either cement Blackwood Holdings' international reputation or become a very expensive failure."I need you there," he told Elara on Tuesday morning.She looked up from her laptop, where she'd been reviewing designs for the Tribeca project. "At the dinner?""Yes. These investors are traditional. They want to see stability. A wife signals commitment, longevity, the kind of family values that matter in Japanese business culture.""So I'm there to smile and look pretty?""You're there because you're my partner. And because you're brilliant and they should meet you." He paused. "But yes, also to smile. They're very particular about image."Elara closed her laptop. "What's the dress code?""Formal. Conservative. Think elegant, not sexy.""You don't think I can be both?""I know you can be both. That
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 19: SOPHIA'S WARNING
Sophia showed up unannounced on Saturday morning with coffee and bagels and the expression she got when she was about to say something Elara didn't want to hear."You have your intervention face on," Elara said, letting her in."I don't have an intervention face.""You absolutely do. You're wearing it right now." Elara took the coffee. "What's wrong?""Nothing's wrong. I just... we need to talk."They settled on the couch, bagels spread out on the coffee table, and Sophia took a long breath."You're falling for him," she said."I already fell. Months ago. You know this.""No. I mean you're falling in a way that's going to hurt when it ends."Elara set down her coffee. "What are you talking about?""The contract. Remember? One year. It's been seven months. In five months, you're supposed to walk away.""We're not walking away. We got married for real. We're building a life.""Are you?" Sophia pulled out her phone, showed Elara a legal document. "I pulled the original contract this morn
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 18: JEALOUSY
The headlines were exactly as bad as Elara predicted."Blackwood Loses Control at Charity Gala""Billionaire CEO Threatens Donor Over Wife Comments""Elara Blackwood: The Woman Who Tamed the Ice King"Miranda called at seven AM, her voice tight with professional frustration."We need to do damage control. The board is concerned. Three major donors have called asking if Preston will be pressing charges."Lucien, on speaker phone while making coffee, sounded completely unbothered. "Let them be concerned. And Preston won't press charges. He knows what he said.""That's not the point. The optics...""I don't care about the optics anymore, Miranda. I care about my wife not being disrespected at events I'm hosting."A pause. Then, softer: "I get it. I do. But you're still the CEO of a publicly traded company. You have responsibilities.""I'm aware. Schedule a statement. I'll apologize for the disruption to the event. But I won't apologize for defending Elara."After he hung up, Elara wrappe
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 17: THE CHARITY GALA
The annual Blackwood Foundation gala was three weeks after they returned from Greece.Elara had forgotten about it entirely until Miranda called with a reminder that she needed a dress, that photographers would be everywhere, that this was Lucien's biggest public event of the year."No pressure," Elara muttered, hanging up.Lucien looked up from his laptop. "What's no pressure?""Your gala. Apparently I need to look perfect, be charming, and represent both Quinn Interiors and Blackwood Holdings without making a fool of myself.""You'll be fine.""Easy for you to say. You've done this a hundred times.""And I hated every single one until now." He closed his laptop. "This year I get to do it with you. That makes it bearable.""Sweet talker.""Only when it's true."---Sophia took Elara dress shopping on Saturday."I still can't believe you're going to the Blackwood gala as Blackwood," Sophia said, flipping through racks at Bergdorf's. "Six months ago you were eating ramen for dinner and
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 16: RETURN TO REALITY
The shareholder meeting was scheduled for ten AM.Elara woke to find Lucien already gone, his side of the bed cold. She found him in his office at six in the morning, surrounded by documents, on his third cup of coffee, looking like he hadn't slept."You promised you'd wake me if you couldn't sleep," she said from the doorway."I didn't want to disturb you.""Lucien." She crossed the room, took the coffee cup from his hand. "We just spent a week in Greece learning how to be partners. Don't shut me out now."He exhaled slowly. "James is proposing a vote of no confidence. Claims I've been distracted by my personal life and it's affecting company performance.""That's ridiculous. The stock is higher than ever.""Short term gains. He's arguing that the scandal damaged our reputation with international partners. That I've lost focus." Lucien ran his hands through his hair. "He has enough votes to force the discussion. Not enough to win, but enough to make it ugly.""What do you need from m
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 15: HONEYMOON (FORCED)
The board insisted on the honeymoon."Optics," Robert Chen had said during Monday's meeting. "You've done the interviews, the reception, the public rehabilitation. Now you need to disappear for a week. Be newlyweds. Let the story cool down while you're photographed on a beach somewhere looking in love.""We are in love," Lucien had pointed out."Then it should be easy."Which was how Elara found herself on a private plane to Santorini on a Wednesday morning, watching Manhattan disappear beneath the clouds."I've never been to Greece," she said.Lucien looked up from his laptop. "You're going to love it. The villa has a private pool overlooking the caldera. Completely secluded.""You've been before?""Once. Business trip. I didn't see much beyond the hotel conference room.""So we're both honeymooning virgins."He smiled. "Something like that."The flight was long but comfortable. First class seats that reclined into beds, champagne that Elara actually drank this time, movies on demand
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 6: THE WEDDING DRESS
The bridal boutique was the kind of place Elara would never have entered in her old life.All white marble and crystal chandeliers, with gowns displayed like art pieces behind glass. A single dress in the window had a price tag that made her stomach turn—$15,000 for something she'd wear once.But t
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 5: THE GRANDFATHER
The nursing home was nicer than most people's houses. Nicer than where she lived before.Elara sat in the back of Lucien's car, a sleek black Mercedes that drove smoother than anything she'd ever experienced, watching expensive neighborhoods roll past through the tinted windows."Your grandfather l
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 4: MOVING DAY
The penthouse was mindblowing and beautiful.Elara stood in the center of what Lucien had casually called the living room which was instead a large open area that was larger than her entire apartment trying to process the entirety of it all.It has floor to ceiling windows on two sides. The furnitu
One Contract, Two Hearts CHAPTER 3: NEGOTIATION
The Blackwood Tower was everything Elara expected. It was a building made of steel, glass and intimidation all in one.She was dressed as though going for a cooperate war, a charcoal suit she'd bought for better days, heels that gave her three additional inches of height, hair pulled back in a seve
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