CHAPTER 3 : THE PRICE OF YES

 

By the time Elena got home that evening, she had read Adrian Blackwood's proposal so many times that she could almost recite it from memory.

She had also developed a strong dislike for the words marriage arrangement.

They sounded harmless on paper. Almost professional.

As if she were agreeing to attend a business conference rather than marry a man who could make her blood pressure rise simply by saying her name.

She dropped her handbag on the sofa and placed the folder on the small dining table.

Then she walked away from it.

Five minutes later, she returned.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered.

She opened the folder again.

The payment was still there. So were the details of the arrangement, the proposed duration of the marriage and the conditions Adrian expected her to follow.

One year.

Twelve months of living with him, attending family events, appearing beside him in public and pretending that their relationship was real.

Twelve months of looking at Adrian Blackwood across a breakfast table without throwing something at him.

She rubbed her forehead.

How was she supposed to survive that?

Her phone rang before she could close the folder.

"Maya," she answered.

"You're home?"

"Yes. I just got in."

"How was work?"

Elena looked at the papers on the table.

She had not told her sister about the resignation. She had planned to wait until she had figured out what to do next, but keeping it to herself was beginning to feel like carrying a heavy bag with a broken handle.

"It was... interesting."

"Interesting good or interesting bad?"

"Interesting in the way that makes you consider moving to another country and changing your name."

Maya laughed.

"That bad?"

"You have no idea."

For a moment, they chatted about ordinary things. Maya complained about the food at the hospital, and Elena told her about a colleague who had accidentally sent a confidential email to the wrong department.

She left out the part about resigning.

She left out the part about Adrian offering her money to marry him.

Most importantly, she left out the part where she had actually considered saying yes.

Then Maya's voice became quieter.

"Elena, I spoke with the billing office again."

Elena closed her eyes.

"And?"

"They said we need to make another payment before they can schedule the next stage of treatment."

"How much?"

Maya told her.

Elena looked down at the proposal.

The amount was still more than she had ever imagined earning at once.

"I'll figure something out," she said.

"You always say that."

"Because I always do."

"I know, but you don't have to handle everything alone."

Elena smiled sadly.

"Someone has to be the responsible one."

"That doesn't mean it always has to be you."

For a moment, Elena couldn't speak.

She wanted to tell Maya everything. She wanted someone to tell her what to do, to take the decision out of her hands for once.

Instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Don't worry about it tonight. Get some rest, okay? I'll call you tomorrow."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

After the call ended, Elena sat very still.

She had worked hard to build a life where she could take care of herself. She had never expected to become wealthy overnight, but she had believed that if she kept working, kept learning and kept showing up, things would eventually get easier.

Instead, she was sitting in her apartment, calculating how many months she could survive without a salary.

She looked at the folder again.

Adrian's offer was not a dream. It was not a fairy tale. It was a transaction that came with risks she could not fully predict.

But it could solve a problem that had been keeping her awake for weeks.

The question was whether the price was too high.

---

The following morning, Elena woke up determined to reject the proposal.

By nine o'clock, she had listed every reason she should refuse.

Adrian was arrogant.

He was controlling.

He had a habit of treating conversations like negotiations he had already won.

He was also, unfortunately, very handsome.

She drew a line through that last thought.

His appearance was irrelevant.

She was not going to marry a man because he had a sharp jaw, expensive suits and eyes that could make an entire boardroom fall silent.

She was going to make a sensible decision.

At ten-thirty, she called an independent lawyer recommended by a former colleague. She explained the arrangement without giving away more personal information than necessary and asked whether the terms could be reviewed before she made a decision.

The lawyer agreed to examine the documents.

That alone made Elena feel a little better.

At least she would not be walking into the situation blindly.

By lunchtime, she had received a message from Adrian.

Have you reached a decision?

She stared at the screen.

Three hours.

The man had given her seventy-two hours and was already asking for an answer before the first day was over.

She typed a reply.

Yes. My decision is that I need the full seventy-two hours you agreed to.

His response came almost immediately.

Take the time you need.

Elena frowned.

That was unexpectedly reasonable.

She put the phone away before she could overthink it.

---

By the second evening, the lawyer had reviewed the proposal.

There were several points that needed clarification, particularly regarding the payment, her financial independence, public appearances and what would happen if either party wanted to end the arrangement early.

The lawyer also advised her not to sign anything until the final agreement had been properly drafted.

Elena listened carefully and took notes.

She was not going to let the size of the payment distract her from the details.

Later that night, she sat on her bed with the folder open beside her.

She imagined what her life would look like if she accepted.

A year in Adrian's mansion.

Expensive clothes for public events.

Family dinners with people who might despise her.

The constant pressure of pretending to be in love with a man who had never once told her she was beautiful, even though she suspected he had noticed more about her than he admitted.

And then there was the problem of sharing a home with him.

Elena could already imagine the arguments.

The way he would expect things to be done according to his preferences. The way she would refuse simply because she hated being ordered around.

She pressed her lips together.

This was going to be a disaster.

But it could also be an opportunity.

Not just to pay the hospital bills, but to save enough money to start the small event-planning business she had been dreaming about for years.

She had spent so long putting her own plans aside for other people that she could barely remember what it felt like to work toward something for herself.

Perhaps this was a chance to change that.

She wasn't going to accept because Adrian Blackwood wanted a wife.

She would accept only if the arrangement gave her the freedom and financial security to build the life she wanted.

And if he expected her to become a quiet, obedient woman simply because she would be wearing his ring, he was about to be disappointed.

---

On the third morning, Elena returned to Blackwood International.

She wore a fitted navy-blue dress, low heels and the expression of a woman who had come prepared to argue.

The receptionist greeted her with surprise.

"Good morning, Miss Hayes. Are you back?"

"Temporarily."

The receptionist laughed uncertainly.

Elena took the elevator to the executive floor.

When she entered Adrian's office, he was reviewing a document with Martin Cole, the company's general counsel.

Both men looked up.

Adrian's gaze moved over her face, then settled on the folder in her hand.

"You've made your decision."

"I have."

Martin closed his document.

"I'll leave you both to discuss the matter."

"Please do," Elena said.

He gave her a polite nod and left the room.

Adrian pointed to the chair opposite his desk.

This time, Elena sat.

"I've reviewed your proposal with a lawyer," she began.

His expression remained calm, but his attention sharpened.

"And?"

"I'm willing to consider the marriage, provided we agree on some changes."

"Such as?"

"First, the payment must be guaranteed in writing. I will not spend a year pretending to be your wife only to discover that the money depends on whether you're satisfied with my performance."

"Reasonable."

"Second, I want my own bank account and complete control over my money. You will not monitor my spending or decide what I can and cannot buy."

"Agreed."

"Third, I will not give up my career goals. If I decide to start my own business, you will not interfere."

Adrian leaned back slightly.

"That depends on whether your business creates a conflict with Blackwood International."

"Then the agreement can define what counts as a conflict. I'm not asking to compete with your company. I'm asking to keep my future in my own hands."

He considered her words.

"Fine."

"Fourth, I will not be expected to tolerate disrespect from your family, your friends or anyone else because I'm your wife. If someone insults me, I will respond."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."

She gave him a suspicious look.

"You're agreeing rather easily."

"Would you prefer that I argue with you?"

"Honestly? I came prepared for it."

For the first time, Adrian almost smiled.

The brief change in his expression caught her off guard.

She quickly looked down at her notes.

"There's one more thing."

"Go on."

"I want separate bedrooms."

"That was already in the proposal."

"And no expectations of physical intimacy simply because we're married."

The room became quiet.

Adrian's expression changed, losing the small trace of amusement that had appeared a moment earlier.

"Elena, I have no intention of forcing you into anything."

"Good. I wanted that stated clearly."

"It will be included."

She nodded, relieved that he hadn't tried to challenge her on the matter.

Then she remembered something.

"One more question."

"How many more do you have?"

"As many as necessary."

"Of course."

She ignored the sarcasm.

"Why me?"

Adrian looked at her for a long moment.

"You know me. You know the company. You understand the people around me, and I know you can be trusted with confidential information."

"That explains why you'd hire me. It doesn't explain why you'd marry me."

His eyes held hers.

"Because you aren't interested in my money."

Elena stared at him.

"You do realize you're offering me a substantial amount of money to marry you?"

"Yes."

"Your logic is fascinating."

"I said you aren't interested in my money. I didn't say you couldn't use it."

She hated how quickly he had found a response.

"And you're certain I won't fall in love with you?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Adrian's gaze dropped briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes.

"I'm certain you won't confuse this arrangement with a love story."

Elena's stomach tightened.

She couldn't tell whether the comment was meant to reassure her or insult her.

Perhaps both.

"Don't worry, Mr. Blackwood. I know exactly what this is."

"Good."

"Business."

"Exactly."

Neither looked away.

For a moment, Elena became painfully aware of how close they were sitting. She could smell his cologne, something subtle and expensive, and she hated that she noticed it.

She broke eye contact first.

"Then we have an understanding."

Adrian reached for the folder.

"We'll have our lawyers prepare a revised agreement. Once everything is finalized, we'll discuss the engagement announcement."

"Not so fast."

He paused.

"I haven't agreed to announce anything yet."

"You've agreed to marry me."

"I've agreed to consider it, subject to the final terms."

His eyes narrowed.

"You're testing my patience."

"And you're learning that I'm not one of your employees anymore."

The words hung between them.

Then Adrian slowly nodded.

"Fair enough."

Elena stood and gathered her notes.

"I'll review the final agreement before signing. If my lawyer approves it, we can proceed."

"And if your lawyer doesn't?"

"Then we'll negotiate."

"And if we can't agree?"

"Then I'll walk away."

He looked at her, and for the first time since she had known him, Elena felt that he was taking her seriously in a way that had nothing to do with her work.

"Understood," he said.

She turned toward the door.

"Elena."

She stopped.

"When this arrangement becomes public, people will have opinions about you. Some will assume you're after my money. Others will question why I chose you."

She looked back at him.

"Let them talk."

"It won't always be easy."

"Neither was working for you."

His mouth twitched.

"You're impossible."

"And yet, here we are."

She walked out of his office with her head held high.

She had not signed anything yet. The final agreement still needed to be reviewed, and there was no guarantee that everything would go smoothly.

But for the first time in three years, Elena felt that she had negotiated something for herself.

Not as Adrian Blackwood's assistant.

Not as a woman desperate for money.

As someone who knew what she wanted and was prepared to demand it.

What she didn't know was that Adrian had already begun to wonder what it would feel like to have her in his home, at his table and beside him when the world was watching.

He told himself it was only a practical arrangement.

He told himself that her sharp tongue would eventually become familiar enough to ignore.

He told himself many things.

But when he picked up the revised proposal and saw her name written across the top, one thought refused to leave him.

For the first time in his life, he was about to enter an arrangement in which he could not control the outcome.

And that bothered him far more than it should have.