CHAPTER TWO: THE OFFER I NEVER SAW COMING

Elena’s POV

Hospitals had a smell that never changed.

Bleach.

Medicine.

Fear.

The automatic doors slid open as I rushed inside, rainwater dripping from my clothes and soaking the polished floor beneath my shoes.

“My father,” I gasped, struggling to catch my breath. “Richard Hart.”

The nurse behind the reception desk looked up immediately.

“Miss Hart?”

I nodded.

“This way.”

I followed her through bright white hallways that seemed to stretch forever. Every passing second felt like another heartbeat stolen from my father.

Outside Room 307, a doctor waited with a clipboard tucked beneath his arm.

“Miss Hart?”

“How is he?”

The doctor didn’t answer immediately.

That terrified me more than anything.

“He suffered a major cardiac episode.”

My throat tightened.

“But he’s alive, right?”

“For now.”

Two simple words.

They crushed me.

The doctor gestured toward the consultation room.

“We should talk.”

…

Five minutes later, I wished he had never spoken.

“Your father’s arteries are severely blocked.”

He laid several scans across the desk.

“The only option is immediate surgery.”

“When?”

“As soon as possible.”

“I don’t understand.”

“If we delay…”

He sighed.

“I’m afraid he may not survive another week.”

The room became painfully quiet.

“How much?”

The doctor slid a printed estimate toward me.

Estimated Cost: $150,000.

I stared at the number.

It looked unreal.

"$150,000, Miss Hart. That's the cost " the doctor had said. "I'm sorry, but we can’t proceed without a deposit."

$150,000.

I didn’t even have close to $15,000.

“I… I don’t have that kind of money.”

“We understand.”

His voice softened.

“But time isn’t on your side.”

…

When I finally stepped into my father’s room, he looked smaller than I remembered.

Machines beeped steadily beside his bed.

His skin had lost its usual color.

Yet when he saw me, he smiled.

“My little girl.”

The words nearly broke me.

I forced a smile.

“You scared me.”

“I’ve always liked making an entrance.”

Even now…

He was joking.

I walked over and squeezed his hand.

His fingers were cold.

“I’m okay,” he whispered.

“No.”

I swallowed hard.

“You’re going to be okay.”

He studied my face.

“You’ve been crying.”

“I got caught in the rain.”

He chuckled weakly.

“You still can’t lie.”

I looked away before the tears escaped.

“I’ll figure this out.”

“I know you will.”

He squeezed my fingers.

“You always do.”

If only he knew.

I had absolutely no idea how.

…

The next morning…

Carrington Empire looked exactly the same.

Glass.

Steel.

Money.

As if my entire world hadn’t fallen apart overnight.

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the hospital bill.

Every time I opened them, I remembered Xavier.

The elevator doors opened.

Conversations stopped.

People stared.

Whispers followed me.

“Isn’t that…”

“I heard she confronted him.”

“Poor thing.”

I ignored all of it.

I had bigger problems.

Much bigger.

Lana hurried toward me.

“Where were you yesterday?”

“The hospital.”

Her face fell.

“Is your dad okay?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Before I could answer, an email notification chimed across every computer.

Mandatory Board Meeting.

Ten minutes.

Everyone.

…

The executive conference room buzzed with anticipation.

Department heads filled the seats.

Employees lined the walls.

I stood near the back.

Trying to disappear.

Then the doors opened.

Silence.

Every single person straightened.

Some even lowered their heads.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Heavy.

Respectful.

Almost fearful.

I frowned.

Who—

A tall man walked inside wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal suit.

Dark hair.

Sharp jaw.

Calm expression.

Then my breath caught.

It was him.

The man who had pulled me away from the speeding SUV yesterday.

He didn’t look at anyone.

Not until his eyes landed on me.

Only for a second.

Recognition flickered.

Then disappeared.

He continued toward the head of the table.

The executives immediately stood.

“Good morning, Mr. Carrington.”

Mr. Carrington?

The name echoed in my head.

No.

It couldn’t be.

Lana leaned toward me.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“You don’t know?”

I slowly shook my head.

“That’s Alaric Carrington.”

My stomach dropped.

“The CEO.”

The CEO.

The man I’d bumped into.

The man who’d seen my hospital estimate.

The man every employee in this building feared.

Alaric took his seat with effortless authority.

No introduction.

No speech.

His presence alone controlled the room.

His gaze swept across everyone before settling briefly on Xavier.

The temperature seemed to drop.

Then he spoke.

“Let’s begin.”

His voice was calm.

Controlled.

But powerful enough that no one dared interrupt.

For the next twenty minutes, executives presented reports while I struggled to focus.

Why had fate thrown me in front of him yesterday?

Why did he keep looking in my direction?

The meeting finally ended.

People began filing out.

I turned toward the door.

“Miss Brooks.”

The deep voice froze me in place.

Every head turned.

Slowly…

I looked back.

Alaric was watching me.

His expression remained unreadable.

“Come to my office.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Even Xavier looked shocked.

My pulse raced.

“I…”

“Now.”

There was no room for refusal.

I followed him out of the conference room, every employee staring as though I’d just walked into a storm.

His office occupied the entire top floor.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Manhattan.

Luxury without excess.

Power without needing to announce itself.

He walked behind his desk but didn’t sit.

Instead, he looked directly at me.

“I’ve reviewed your personnel file.”

My confusion deepened.

“…Sir?”

“Your performance evaluations are excellent.”

I blinked.

“You’ve never missed a deadline.”

“…Yes.”

“You’ve also never asked this company for anything.”

“I don’t understand.”

He stepped closer.

Close enough that I could see the determination in his eyes.

“I do.”

He paused.

“I know your father needs surgery.”

My breath caught.

“How—”

“I saw the estimate yesterday.”

Silence stretched between us.

Then he said the last words I expected to hear.

“Marry me.”

I forgot how to breathe.