Chapter 2 : The Man Behind the Offer

Elena didn't move.

She couldn't.

She looked at the last sentence that was printed across the card of Damien Blackwood's.

“But there was someone in your family who was.”

Her fingers clenched on the sides.

One of her relations.

They were unable to comprehend what was being said.

For twenty-five years her father had maintained that he had been set up. So much so, that even when the world was calling him a liar, she still believed him.

But now Damien had decided that there was a traitor in her family.

Who?

Her stepmother?

Sophia?

Someone else?

"Elena."

Chloe broke out of the thought pattern with her voice.

Elena looked up.

There was a best friend standing by her and looking at the card.

What did he put in the note?

Elena hesitated.

What was the reason she had, she suddenly did not want anybody else to read those words.

She put the card in her purse.

"Nothing."

Chloe's eyebrows rose.

"Nothing?"

“Three hundred people witnessed Damien Blackwood proposing to me in front of me. I think it's too late to say it's a normal day.”

Chloe looked over towards the cathedral doors.

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know."

“Then why did you let him go?

What do I do if I was meant to do that? Chase after him?"

“After your fiancé humiliated you, and considering that you are a billionaire and ridiculously handsome, why didn't he marry you?”

"Chloe."

"What?"

I'm not getting hitched to Damien Blackwood.

The words flowed easily.

Too quickly.

Chloe studied her.

But why do you still have his card in your hand?

Elena looked down.

She did not realise that she's still holding it.

Just as she was about to respond, Ethan broke in to the room.

"Elena."

She stiffened.

He moved slowly towards her like she was delicate.

She almost laughed.

He didn't get to treat her gently now.

Not after tearing her apart in front of all.

"Don't."

Ethan stopped.

"Can we talk?"

"We've talked enough."

"Please."

Elena glanced at him.

That face had been a home for three years.

She knew all the expressions by heart.

Every smile.

All of his small folds around the eye.

She could hardly stand to look at him.

"You should go."

His jaw tightened.

“What happened between us is not as simple as it sounds Elena.”

She stared at him.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then explain it."

He glanced around.

Some of the visitors were still observing them.

He turned to the cameras.

"Not here."

Elena laughed bitterly.

"Why? You're suddenly embarrassed?"

I'm trying to keep you safe.

"Protect me?"

Her voice rose.

You were by my sister's side and said in a whole cathedral that you loved my sister.

Ethan flinched.

"You don't understand."

Then explain it to me!

He opened his mouth and said.

Nothing came out.

Elena shook her head.

"Exactly."

Sophia stepped forward.

"Ethan, let's go."

Her eyes were drawn to Elena.

"Don't."

Sophia stopped.

Elena approached her.

“You've been sneaking around behind my back for the past year, you embarrassed me today, you have five minutes to give me without throwing the innocent card down.

Sophia's eyes hardened.

“Never made up anything.”

“You did know of the marriage.”

"Of course I did."

"Well, you knew what you were doing.

Sophia shrugged.

"I fell in love."

Elena stared at her.

You say that's love?

I describe it as picking what I want," says Ime.

That was all Elena needed to know.

This was always Sophia's nature.

She really wanted what Elena had.

The attention.

The approval.

The opportunities.

And now she wanted Ethan.

Elena's eyes locked on him.

"Congratulations."

Ethan looked surprised.

"What?"

“It's all right,” she said, smiling as if a kidnapper had not abducted her.

"You two deserve each other."

She turned away.

"Elena—"

She stopped.

Without looking back, she said, "Don't call me again."

Then she strolled out.

---

As soon as Elena came out from the cathedral dozens of reporters rushed towards her.

"Miss Hart!"

So, did Ethan Carter dump you for your stepsister, Elena?

“Really, you were thinking of marrying Damien Blackwood?”

“Had Damien Blackwood been engaged to you prior to the wedding?”

Have you heard about Ethan and Sophia?

The questions were as varied as they could be.

Elena covered her face with her hands.

"Please."

A microphone was thrusted at her.

Miss Hart, will you be marrying Damien Blackwood?

She stopped.

Somehow, that question got her thinking about his eyes.

Cold.

Controlled.

However, strangely intense when they looked at her.

She didn't like this about herself, that the memory of his fingers' warmth when he returned her bouquet was fresh on her mind.

Even more of a thing she didn't like was that her pulse had responded to it.

"No comment."

The reporters erupted.

“No comment—yes?”

You're using Damien as a weapon in your anger towards Ethan?

Does this sound like a business deal?

Elena made her way through them.

A black SUV was parked on the street.

This was her own recognition.

Blackwood Group.

Behind them the back door opened.

Then a man dressed in a dark suit appeared.

"Miss Hart."

Elena stopped.

"Who are you?"

"Lucas Bennett."

He showed her an ID card.

"Mr. Blackwood's attorney."

"Where is Damien?"

"At his office."

Elena stared at him.

"And?"

He will be expecting you tomorrow.

"I'm not going."

Lucas's face didn't make any expression.

"Of course."

This reply made her angry.

“Why don't you look surprised then?”

“Mr. Blackwood hasn't been used to hearing that 'yes' right away.”

Elena's arms folded.

If he does, he needs to become used to hearing "no".

Lucas almost smiled.

"Perhaps."

He opened the car door on the SUV.

But he said to me to give you this.

Elena studied the envelope he was holding.

She didn't take it.

"What is it?"

“A thing that you might want to see.”

"What?"

"Evidence."

Her heart skipped.

"Evidence of what?"

Lucas spoke quietly.

"Your father's innocence."

Elena's fingers curled.

She picked up the envelope.

Lucas stepped back.

"Ten o'clock tomorrow."

I don't have anything I agreed to."

"No."

He nodded.

"Mr. Blackwood knows."

The SUV drove away.

Elena stared after it.

Even before she hated these people!

In particular the man who seemed to know what to say and how to do it to draw her in to his reality.

She opened the envelope and read the message.

The photograph was the only thing in the inside.

It contained her father's face.

Younger.

Much younger.

A man standing outside a hotel with another man next to him.

Elena's eyes narrowed.

She knew the other man instantly.

Richard Blackwood.

Damien's uncle.

On the back of the photograph was a handwritten date.

Three days prior to the Blackwood tragedy.

Elena's heart began pounding.

Why did her father meet with Damien's uncle?

Why did this picture not make it to the original investigation?

She flipped it over.

There was a second sentence at the bottom.

What did your dad do that night?

Elena quickly withdrew her cell phone.

She called home.

No answer.

She called again.

Still nothing.

She felt a very bad feeling in her tummy.

She dialed the housekeeper.

Somebody responded after a couple of rings.

"Hello?"

Hello Mrs Collins, it's Elena. Where's Dad?"

There was a pause.

Too long.

Elena's heart dropped.

"Mrs. Collins?"

There's no dad.

"What?"

He went off this morning.

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know."

Elena closed her eyes.

“Did he make any comments?”

Another pause.

So Mrs. Collins whispered,

He told me not to let anybody in the house.

"Who?"

"He didn't say."

Elena's pulse raced.

Mrs. Collins, Hear me! Did anyone come to the house?"

The woman fell silent.

"Mrs. Collins?"

"I think..."

Her voice trembled.

I believe that someone came to our house last night.

Elena's blood turned to ice.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Then it was me and the phone cut off.

"Mrs. Collins?"

Elena checked the cellphone.

No signal.

She tried again.

Nothing.

A cold wind blew through her.

Her father's disappearance.

The photograph.

Damien's warning.

A member of her family was a traitor.

This wasn't coincidence.

Elena angled around to the street.

Then, she saw the black car across from her.

Tinted windows.

The power plant was operating.

Her instincts screamed.

She started walking.

The sedan moved.

Elena stopped.

It stopped too.

Her heart started pounding.

She turned on herself and went the other way.

The sedan followed.

"Okay."

She said to herself in a hushed tone.

"Don't panic."

She quickened her speed.

So did the car.

Elena picked up her cell phone.

Before she could unlock it, a hand came at her and grabbed at her wrist.

She screamed.

A man walked between two parked cars.

"Miss Hart."

She jerked backward.

"Let me go!"

Please, I'm not trying to hurt you.

Then stop touching me!

He released her immediately.

Elena stumbled backward.

The man lifted up both of his hands.

I work for Blackwood security.

"Prove it."

He took out an ID card.

Elena hardly paid any attention to it.

Why do you follow me?

“For you were trailed from the cathedral.”

She froze.

"What?"

The man looked at the black car.

It's been following you since this morning.

Elena's stomach tightened.

"Who is inside?"

"We don't know."

The sedan suddenly accelerated.

The security guard spun around.

"Get down!"

Elena ducked.

The car accelerated by and went around a corner, leaving them behind.

Her heart pounded.

"What the hell was that?"

It's time to take you to safety.

"I'm going home."

"No."

The response was right away.

Elena stared at him.

"My father is missing."

"Exactly."

So, what does that imply?

The security agent hesitated.

“This was something that Mr. Blackwood expected.”

Elena's blood turned to ice.

What did he expect?

That someone would be attempt to frighten you.

"Why?"

The man glanced at the road.

“You're asking questions that powerful people don't want answered.”

---

Elena was standing in the lobby of Blackwood Group, at exactly 9:57 the next morning.

All night she had been thinking about her father.

About the photograph.

About the sedan.

About Damien.

She had vowed that she wouldn't come.

But it was becoming hard to make promises with Damien Blackwood.

She was instantly met with by the receptionist.

"Miss Hart, Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you.

"Of course he is."

She was taken up in the elevator to the highest level.

The doors opened and she went into Damien's private office.

He was sitting at his desk, reading a document.

He didn't look up.

"Too early by 3 minutes.

Elena's eyebrows rose.

"You're counting?"

"Always."

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Then count this."

At length, Damien raised his eyes.

She placed the picture on his desk.

His expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Elena noticed.

Where did you come up with that?"

"Your attorney has given it to me.

After all, Damien picked it up.

"Lucas."

What is its implications?

Damien carefully looked at the picture.

Where is your dad?

Elena's eyes narrowed.

“Never change the topic.”

"I'm not."

"Then answer me."

Damien put the photograph on the floor.Damien set the picture on the floor.

My parents died and my father met my uncle three days before they passed away.

"I know."

"Do you know why?"

"No."

"Neither do I."

Elena stared at him.

"You're telling me you've spent five years investigating this and you don't know?"

I know enough to know that someone did on purpose take the answer away.

"Who?"

Damien's gaze hardened.

Well this is what I want to know.

Elena took a step closer.

Why get married to me then?

There it was.

The question she had asked herself since yesterday.

Damien didn't respond right away.

He strolled around the desk until they were within a few feet of each other.

“They have been watching us, and they destroyed our families.”

Elena's pulse quickened.

"Both of us?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Because they think that your dad took something from my family.

"What?"

She stood there, gazing into Damien's eyes.

"The Blackwood inheritance."

Elena frowned.

What could that possibly concern me?

"Everything."

He took one out of a drawer and pulled out a black folder.

Twenty-five years ago, my grandfather made a change to his will.

He gave her the folder.

My father was to be green party designer Blackwood Group.

Elena opened it.

When he died, it was supposed to be passed on to my uncle.

She looked up.

"But it didn't."

"No."

Damien's jaw tightened.

My grandfather made a situation.

"What condition?"

Damien stepped closer.

That I have to wed before the end of the month.

Elena stared at him.

That's why you need a wife!

"Partly."

"Partly?"

His eyes fell on the contract on his desk.

"There's another reason."

He threw it towards her.

Elena looked down.

A single sentence was highlighted.

Access to the sealed Blackwood family archives shall be given to the spouse of Damien Blackwood after the marriage contract has been executed.

Her breath caught.

She glanced at Damien.

"The archives."

All that happened the night my parents died.

Elena understood.

"If I marry you..."

"We gain access."

"Together."

"Yes."

She stared at him.

This was the first time his idea was feasible.

Not completely.

But enough.

You need me, 'cause I'm a Hart.

"Yes."

Because I need you and you can clear my father's name.

"Yes."

Slowly, Elena shook her head.

"This is insane."

"Probably."

You want us to get married because our families may be controlled by the same person.

"That's the situation."

"And you think we can trust each other?"

Damien's eyes narrowed.

"No."

Elena blinked.

He stepped closer.

That's the reason why this could be the thing.

Her heartbeat stumbled.

Damien whispered.

There's a reason for neither of us to trust each other.

His eyes were fixed on her.

Which implies that each of us cannot afford to lie.

Elena swallowed.

It was dangerous to be so close to him.

An unknown quantity to her.

She stepped back.

"I want conditions."

Damien's eyebrow lifted.

"Go ahead."

My father's debts have been settled.

"Done."

You assist me to look him up.

"Done."

You can't stop me from going anywhere, talking to anyone, or doing anything.

"Agreed."

"No humiliating me."

A smile crossed his lips.

“It shouldn't be hard that one.”

"Don't smile."

His smile disappeared.

Elena had an arrow trained on him.

"And they shall not lie together.

Damien's expression changed.

He slowly looked at her face.

"That's an interesting condition."

"It's not negotiable."

"Fine."

"Separate rooms."

"Agreed."

"One year."

"Exactly one year."

"Then we're done."

Damien reached out his hand.

"Deal?"

Elena stared at it.

She knew that she must leave.

She knew that marriage to the family he had been despised by for 25 years was crazy.

However her father was gone.

A man with eyes was watching her.

There could be the proof of her father's innocence in this man's family archive somewhere.

She put her hand in Damien's.

He encased her in his fingers.

Warm.

Firm.

Unexpectedly gentle.

Her pulse jumped.

Damien noticed.

She knew he did.

He glanced down at their clasped hands.

Then went back to her face.

"One more condition."

Elena withdrew her hand right away.

"What?"

He had a blank expression on his face.

“You're going to stay at the mansion tonight, Blackwood's.“Tonight you will be staying at Blackwood's mansion!

Her eyes widened.

"Absolutely not."

"It'll be safer there.

I can keep myself safe.

I saw you almost being kidnapped yesterday.

“He did not kidnap me.”

"You were followed."

At the same time, it does not mean that I should have to live with you.

Damien sat back in his chair.

You shall be my wife.

"Contract wife."

His eyes darkened.

"Still my wife."

Elena opened her mouth.

But before she could respond, Damien's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His face lifted up, his face and whole expression changed.

"What?"

Elena gleered at the billionaire's face as it grew cold.

He was waiting for a few seconds.

Then he hung up.

"What happened?"

Damien glanced at her.

"Your father."

Elena's heart stopped.

"What about him?"

Damien picked up his jacket.

"He's been found."

This 'relief' reduced her to a gasp.

"Where?"

Damien's eyes hardened.

"At Blackwood Cemetery."

Elena frowned.

Why would he be there?

Damien didn't answer.

He went to the door.

"Damien."

He stopped.

She followed him.

"What's wrong?"

He turned.

The relief was washed away by his next words.

"He's alive."

Elena exhaled shakily.

If so, what is the issue?

Damien looked into her eyes.

A person left a note for him.

"What message?"

Damien's voice dropped.

Tell your daughter not to marry the Blackwood heir.

Elena froze in place.

Damien pushed open the door of the office.

Which of course indicates that somebody already has word on our deal"