Will she marry him?

Selena Frost sat in the sterile detention room, her arms crossed over the cold metal table. 

She hated every second of this—the cold, the humiliation, the constant buzz of her thoughts. The world outside had turned against her overnight, and now, her life and career dangled by a thread.

The sound of the door unlocking broke her train of thought. She looked up as two men walked in. One was tall and lean, with a professional demeanor and a clipboard in hand—clearly an assistant. But the other man? Selena’s heart skipped a beat.

Julian Mathers.

She recognized him instantly. As the CEO of Grant Entertainment Inc., one of the most powerful media conglomerates in the world, his face was often splashed across business magazines and TV interviews. Seeing him in person was an entirely different experience. 

Dressed impeccably in a tailored charcoal suit, he oozed authority. His sharp jawline and piercing gray eyes held a vigor that made the small room feel even smaller.

Julian’s lips curved into a faint smirk as he pulled out a chair and sat across from her, his assistant standing silently by the door. 

“Miss Frost,” he greeted smoothly, eyeing her head to toe with a smirk. “You look…surprisingly composed for someone in your position.”

Selena leaned back, masking her unease with defiance. “And you look surprisingly out of place in a detention center. What does a man like you want with me?”

Julian chuckled, a low, calculated sound. “Straight to the point. I like that.”

Selena crossed her arms. “Who wouldn’t be direct after being dragged into this circus? So, Mr. Mathers, what’s your play here? You’re not exactly known for rescuing fallen stars out of the kindness of your heart.”

Julian leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “You’re right. I’m not. I’m here to make you an offer.”

Selena raised an eyebrow, feigning disinterest. “An offer? From the CEO of Grant Entertainment? Let me guess—you’re buying my silence? Or maybe you want exclusive rights to my redemption arc?”

Julian’s smirk widened. “Neither. My offer is a bit more…personal.”

Selena’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing across her face as she afraid of what he was about to say. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Julian didn’t hesitate. “I want you to marry me.”

The room went silent, save for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights. Selena blinked, convinced she had misheard him. 

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Julian let out, his tone calm and deliberate. “Marry me, and I’ll make all of this disappear. One call from me, and you’ll walk out of here with your reputation intact. No charges. No scandals.”

Selena’s heart pounded as she stared at him. The audacity of this man! “Why on earth would you ask me to marry you? You don’t even know me!”

Julian leaned back, his smirk taking on a sharper edge. “Oh, I know enough. I know you’ve lived your entire life as a princess, always getting your way. I know you’ve never had to deal with consequences because Daddy always cleaned up your messes. And I know that for the first time, you’re completely at someone else’s mercy—mine.”

Selena’s jaw clenched. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Julian tilted his head as he deeply looked in her eyes. “Fine, I’ll spell it out for you. I want to see how the perfect little princess reacts when her life is no longer her own. From now on, you’ll live on my terms. Every decision you make, every step you take, will be dictated by me. That, Selena, is why I’m offering this… arrangement.”

Selena felt her stomach churn. The cold tone in his voice told her this wasn’t about love or even attraction. 

She forced herself to hold his gaze. “You’re insane.”

“Perhaps,” Julian said with a shrug, “but I’m also the only person who can save you. And make no mistake, Selena—you need saving.”

Selena clenched her fists. “You really think I’d agree to something so ridiculous?”

Julian smirked again, as if he’d been waiting for her reaction. “I’m not asking for an answer right now. Take a week. Think it over.” He stood, adjusting his suit jacket. “But I’d wager you’ll be willing to marry me in the end. People like you don’t survive long in places like this.”

Selena’s glare burned into him. Julian’s smirk faded, replaced by a cold, unreadable look. “Just know that your father’s desperation is why we’re here. And now, you have a choice. Either accept my terms…or see how much lower you can fall.”

With that, Julian gestured for his assistant to open the door. He turned back to Selena and looked at her beautiful face. 

“One week. I’ll be waiting.”

As the door slammed shut, Selena remained seated. Julian Mathers turned out everything she had heard about—cold, ruthless, and terrifyingly powerful. But his motives were still a mystery to her. Why would someone like him, with all his wealth and influence, go to such lengths to trap her in this twisted deal?

A week to decide? He acted as if he already knew her answer, as if her choice was inevitable.

But Selena Frost wasn’t one to bow easily. 

“I will never marry that bastard!” 

________ 

However, the more time she was taking, the more Julian seemed to be determined in his revenge. 

Selena Frost, once a rising star in the entertainment industry, had become a pariah. Every major studio and brand dropped her, citing the scandal as the reason. The media painted her as a reckless diva, the “spoiled princess” who had finally met her downfall. 

Harrison Frost’s company, once a prominent name in the luxury goods market, was also faltering. A series of bad investments, amplified by sudden market shifts orchestrated by Julian’s network, left the company drowning in debt.

In his office, Harrison Frost sat with his head in his hands. His assistant walked in, holding a phone.

“Sir,” the assistant said hesitantly, “it’s Mr. Mathers on the line.”

Harrison’s head shot up, his face pale. He snatched the phone. “Julian,” he said, trying to mask the desperation in his voice.

“Mr. Frost,” Julian’s voice came through, calm and detached.

“What’s happening?” Harrison asked, struggling to keep his composure. “I thought…I thought we had an understanding. You said you’d fix everything once Selena agreed to the marriage. But you haven’t even set a date! My company—”

“Your company,” Julian interrupted smoothly, “isn’t my concern.”

Harrison’s jaw tightened. “It became your concern when you dragged us into this.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Julian spoke again. “You’re mistaken if you think I owe you anything, Mr. Frost. I’m not here to save you.” 

“Then what do you want?” Harrison shouted, his voice cracking. “You’re tearing my family apart, but you won’t even say why! If you’re going to ruin us, at least have the decency to do it outright!”

Julian didn’t respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his tone was colder than before. 

“Then prepare your daughter for the marriage. Convince her. When I decide the wedding date, you’ll be the first to know. Until then, you’d do well to remember your place.”

The line went dead. Harrison slammed the phone onto his desk. 

_____

Julian’s assistant, Aaron, entered the room cautiously. “Sir, the latest reports on Frost Corporation are here.” 

Julian didn’t turn around. “And?”

“They’re nearing bankruptcy. Most of their major partners have pulled out,” Aaron replied, his voice professional. “It’s only a matter of time before they’re forced to file.”

Julian’s grip tightened on his glass. “Good.”

Aaron hesitated, sensing the tension in the room. “Sir, if I may—”

“You may not,” Julian snapped, cutting him off.

Aaron fell silent but didn’t leave. Julian finally turned to face him, his gray eyes sharp. “Is there something else?”

“It’s just…” Aaron hesitated again. “You don’t seem pleased. You’ve been working toward this for years. I thought—”

“You thought wrong,” He downed the rest of his whiskey and set the glass on the table with more force than necessary.

Aaron pressed on carefully. “If I may speak freely, sir, you seem…conflicted.”

Julian’s jaw tightened. “About ruining the lives of the people who destroyed mine? Hardly.”

“Then what is it?” Aaron asked, genuinely curious.

Julian didn’t answer immediately. His mind flashed to Selena—her defiance during their meeting, the fire in her eyes even when the world was against her. She was nothing like he had expected. He had envisioned her as a shallow, spoiled brat, but the reality was far more complex.

Finally, Julian spoke. “She’s a killer, Aaron. She and her father covered up a crime and ruined lives to protect themselves. I’m just returning the favor.”

Aaron nodded but didn’t look convinced. “If that’s all it is, then why are you hesitating?”

Julian’s hand curled into a fist. “I’m not hesitating,” he growled.

But he was. Every time he saw the headlines tearing Selena apart, every time he heard about Harrison’s crumbling company, his satisfaction was fleeting. Instead of triumph, he felt…empty. And worse, guilty.

Aaron gave him a thoughtful look. “Revenge is a double-edged sword, sir. It’s worth asking if the pain you’re causing them is worth the pain it’s causing you.”

Julian glared at him. “You’re dismissed.”

Aaron bowed his head slightly and left without another word.

Julian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He poured himself another drink and muttered to himself, “What the hell is happening to me?”

“No,” he said aloud, as if trying to convince himself. “She’s a killer. Her family deserves this.”

But deep down, he couldn’t shake the image of Selena’s fiery eyes, her vulnerability hidden beneath layers of strength. And that only made him angrier—with her and with himself.