Chapter 4 004

The interior of the car smelled like polished leather and wealth, every surface gleaming in a way that made Bella feel both out of place and suffocated. She clenched her fists in her lap, her heart pounding in her chest as the car glided through the city streets. The driver didn't speak, didn't even look at her, which only heightened her anxiety.

She had no idea what Damian Blackwood wanted with her now. He had made it clear he didn't care about what had happened that night-or about her. So why was he summoning her like this?

After what felt like an eternity, the car pulled up to a massive glass building-one of the city's most prominent landmarks. Blackwood Enterprises. The sleek, modern tower loomed over her as she stepped out of the car, her throat tightening as she realized just how deeply out of her depth she was.

The driver led her through a private entrance, bypassing the bustling main lobby. She was ushered into a private elevator, and before she could blink, she was whisked up to one of the top floors. The doors slid open silently, revealing an opulent office that overlooked the entire city.

And there, standing by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, was Damian Blackwood.

He turned slowly, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers the moment she stepped out of the elevator. His expression was unreadable, but his presence filled the room, commanding it in a way that made Bella feel small and insignificant.

"Ms. Hart," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. "I'm glad you decided to come."

Bella forced herself to meet his gaze, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear and anger swirling inside her. "I didn't think I had much of a choice."

Damian's lips quirked into a humorless smile as he stepped away from the window, his gaze never leaving her. "No, I suppose you didn't."

He walked toward his desk, motioning for her to sit in the leather chair opposite him. Bella hesitated, then reluctantly sat down, her back straight, her hands clenched in her lap.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you here," Damian said, sitting down behind his massive desk, his gaze assessing her with an intensity that made her squirm.

"You could say that," Bella replied, her voice sharper than she intended.

Damian raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her defiance. "I'll get straight to the point, then. I've done some investigating into what happened that night at the hotel. It seems your ex-boyfriend, Liam, had quite the elaborate plan to destroy you. A plan that, if left unchecked, could have serious consequences for both of us."

Bella's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, consequences for both of us? Liam's the one who set me up. He's the one who drugged me."

"Yes," Damian said, leaning forward slightly, his gaze never wavering. "But the media won't care about the details. They'll care about the scandal. A woman like you, drugged and taken advantage of in a hotel room, with a powerful man like me... it's the kind of story that ruins reputations."

Bella felt her blood run cold. "But I didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Doesn't matter," Damian said, his voice flat. "Perception is everything in my world. And right now, the perception is that you and I were involved in something... unsavory. The tabloids are already sniffing around, and it's only a matter of time before they start printing their own version of events."

Bella's stomach twisted in knots as the gravity of the situation sank in. She could already imagine the headlines, the whispers, the judgment. No one would care about the truth. They would only see the scandal, the power dynamics, the drama.

"What do you want me to do?" Bella asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damian's eyes darkened as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. "I'm offering you a solution. A way out of this mess. But it's going to require something from you."

Bella's heart raced, fear tightening her chest. "What kind of solution?"

He stood up and walked around the desk, coming to stand in front of her. His presence was overwhelming, and Bella had to force herself not to shrink under his gaze.

"I need you to enter into a contract marriage with me," Damian said, his voice as smooth and cold as steel.

Bella blinked, certain she hadn't heard him correctly. "A... what?"

"A marriage," Damian repeated, his tone matter-of-fact. "A business arrangement, if you will. It will silence the rumors, protect both of our reputations, and ensure that neither of us becomes collateral damage in this scandal."

Bella stared at him, her mind reeling. "You... you can't be serious."

"I'm very serious," Damian said, his gaze locked onto hers. "I have too much at stake to let this situation spiral out of control. And so do you, whether you realize it or not."

Bella stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "You can't just ask me to marry you. This isn't some game. This is my life."

"And I'm offering you a way to fix it," Damian said, his voice calm, his eyes hard. "Think about it, Bella. What's your alternative? Let Liam destroy your reputation, drag your name through the mud? Let him win? Because that's exactly what will happen if you walk out of here."

Bella's hands shook as she glared at him. "I don't even know you. How can you expect me to just... agree to something like this?"

"You don't have to know me," Damian said, his voice unyielding. "This isn't about love or romance. This is about survival. We both have something to lose, and we both have something to gain from this arrangement."

Bella felt like the room was closing in on her, the walls pressing in from all sides. This couldn't be happening. It was too insane, too surreal. But as much as she hated to admit it, Damian was right. Liam had already set the wheels in motion to destroy her, and the only way to stop it was to fight fire with fire.

But a marriage? Even if it was just a business deal, the thought of being tied to someone like Damian Blackwood, of being thrust into his world, terrified her.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I can't do it."

Damian's expression softened, just for a moment. "Yes, you can. And you will. Because if you don't, Liam will win. And I don't think you're the type to let that happen."

Bella looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. He was right. She wasn't the type to let Liam win. But could she really do this? Could she really enter into a contract marriage with a man she barely knew?

Her mind raced, searching for a way out, a better option. But there was none. She was trapped, and Damian knew it.

"I need time to think," she said, her voice small.

"You don't have time," Damian replied, his gaze steady. "The clock is ticking. The media is already circling. This is your chance to take control of the narrative before it spirals out of control."

Bella stared at him, her mind spinning. He was giving her no choice, and they both knew it.

"I'll do it," she whispered, the words tasting bitter on her tongue.

A ghost of a smile tugged at Damian's lips as he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Good. Then we'll get the paperwork sorted. And don't worry, Bella. I always take care of what's mine."

Bella's heart sank as the reality of what she had just agreed to hit her full force. There was no turning back now.

She was about to become Mrs. Damian Blackwood.