Chapter 4 A Deal is Struck

Madison POV

I still couldn't believe that I had just sat down and agreed to these madness. I heard Ethan Blackwell's voice in my ears, smooth and businesslike, even as my insides threatened to climb up my throat. Even my hand felt numb after the shaking of hands which in fact had determined my fate, or as I would prefer – my doom.

Ethan was bent elegantly more or less against the edge of a chair and seemed perfectly at ease. "Now that we're officially engaged -"

"Fake engaged," I snapped, folding my arms over my breasts.

His smirk was infuriating. "Right. Because we're fake engaged now, we have to set some basic fake rules that we're going to follow."

"Rules?" I laughed, but there is no way I would be shocked by this. "Let me guess. I have to smile on command and wear what you tell me to and not speak until I am spoken to."

Ethan grinned in response but it wasn't a friendly gesture. "Close, but not quite. No, darling, I don't discover it new because I've been in such circumstances before, Madison. Regulations are what help to prevent a deal of this sort from falling through."

I started to protest but I was interrupted by my voice deciding not to argue on. He wasn't wrong. Inasmuch as I hated it – it was time to get some rules put into place; anything to stop this time from descending into complete catastrophe.

"Fine," I said grudgingly. "Which are these all-important rules?"

---

Out of the chair he sprang and the calm deliberation of his features was replaced by the nervous energy of movement. "First, public appearances. We will have to be observed together often; dinner dates; other functions as well as possibly a weekend break together."

"A weekend break?" I repeated, horrified.

"Relax," he said moving his arms away from his chest in the gesture meaning 'not important'. "It's for appearances. Nothing more."

I swiftly restrained myself from saying something I'd regret it for having said. "It didn't matter how often we are talking."

"As often as necessary to make it convincing," he said. "The more photos, the better. Which brings me to rule number two: the timeline. It's the Christmas season so I shall like this arrangement to last for three months, no more, no less."

Three months. It was few weeks to Christmas which was like less that ninety days to go. It looked like a lifetime though the words were actually reasonable sounding.

"And then we just...? BREAK up?" I asked.

He rose from pacing and directly faced me. "Publicly, yes. That will be a very realistic sham breakup we are going to produce. By then, you will see that I am aware of what I've done, there will even leave no room for any story to be written about you. "

I folded my arms together and tried my best to digest what he was saying. "What else?"

Ethan frowned and his eyes became cold. "You'll need to toughen up, Madison. My world isn't kind. People will dig into your life, question everything about you, and try to rip you apart. You need to be ready for that.

I wanted to laugh at the contradiction. "Even worse than this and I thought that I had escaped it."

Ethan looked at those puffy lips without flinching, but his eyes, though, gave a brief hint of what might be pity. "This will be different."

---

My mind raced. I had fought my way through the ruthless world of journalism and bore with rejection and ridicule and this was a whole new war.

Still, I couldn't back out now. Not when the opportunity to learn the whole truth about Ethan and Blackwell empire was standing right in front of me, almost within the reach of my hands.

"Anything else?" I asked, my tone more sharper than I planned on being.

"Yes," Ethan said his eyes grew cold again. "That is none of your business or any other person's business when it comes to my life. This is a business relationship between us so don't make attempt to pry."

"Trust me," I said, as brightly as I could. "The last thing I want is to get in your personal life."

"Good," said the man, backing off. "Then we're done here."

---

The drive to my home became more quiet, I could have a little time to think about the whole deal and engagement.

"Madison," he said, just as I was about to exit the his car.

I turned pulling my cardigan around me nervously. "What?"

He wasn't sure how to answer and for a moment his face was unusually grave. "This particular deal... the going is going to be tough. If you are not careful, it will kill you."

I laughed and it came out forced and unnatural even to the very ear of my own mind. "I've been through worse."

His eyes met mine for a moment as though he was looking for something and then he looked away. Then he nodded. "Good night."

The door shut with a sound of what I could only describe as whisper and I turned to face the agreeable darkness.

---

As soon as I went out it was really chilly as if I had been slapped in the face. I was walking, and the sound of my heels couldn't be heard anymore, it was just a meaningless clatter, absorbed by the city lights.

It was not easy to put my ideas into a coherent think. I stood there for a minute, my mind reeling and wondering to myself What the hell had I just done? Except this isn't a movie, and pretending to be engaged to Ethan Blackwell feels as if agreeing to wade into quicksand-risky, perilous, and unstoppable.

But the redemption factor was way too appealing and that is why people could not look the other way. This story could help me to get a new job, shut my critics up, and show that I wasn't a failure to myself and other people.

However, the consequences of undertaking a risky treatment were very high. The media attention, even the constant presence beside Ethan, and the aftermath of this farce once the engagement finally came to an end.

----

By the time I got to my apartment, I felt like I'd gotten ten years older. I took off my heels and fell onto the couch letting out a big tired sigh.

I grabbed my notebook from the coffee table and opened it to a blank page. Writing always helped me think, and I needed to figure out this mess.

Pros:

- Access to the Blackwell empire

- Chance to bring back my career

- Chance to show the truth

Cons:

- People watching me

- Ethan might try to control me

- What could happen if people find out about the engagement

The list looked back at me, with more cons than pros. But the truth, oh man -was worth it.

My phone made a noise on the coffee table stopping my thoughts. I picked it up, and my stomach dropped when I read the message.

"First time in public tomorrow night. I'll send a car at 7 PM. Don't be late."

Of course, it was Ethan.

I threw the phone away and leaned back on the couch shutting my eyes. This was real. The deal was done, and I couldn't go back.

That night, as I lay in bed looking at the ceiling, I started to have doubts.

For the first time in years, I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to handle what was coming. And that thought terrified me more than anything Ethan Blackwell ever could.