Chapter 3 THE DEVIL'S GAME

Damien Cross's office was a fortress of glass and steel, a reflection of the man who ruled it. His reputation was legendary: a self-made billionaire who had built an empire from nothing. But beneath the polished exterior lay a man far darker than anyone could imagine. He's a man who thrived on control, calculated ruthlessness, and the relentless pursuit of power.

The marriage contract was just another tool in Damien's arsenal. His board of directors had been growing restless, their trust shaken by recent scandals and the looming acquisition of TitanTech, a technology firm critical to expanding his empire. They wanted stability, a more humanized image of their aloof and cutthroat CEO. A wife, even a fake one, was the solution.

Damien sat at his desk, the soft glow of his computer screencasting shadows on his face. Before him was Ava Hart's profile, or rather, the one he had fabricated. The transformation was already in motion. She was no longer the struggling accountant from a lower-class neighborhood; she was now the wealthy daughter of a fictional oil tycoon from Europe. Her background was meticulously crafted from private schools and elite connections to a carefully curated image that would make her a perfect match for Damien Cross.

Connor Hale, his COO (chief operating officer) and one of the few people Damien trusted, entered the room without knocking. He carried a file thick with documents.

"She has signed it already," Connor said, placing the file on Damien's desk. "The makeover team is on standby. Everything is proceeding as planned."

Damien nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. Make sure the transition is seamless. She's leaving her old life behind completely. Give her the brand-new look."

Connor hesitated, his brow furrowing. "Damien, are you sure about this? She has no idea what she's walking into."

"She doesn't need to know," Damien replied coldly. "She signed the contract. She belongs to this arrangement now."

Connor didn't look convinced. "This feels... extreme. Forcing her to cut ties with her family, erasing her past, and becoming a new person, it's not just controlling, Damien. It's cruel."

Damien's gaze snapped at Connor, his voice cold. "Cruelty is irrelevant. Results are all that matter. Ava Hart is a means to an end, nothing more."

Connor didn't argue further. He had worked for Damien long enough to know that the man was immovable once his mind was set.

***

| Ava |

Ava sat stiffly in the backseat of a sleek black car, the weight of her decision sinking in. The night before, Damien had handed her a binder filled with details about her new "life." It wasn't just a marriage contract; it was an entire persona she was expected to embody.

"You'll need to relocate immediately," Damien had said, his tone devoid of empathy. "Your family will be informed that you're taking a high-level job overseas. From this moment on, your old life is irrelevant."

Ava had protested, of course. "I can't just abandon my family! My father needs me.."

"Your father needs you to pay off his debt," Damien had interrupted with a sharp voice. "And this is how you do it. Or would you prefer to explain to him why you backed out?"

Her silence was enough to answer his question.

Now, as the car wound its way toward an exclusive estate on the outskirts of the city, Ava clutched the binder in her lap, her mind racing. The profile Damien had created for her was exhaustive, down to the tiniest detail. She was no longer Ava Hart, accountant and devoted daughter. She was now Ivanna Loretto, the jet-setting heiress to a European oil fortune.

Her heart ached at the thought of leaving her parents without an explanation, but she had no choice. If she wanted to protect them, she had to play along.

When the car finally pulled up to the estate, Ava's jaw dropped. The sprawling mansion before her looked like something out of a movie; it was filled with marble columns and manicured gardens. A team of stylists, led by a severe-looking woman named Claudia, was already waiting for her.

"You must be Ava," Claudia said, her tone brisk. "We don't have much time, so let's get started."

Ava was ushered inside, where she was immediately bombarded with questions about her wardrobe preferences, skincare routines, and hair care habits. It was overwhelming, and before she knew it, she was swept into a whirlwind of fittings, treatments, and rehearsals.

By the time they were done with her, Ava barely recognized herself. Her hair had been dyed a rich chestnut brown and styled into sleek waves. Her makeup was flawless, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and full lips. The simple blouse and jeans she had arrived in were replaced by a tailored designer dress and sky-high heels.

"You look perfect. So pretty!" Claudia declared, stepping back to admire her work. "Exactly the kind of woman Damien Cross would marry."

Ava stared at her reflection in the mirror, her chest tightening. She looked stunning, but the woman staring back at her felt like a stranger.

"Is this really necessary?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Claudia arched a brow. "If you want to survive in Damien's world, it is."

****

| Damien |

Damien watched Ava from across the room, his sharp gaze taking in every detail. She had transformed beautifully, but her posture was tense, her eyes darting nervously around the opulent living room.

"She cleans up well," he remarked to Connor, who stood beside him.

"She's not a project, Damien," Connor replied quietly. "She's a person."

"Spare me the lecture," Damien said, his tone dismissive. "She agreed to this."

Connor shook his head but said nothing more.

Damien crossed the room, his presence commanding as he approached Ava. She turned to face him, her expression a mix of uncertainty and defiance.

"You look like what I have pictured in my head," he said, his voice low. "Now it's time to act the part."

"And what exactly does that entail?" Ava asked, crossing her arms.

"You'll accompany me to public events, smile for the cameras, and say exactly what I tell you to say," Damien replied coolly. "You're my wife in every way that matters to the world."

Ava's jaw tightened. "And what about what matters to me?"

Damien's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "You signed the contract, Ava. Your priorities are irrelevant."

She glared at him, but he didn't flinch. "Welcome to my world," he said, turning on his heel and walking away.

As Ava watched him leave, a sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She had known Damien was cold and ruthless ever since their first encounter, but she hadn't realized just how deep his darkness ran.

And now she was bound to him for better or worse.