Chapter 3 The Arrangement

Zane didn't offer her a seat. He simply walked behind his desk, sat down, and opened the same folder that had kept him company the night before.

Lila remained standing.

She would not sit until he asked.

And she would not beg.

He looked up, and for a fraction of a second, something flickered in his gaze. Surprise? Admiration? Disappointment? It was gone too fast to name. "You're aware," he began, "that your father owed Carrington Enterprises two-point-six million dollars.

With interest and damages, that number has more than doubled."

"I'm aware," she said, her voice level. "And I've agreed to work for you to clear the debt." Zane leaned back, steepling his fingers beneath his chin.

"This isn't a normal job, Miss Davis. You won't be a glorified intern running coffee.

You'll be in close proximity to me, directly under my office, in a department I built for you-Debt Recovery." Lila blinked.

"You created a whole department just to remind me of what I owe?" "I created it," he said coldly,

"to make sure you understand the cost of betrayal. You'll be organizing files from old projects. Documents your father once signed. Names, numbers, investments.

I want it all digitized, detailed, and cleaned.

Every lie he ever buried-I want them unearthed."

The weight of his words hit her like a slap.

So this was his revenge.

Not to fire her.

Not to shame her publicly. But to make her live through the wreckage her family left behind-day by day, signature by signature. Still, she didn't flinch. "Fine." Zane tilted his head, studying her.

"No tears? No outrage? That's not very Davis of you." "I'm not my father."

"No. You're not," he murmured, almost to himself.

"You're something... else."

The silence stretched between them.

Then he opened a drawer and slid a sleek envelope across the desk. Inside was a formal contract. "Six months. Your salary covers basic living expenses.

Any bonus you earn will be used to pay down the debt. If you quit or break the agreement before the term ends, you forfeit everything."

She picked up the envelope. It trembled just slightly in her hand.

"And if I complete it?" He looked her straight in the eye.

"Then you're free."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the storm outside raged between them.

"Your office is on the 49th floor.

You start now."

Lila turned without another word and left the room, her heels clicking like war drums down the marble floor. Zane watched her go.

He had expected a lot of things.

Tears.

Weakness.

A woman crushed under the weight of her name.