Chapter 3 THE PROPOSAL

"What!" Sophia yelled, her voice a mix of confusion and surprise. "You expect me to do this for the company?"

Julian's expression remained stoic. "I've been accused of being gay, and the only way to silence the rumors is for me to have a wife. I need you to agree to a contract marriage, Sophia."

Sophia's eyes widened, her mind reeling. She had come to work feeling hopeful, only to be met with this shocking proposal.

Julian's words hung in the air, leaving her stunned and unsure of how to respond.

Sophia's eyes locked onto Julian's, searching for any sign of jest or insincerity. But Julian's expression remained unwavering, his gaze steady.

"A contract marriage?" Sophia repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You want me to marry you, on paper, just to silence rumors?"

The weight of Julian's request settled heavily on Sophia's shoulders.

She thought about her own reputation, her career, and the potential consequences of agreeing to such a proposal.

A part of her was tempted by the idea, but another part was screaming caution.

Sophia hesitated, her mind racing with questions and doubts.

What would this mean for her future? Would she be able to extricate herself from this arrangement when the time came?

"I need answers, Julian," Sophia said, her voice firm. "What exactly would this contract entail? What are the terms, and what are the expectations?"

Sophia's eyes widened as Julian outlined the terms of the contract.

"A year, tax-free, and a substantial sum of money," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "Five million dollars, as we discussed."

"The contract will include a strict no-physical-touch clause," Julian continued, his eyes narrowing.

"We will maintain a professional relationship, and I expect you to uphold your end of the bargain."

Sophia's mind was racing with calculations. Five million dollars could change her life, pay off her debts, and secure her future.

But at what cost? She thought about the potential risks and benefits, weighing her options carefully.

"I need time to think," Sophia said finally, her voice measured. "This is a lot to take in, and I don't want to rush into anything."

Julian's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with impatience.

"You have 24 hours to make a decision, Sophia. If you don't agree to the contract, I'll make sure everyone knows you're just a convenient scapegoat. Your reputation will be ruined, and you'll never work in this industry again."

Sophia felt a chill run down her spine as Julian's words hung in the air. She knew she was being given an ultimatum: agree to the contract or face the consequences. What would she do?

Sophia's eyes locked onto Julian's, a spark of determination igniting within her. She knew she had to make a decision, but she wasn't going to let Julian's ruthlessness dictate her every move.

"I'll need to review the contract," Sophia said, her voice firm. "I want to make sure I understand all the terms and conditions."

Julian's expression didn't change, but a hint of approval flickered in his eyes. "Very well," he said, his voice still commanding.

"I'll have my lawyer draw up the contract. You can review it and make your decision within the 24-hour timeframe."

The contract arrived at Sophia's doorstep within hours, accompanied by a brief note from Julian.

Sophia spent the rest of the day poring over the document, her mind racing with questions and concerns.

***** ***** ****** ****** ****** *******

DAVIS ENTERPRISES

Mike sat in his office, surrounded by screens displaying financial data and market analysis.

Jones North, his trusted advisor, stood opposite him, awaiting instructions.

"Jones, I want you to dig deeper into Blackwood Enterprises' financials," Mike said, his eyes narrowing. "Find me any weaknesses, any vulnerabilities we can exploit."

"Already on it, Mike," Jones replied, nodding. "But I've found something interesting. Julian's been making some unusual transactions, transferring large sums of money to offshore accounts."

Mike's interest was piqued. "Tell me more," he said, leaning forward.

"It looks like Julian's trying to cover his tracks," Jones explained. "But I think I can uncover more if I dig deeper."

"Do it," Mike said, his voice firm. "I want to know what Julian's hiding."

Just then, Jones' phone buzzed. He answered, listened for a moment, and then hung up. "Mike, we've got something. Our source inside Blackwood Enterprises just came through with some intel."

"What is it?" Mike asked, his curiosity piqued.

"According to our source, Julian's planning a major announcement soon. Something big that could change the game," Jones said, his eyes locked on Mike's.

Mike's eyes widened slightly as he processed the information. "A major announcement, you say? That's intriguing. We need to find out what it is."

Jones nodded in agreement. "I'll get our source to dig deeper. See if we can get more specifics on what Julian's planning."

Mike leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "Keep me posted on any developments. I want to be prepared for whatever Julian's going to throw our way."

"Will do, Mike," Jones said, turning to leave. "I'll keep you updated."

As Jones left the office, Mike's mind began to spin with possibilities. What could Julian be planning? And how could he use this information to his advantage?