THE HEIR'S LAST BARGAIN

Ethan's Pov:

Ethan Blackwood sat at his polished oak desk, his fingers resting on the edge of the papers scattered before him. The tall glass windows of his office offered a panoramic view of the city below, but today, even the sprawling metropolis felt distant. He stared blankly at the documents in front of him, his mind racing with one thought: how to fix everything before it was too late.

His grandfather's ultimatum was clear and unyielding. If Ethan didn't marry within a month, he would lose everything-the family empire, the businesses he had carefully built over the years, and his place in the legacy his grandfather had crafted. It was as though all of Ethan's hard work, every sleepless night and every risky decision, had been leading up to this. And now, it was all hanging by a thread.

"Get married, or lose it all," his grandfather's cold voice echoed in his mind.

The thought of it made Ethan's stomach churn. A marriage, he scoffed. He had no desire for a wife, especially not one he didn't choose. But he had no choice. The family name, the businesses, the wealth-it was all intertwined with a single decision. And that decision, much to Ethan's distaste, was to find a bride in the next thirty days.

He pushed back from his desk, pacing the room as the weight of his responsibility pressed down on him. His eyes flickered across the room, landing on the photo frame on the shelf-an image of himself and Ivy Sinclair, once his closest friend. Her laughing eyes, her wild curls, the way she used to challenge him in every debate they had. It seemed like a lifetime ago, before the betrayal, before the fallout that had torn their lives apart.

Ivy.

She was the only woman who could possibly help him now. His former best friend turned bitter rival. He knew she despised him-how could she not? He had destroyed her family. His ruthless business decisions had left Ivy's father bankrupt and her family's once-thriving company in ruins. Ivy had tried to move on, to rebuild her life and her career. But Ethan had seen her rise, from a shattered girl to a powerful woman in the world of investment, and he couldn't help but respect her for it.

But that didn't change the fact that she hated him.

He reached for his phone with a heavy sigh. If she would even agree to talk to him, it would be a miracle. But he had no other choice. His empire depended on it.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before Ivy's voice finally came through, cool and clipped. "Ethan."

"Ivy," he replied, his voice steady despite the nerves gnawing at him. "I need your help."

There was a silence on the other end of the line. Ethan could practically hear her assessing the situation, the tension building. It had been years since they last spoke. Too much time had passed for forgiveness, and Ethan knew it.

"I'm listening," Ivy said finally, though her tone was far from warm.

"I need a favor," Ethan continued. "Actually, it's more than a favor. I need you to marry me."

The words hung in the air, heavy and absurd. He could already feel her anger building. He braced himself for the inevitable rejection.

"Marry you?" Ivy's voice was tight with disbelief. "Are you out of your mind, Ethan? After everything that happened, you think I would just agree to something like that?"

"Ivy," he cut in, his voice firm, "it's not what you think. I'm not asking for love. I'm asking for a business arrangement. A contract. You pretend to be my wife for one year. No emotions, no strings attached. In exchange, I'll fund your project-the one you've been working so hard to build."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Ethan could almost feel the shock radiating through the silence. He knew it was a lot to ask, but this was the only way.

"Fifty million dollars, Ivy," Ethan added quickly. "Fifty million for your dream project. You can finally take your vision to the next level."

Ivy was silent, and for a moment, Ethan feared she might hang up. But then, finally, her voice came through, quieter now, but no less sharp.

"You want me to marry you. For one year. And then what? You think I'll just walk away after that, with fifty million in my pocket, and forget everything that happened?"

"I don't expect you to forget," Ethan replied, his voice softer now. "I know what I did. I know how much I hurt you. But this is a chance for you to get everything you've dreamed of, and I... I don't have another option."

Another silence followed. Ethan could hear the weight of her thoughts on the other end of the line. He knew this wasn't easy for her. It wasn't easy for him either.

"Fine," Ivy finally said, her voice cold but resolute. "One year. And after that, we go our separate ways. No feelings. No complications."

Ethan felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. "Thank you. I'll have the paperwork ready."

"Don't think this means anything to me, Ethan," Ivy warned, her voice steady but laced with bitterness. "This is strictly business. Nothing more."

Ethan's lips twitched into a small smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Ivy's pov:

Ivy Sinclair sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. The screen still showed Ethan's name-his number flashing on the caller ID. She had already hung up on him once, but the call kept replaying in her mind, as if his voice had somehow woven itself into her thoughts.

"Marry me," he had said. "One year. No feelings, just business."

Her chest tightened. The memory of those words, cold and clinical, made her stomach turn. How could he even ask her that? After everything he had done? Ethan Blackwood, the man who had ruined her family's company, the man who had destroyed everything she knew, now expected her to marry him. To be his wife. For money. For a project she had worked so hard to build.

She wasn't sure what was worse-the audacity of his proposal or the fact that, for a split second, the idea of it didn't seem entirely impossible.

Ivy shook her head, trying to clear the thought. She had every right to hate him. She had every reason to never want to speak to him again, much less marry him. The way he had taken her father's company, the way he had watched it crumble under his decisions, was unforgivable. And yet... here she was, still thinking about it.

The money. The fifty million dollars.

She had spent years building her own investment firm from the ground up, clawing her way through a world that had once been dominated by men like Ethan Blackwood. She had worked harder than anyone to prove she was worthy of her place in the industry. But the project she had been dreaming of-the one that could change everything-was slipping away. She needed capital, more than she had ever needed anything before.

Fifty million dollars was the kind of money that could turn her vision into reality. It could give her the resources to create something that would last, something that could finally put her on the map as more than just the daughter of a fallen businessman. It could give her the power to stand on her own two feet, independent from the shadow of her father's failure.

But was it worth it? Was it worth the cost of marrying Ethan?

Her hands clenched into fists as she thought of him. The way he had walked into their lives years ago, charming and confident, only to tear everything apart. He had made decisions that hurt her family in ways that could never be undone. She could still remember the day her father's company had gone bankrupt-the day her entire world had come crashing down. Ethan had been at the center of it all, a cold businessman with no care for the lives he was affecting.

And now, here he was, asking her to become his wife for a year in exchange for money. Fifty million dollars. She could almost hear her father's voice in her head, telling her to never accept a deal that came with such a heavy price.

But then again, her father wasn't around anymore. She was alone, and the world didn't care about her grudges. It cared about results, about power, about what you could build with the resources you had. And right now, the only thing that could give her what she needed was that fifty million.

Ivy paced the room, running a hand through her hair. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. On one hand, marrying Ethan would be a betrayal of everything she had worked so hard to overcome. It would mean putting her pride aside and admitting that, perhaps, she still needed him in some way. But on the other hand, it would give her the opportunity to create something bigger than herself, to put her father's failure behind her once and for all.

She stopped in front of the window, looking out at the city below. The lights of the city shimmered in the distance, a reminder of everything she had yet to achieve. She could almost taste the success that was within her grasp-if only she could find a way to make it happen. Fifty million dollars. That kind of money could make all the difference.

"Why does it have to be him?" Ivy whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

She had built her life without him. She had fought to get where she was without his help. And yet, here she was, considering the very offer that would tie her to him, even if only for a year.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Ethan, no doubt. She didn't want to read it. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction. But her fingers moved of their own accord, unlocking the phone. The message was short, to the point.

"Ivy, think about it. This is your chance."

She stared at the screen, the words echoing in her mind. "Think about it." Was this her chance? Or was it just another trap, another way for Ethan to win?

Her heart ached as she thought of everything she had lost. Everything her family had lost. Was it worth it to accept this deal? Was the money enough to bury her hatred for him?

Ivy closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath. She knew what she had to do. She couldn't let pride and anger hold her back. She couldn't let her hatred for Ethan control her future.

With a final, deep breath, she set her phone down. There was still time to make a decision. But one thing was clear: the choice wouldn't be easy.

Ethan's POV:

Ethan Blackwood stared at the empty screen of his phone. His thumb hovered over the keyboard as he tried to find the right words, the ones that would make Ivy reconsider. The message he had sent earlier, the one where he had asked her to marry him, had gone unanswered. The silence that followed had been deafening.

"Ivy," he muttered under his breath, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him. She was the only one who could help him, the only one who could save everything he had built. And yet, she refused.

Why did she have to make this so difficult? It had been his idea, his plan, to offer her the deal-one year, no strings, in exchange for fifty million dollars. The kind of money that could fund her dream project. The kind of money that would change everything for her. And still, she had hung up on him.

He clenched his jaw, staring at his phone. He should've expected it. After all, he had caused the destruction of her family's company years ago. He had taken everything from her-her father's business, her future, her security-and left nothing behind but bitter memories. How could he expect her to forgive him, let alone agree to marry him for money?

But that didn't make the rejection hurt any less. The truth was, he couldn't stop thinking about her. It was as if, no matter how hard he tried to focus on his work, his mind always wandered back to Ivy. Her face, her sharp tongue, the way she used to challenge him at every turn. The way she had been there for him when no one else had, before everything fell apart.

The deal was simple. A one-year arrangement. No emotions, no complications. They both got what they wanted, and then they would walk away from each other. Ethan would keep his empire, and Ivy would have the funding she needed to make her project a success. It was the perfect solution, and yet, she wouldn't even consider it.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. Why was he even doing this? Why did he care so much about what Ivy thought?

The answer was simple: because she was the one woman who could make all of this go away. His grandfather's ultimatum loomed over him like a storm cloud. Marry or lose everything. The stakes were high. He needed to make this work, and Ivy was his only option.

He had tried to push her out of his mind, to focus on other solutions, but every time he tried, her face was there, waiting for him. He couldn't shake the way she had looked at him during their brief moments together. Even when she hated him, even when she blamed him for her family's downfall, there had been something in her eyes-a spark of something that still connected them.

He sighed deeply and set the phone down on the desk. He was running out of time. He couldn't afford to lose any more days. He needed to convince her. But how?

His thoughts wandered back to their last conversation. She had been so cold, so distant. But there had been something in her voice when she said "fine," as if she was fighting with herself, torn between her pride and her need for the money. He had heard it, and he had to admit, there was a chance-no matter how small-that she would come around.

Ethan's mind raced as he thought about how he could approach her again. Maybe this time, he could offer more. Maybe he could convince her that this wasn't just about money. That it was about both of them getting something they desperately needed. He didn't expect forgiveness, but he needed her help. And for the first time in a long time, Ethan wasn't sure he was ready to let pride get in the way.

He picked up his phone again, typing out a simple message, though this time, his fingers hesitated. Should he play it cool? Should he beg for her to reconsider? His thumb hovered over the screen for what felt like hours. He couldn't let this slip through his fingers.

"Ivy," he typed, the words coming more slowly than usual. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but please, think about it. You're the only one who can help me. If you can't do it for me, do it for yourself. You can't let the opportunity slip by."

He stared at the text, reading it over and over. Was it enough? Was it convincing? It wasn't like he had many options left.

He hit send.

The seconds felt like minutes, the minutes like hours. There was no response. Not yet. Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen, willing it to light up.

He had made the offer. He had extended his hand. Now it was up to her.

For a moment, he allowed himself to dream about what could happen if Ivy agreed. The two of them, under one roof, playing their roles. She could have the funding for her project, and he could keep his empire. The world would think they were just another couple of business partners, but in reality, they would be nothing more than two people bound by a contract.

The idea of being with her again-of seeing her every day, of living together under the same roof-felt both exciting and terrifying. There was so much history between them, so many emotions that had never truly been addressed. But for now, all that mattered was getting her to agree.

Ethan leaned forward, his eyes still glued to the phone, waiting.