Two

Eleanor

I barely made it back to my desk before my legs gave out. My hands were trembling, and I couldn’t stop the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my head. Marry Alexander Carter? Had I stepped into some kind of alternate reality?

The office around me blurred into nothingness as I tried to replay the conversation in my mind. His calm, commanding voice, the way he didn’t hesitate when he said the words: Marry me. It wasn’t a question; it was a demand.

“Ellie, are you okay?” Jenna’s voice broke through the fog. I looked up to see her standing by my desk, concern etched across her face.

“I... I don’t even know,” I admitted. “Can we talk somewhere private?”

Jenna nodded quickly and gestured toward the break room. We hurried inside, and I closed the door behind us, leaning against it for support.

“What’s going on?” she asked, crossing her arms. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I hesitated, unsure if I should tell her. But Jenna was my best friend, and I needed to talk to someone before my brain exploded.

“You’re not going to believe this,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. “Alexander Carter... he asked me to marry him.”

Jenna’s jaw dropped. For a moment, she just stared at me, blinking. Then she burst out laughing.

“Wait, what? Alexander Carter? The Alexander Carter? Our boss?”

I nodded, feeling a fresh wave of disbelief wash over me as I said it out loud. “He wants me to marry him—for a year. It’s some kind of deal to fix his reputation.”

Jenna’s laughter faded as she realized I was serious. “You’re not joking.”

“No. He says he’ll pay off all my debts and give me... a lot of money when it’s over.”

Her eyes widened. “How much money?”

“Three million dollars,” I said, my voice almost cracking at the absurdity of it.

Jenna let out a low whistle. “Wow. That’s... a lot of money.”

“I know,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “And it’s not just about the money. He said he’d help with Lily and cover my mom’s medical expenses. You know how bad things have been. This could solve everything.”

“But?” Jenna prompted, sensing my hesitation.

“But it’s insane!” I said, pacing the small room. “Marrying someone I barely know, pretending to be his wife, living with him... It’s not normal, Jenna.”

“Ellie,” she said, grabbing my arm to stop my frantic movements. “When has your life ever been normal? You’ve been fighting to survive since your mom got sick. Maybe this isn’t as crazy as it sounds.”

I looked at her, my heart pounding. “You think I should do it?”

“I think you need to think about what’s best for you and Lily. If this can give you a way out, maybe it’s worth considering. Just... be careful. Alexander Carter doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being easy to deal with.”

That was an understatement.

Jenna squeezed my hand before heading back to her desk, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the eviction notice I had hidden from my mom. The bold red letters felt like a death sentence, a reminder of how little time we had left before everything fell apart.

Lily was asleep in the next room, and I could hear her soft, steady breathing. She was only fifteen, and she deserved so much more than the hand life had dealt us. My mom’s battle with cancer had drained every last cent we had, and my part-time jobs weren’t enough to cover the mounting bills.

Three million dollars.

The number echoed in my mind like a siren, impossible to ignore. It wasn’t just money—it was freedom. Freedom from debt, from worry, from the constant fear of losing everything.

But at what cost?

I thought about Alexander—his piercing gaze, his commanding presence. He was a man who got whatever he wanted, no matter the price. What would it be like to live with someone like that, to pretend to be his wife?

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away.

But by morning, the reality of my situation was impossible to ignore. I didn’t have the luxury of pride or hesitation. My family needed me, and this was my chance to save us.

When I walked into Alexander’s office the next day, my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. He was sitting at his desk, his eyes focused on the documents in front of him.

“Ms. Matthews,” he said without looking up. “I wasn’t sure if you’d show.”

“I’m here,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

He finally looked up, his gaze locking onto mine. “And your answer?”

I took a deep breath, my hands clenched at my sides. “I’ll do it.”

His lips curved into a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Good. I’ll have the contract drafted this afternoon. You’ll need to review it carefully before signing.”

“Wait,” I said, holding up a hand. “Before we go any further, I have conditions.”

His eyebrows shot up, and for a moment, he looked genuinely surprised. “You’re negotiating with me?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “If I’m going to do this, I need to know my family will be taken care of. You’ll cover all of Lily’s expenses—her education, her living costs—and you’ll hire someone to help care for my mom. Those are my terms.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying me with a curious expression. “You’re a bold woman, Ms. Matthews.”

“Do we have a deal or not?” I asked, crossing my arms.

After a long pause, he nodded. “We have a deal.”

Relief and dread washed over me in equal measure.

“Good,” I said, though my voice wavered. “Then I guess we’re doing this.”

“Welcome to the arrangement,” he said, extending his hand.

I stared at it for a moment before shaking it, the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders.

This wasn’t just a handshake. It was the beginning of a deal with the devil.