Chapter 4

Adrian’s POV

A moment of silence stretched between us, tension thick in the air. Then, she let out a slow breath and nodded. “Fine. I'll marry you… but I’m doing this only for my daughter.”

A victorious smirk curled my lips. “Good. I knew you’d make the right decision.”

Her eyes darkened with suspicion. “What do you stand to gain from this? You’ve been fine without a wife all these years.”

I leaned back, watching her carefully. “I’m doing this for Blackwood Organization,” I said smoothly. “For the thousands of employees who rely on us. For my family’s legacy. For the future of the company. So, in a way, you and I are not so different.”

She let out a sharp scoff. “Don't flatter me, Sir. There’s a world of difference between us. For one, I wouldn’t marry someone unless I loved him.”

The second the words left her lips, realization dawned on her face. Her eyes widened slightly before she pressed her lips together, as if trying to take them back.

I chuckled. “Well, you just shot yourself in the foot, Sarah. Newsflash—you’re marrying me. Tomorrow evening.”

Her entire body tensed. “What?! That’s too soon!” She flailed her hands in frustration. “I need time to process this, to talk to Nora. She’s never seen me with a man before, and now, all of a sudden, I’m getting married?”

I tilted my head, feigning thoughtfulness. “How about your parents? You should tell them too. They’d probably be thrilled that their daughter is marrying America’s most handsome billionaire bachelor.”

Her entire demeanor shifted. The fire in her eyes dimmed, and her expression hardened.

“My parents are dead,” she said quietly.

I stiffened.

For the first time in a long time, I felt… guilty. “Sarah, I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, her tone neutral. “It happened a long time ago.”

Silence stretched between us, something unreadable flickering across her face before she masked it completely.

“Can I go back to work now, Sir?” she asked, avoiding my eyes.

I cleared my throat, refocusing on what needed to be done. “You won’t be working here anymore. I’ll send someone to replace you tomorrow. And you need to get used to calling me by my name, not ‘Sir.’”

She hesitated before muttering, “I’ll try.”

I smirked, stepping closer, watching as she instinctively took a small step back. “How about you start now? Practice makes perfect.”

Her gaze flickered to the floor. “Sarah,” I said, tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes.

She swallowed. “Y-Yes?”

“What’s my name?”

A pause. Then, in the smallest, breathiest voice—“Adrian.”

Something about the way she said it made something in my chest tighten. I ignored it.

I stepped back, reaching for my phone and shutting down my computer. “We need to leave. My driver is waiting.”

She frowned. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

*

The entire ride to our destination, Sarah kept pestering me with questions.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“You keep saying that—”

“We’re here,” I said, cutting her off as the car pulled up in front of a towering law firm.

She blinked. “A law firm?”

I stepped out without another word, striding toward the entrance.

“Wait for me!” she called, scrambling after me, but I didn’t slow down.

Inside, my lawyer and personal assistant were already waiting. The contract was ready, the terms set.

“Miss Nathaniel, please go through the terms well and make sure you understand what you're signing up for.” My lawyer said to her as he handed her the printed contract.

It entailed all she had to do as the wife of Adrian Blackwood and all she'd be getting out of it. There was also the time frame after which we could go our separate ways. 

Sarah hesitated, her pen hovering over the signature line. I leaned in, voice low. “Remember why you agreed in the first place.”

Her fingers tightened around the pen. A glare burned into the side of my face, but after a tense beat, she finally signed.

As soon as we stepped outside, she stomped to the car, slamming the door shut behind her.

Neville chuckled beside me. “You’ve got eyes.”

I smirked. “Wait until I give her a makeover.”

*

The jewelry store was as grand as they came—sleek glass cases filled with diamonds that could blind someone under the right lighting.

I selected a ring without hesitation, holding it up for her to see. “This one.”

Sarah’s eyes flicked to the price tag, and her lips parted in immediate protest. “No way. This is too expensive.”

I barely held back an eye roll. “You’re not paying for it, Sarah. Just pick something so we can get out of here.”

She crossed her arms, chin lifting in defiance. “It’s not about the money. I don’t want to feel like I’m being bought.”

My patience thinned. “Bought?” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You’re marrying me, not selling your soul.”

She didn’t back down. “I just want something simple.”

I exhaled sharply, turning to the salesperson. “Show her something… ‘simple.’”

She turned away, following the jeweler to another display case, and I felt frustration coil in my chest.

This was a transaction. A contract. So why was she making everything so difficult?

“Let me know when you find something you can live with,” I said, sharper than intended.

She turned slightly, throwing a glare over her shoulder. For a brief moment, her brown eyes locked onto mine, and something in my gut twisted—something unfamiliar.

I ignored it.

This was business.

Nothing more.