Chapter 6

The sound of the city buzzed around Isabella as she sat in her penthouse, staring out at the skyline. The lunch with Xander had left her more unsettled than ever. A marriage contract? It was absurd. And yet, the offer lingered in her mind like a tempting whisper, coaxing her to consider what could be gained—and what might be lost.

Isabella had always been methodical, precise in her plans. But Xander had thrown her off balance, introducing an element she hadn’t accounted for: him. There was something about his proposition that went beyond business. It was as though he saw her not just as a rival but as an equal, someone worthy of standing by his side in a world where few dared to challenge him.

She clenched her jaw, her mind racing as she weighed the possibilities. A marriage contract could give her access to Xander’s world, to his power, his resources. It would bring her closer to everything she needed to achieve her ultimate goal: revenge. But it could also make her vulnerable, expose her to emotions and risks she had long buried beneath her ambition.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. A message from Claire.

Claire: Drinks tonight? You look like you need a distraction.

Isabella sighed, hesitating for a moment before typing her response.

Isabella: I need to talk. Can we meet at 7?

By 7:15, Isabella was sitting in the dimly lit bar, a glass of wine in her hand, waiting for Claire. Her friend arrived a few minutes later, sliding into the booth across from her with a warm smile.

“Long day?” Claire asked, tossing her coat onto the seat beside her.

“You could say that,” Isabella replied, taking a sip of her wine. “I’ve got something... complicated to deal with.”

Claire raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Oh, now you’ve got me intrigued. Spill.”

Isabella hesitated, unsure of how to even begin. How could she explain the tangled web she had found herself caught in without revealing too much? Claire knew about her ambition, her drive to succeed, but she didn’t know the full extent of Isabella’s plan for revenge.

She took a deep breath, deciding to keep it vague. “Xander Blackwood proposed something. Something… unconventional.”

Claire’s eyes widened. “Xander Blackwood? The billionaire CEO you’ve been circling for weeks?”

Isabella nodded.

“What kind of proposition?” Claire leaned in, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “A business deal?”

“Sort of,” Isabella said, her voice tight. “He wants a marriage contract.”

Claire blinked, stunned into silence for a moment before letting out a disbelieving laugh. “A what? Are you serious?”

Isabella nodded again, her expression serious. “Dead serious.”

Claire shook her head, her laughter fading as she leaned back in her seat. “I knew he was powerful, but I didn’t think he was that crazy.”

“It’s not just about marriage,” Isabella said, her voice dropping. “It’s about power. Control. He thinks a marriage would give us both something we want. But I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to it.”

Claire frowned, her brow furrowed in concern. “Isabella, this sounds dangerous. You’ve been playing with fire getting close to him, but this? This could burn you.”

“I know,” Isabella admitted, her hands tightening around her wine glass. “But there’s a part of me that thinks… maybe I could turn it to my advantage. Maybe I could use him as much as he wants to use me.”

Claire shook her head again. “I don’t like it. Xander Blackwood is dangerous. He’s not the kind of man you can easily manipulate.”

“I’m not trying to manipulate him,” Isabella said, though she wasn’t entirely sure that was true. “I just… I need to know what he’s really after.”

Claire sighed, leaning forward and placing a hand on Isabella’s. “I get it, Bella. You’re ambitious, and you’re driven. But you need to be careful. If you get too close to Xander, you might find yourself in deeper than you ever intended.”

Isabella nodded, grateful for Claire’s concern, but her mind was already made up. She had to meet with Xander again, if only to understand his true intentions. This was no ordinary deal, and if she was going to survive in his world, she needed to know exactly what she was up against.

The next afternoon, Isabella found herself walking into one of Xander’s private offices, her heels clicking against the marble floors as she approached the conference room where they had agreed to meet. Her heart pounded in her chest, though she kept her face impassive, her posture composed.

Xander was already there, seated at the head of the table, his dark eyes watching her as she entered. He didn’t smile, didn’t offer any of the usual pleasantries. He simply gestured for her to sit.

“Thank you for coming,” he said once she had taken her seat across from him.

Isabella gave him a curt nod, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap. “Let’s not waste time. What exactly are you offering?”

Xander leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment before speaking. “I’m offering you a partnership, Isabella. A chance to join forces with me. Together, we could control more than just our respective empires.”

“By getting married,” Isabella said, her voice flat, though inside, she was trying to keep her pulse steady.

“Yes,” Xander replied, his gaze never wavering. “A marriage of convenience. It would strengthen both of our positions—both publicly and privately.”

Isabella raised an eyebrow. “And what would you get out of this? Besides the obvious.”

Xander’s eyes darkened, a hint of something more dangerous flickering behind them. “I get control. Over you. Over everything you bring to the table.”

The words sent a chill down Isabella’s spine, but she didn’t let it show. She had expected something like this. Xander was a man who thrived on control, who needed it like oxygen. And he was offering her a place in his world, but only on his terms.

“What’s in it for me?” she asked, her voice steady.

Xander leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Power. Wealth. Access to everything you’ve ever wanted. And protection.”

“Protection from what?”

Xander’s smile was cold. “From the people who are coming for you. You’ve made enemies, Isabella. Powerful ones. A marriage to me would keep them at bay.”

Isabella’s heart skipped a beat. She had known she was walking a dangerous path, but Xander’s words made it clear that the stakes were higher than she had realized.

“Why me?” she asked, her voice quieter now. “Why not someone else?”

Xander’s gaze softened, just for a moment, and in that brief flash, she saw something raw and real. “Because you’re the only one who can handle it. You’re the only one who’s strong enough.”

Isabella’s breath caught in her throat. This was more than a business deal. This was a challenge, a test of wills. And she knew that once she stepped into Xander’s world, there would be no turning back.

The question was: Was she willing to risk it all to find out how deep his world really went?