Chapter one

Emily took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart as she stood outside the wedding chapel. She had imagined this moment a million times, but never quite like this. She was about to marry a man she barely knew, a man who was over double her age and a billionaire businessman named Alexander Pierce.

The door to the chapel opened, and a woman in a white gown emerged, followed by a man who was clearly her groom. Emily stepped forward, taking her place at the back of the line. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she was determined to make the most of this opportunity.

As the ceremony began, Emily's mind raced with thoughts of what her life would be like as the wife of a billionaire. She had heard stories of lavish parties, fancy cars, and designer clothes, but it all seemed like a dream to her.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted as the priest asked her to step forward to exchange vows with her new husband. Emily looked up into Alexander's eyes and felt a jolt of nerves. He was a handsome man, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, but he was also cold and distant, with an intensity that made her uneasy.

As the vows were exchanged and the rings were placed on their fingers, Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This was not the fairy-tale wedding of her dreams, but rather a business transaction between two strangers.

After the ceremony, Emily followed Alexander out of the chapel and into a waiting car. There was no fanfare, no cheering crowds, just the two of them in a silent vehicle, heading towards their new life together.

As they drove through the streets of New York City, Emily tried to make small talk with her new husband, but he was unresponsive, lost in thought. She could feel the tension between them, and it made her uneasy.

When they arrived at their new home, a luxurious penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park, Emily was awestruck. This was a place she could only dream of, with high ceilings, marble floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city.

Alexander led her to a sitting room and poured her a glass of champagne. "I know this must be overwhelming for you," he said, his tone softening slightly. "But I promise to make this as painless

as possible. We will both benefit from this arrangement if we keep our expectations clear and our emotions in check."

Emily took a sip of the champagne and tried to push the doubts out of her mind. This was the life she had dreamed of, and she was determined to make it work. "I understand," she said, forcing a smile. "I will do everything I can to be a good wife to you."

Alexander nodded, his eyes sweeping over her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. "Good," he said, placing his glass down on the table. "Now, let's get down to business. I have a board meeting in the morning and need your assistance in preparing the presentation."

Emily nodded, relieved to have something to do. She followed him into a large office, where he handed her a stack of papers and began dictating the key points of the presentation. Emily scribbled notes down as fast as she could, trying to keep up with his rapid-fire instructions.

As they worked, Emily began to notice small details about Alexander that she hadn't noticed before. He had a scar above his left eyebrow, and a gold watch that sparkled in the light. He was meticulous in everything he did, rearranging the papers on the desk until they were perfectly aligned.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, noticing Emily's gaze.

"No, no, I was just admiring the watch," Emily said quickly, feeling embarrassed.

Alexander smiled, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. "I'm glad you like it. It was a gift from an old business partner who is no longer with us."

Emily felt a twinge of sadness at the mention of loss. She knew all too well how painful it was to lose someone you loved. "I'm sorry for your loss," she said softly.

Alexander shrugged. "It's business. People come and go all the time. It's rare to find someone you can trust in this world."

Emily felt a pang of loneliness at his words. She had always believed in the goodness of people, despite her recent setbacks. But as she looked into Alexander's cold, blue eyes, she began to wonder if there was any goodness left in the world.

The remainder of the night passed in a blur as they worked on the presentation until the early hours of the morning. Emily's head was spinning with exhaustion, and she could barely keep her eyes open as Alexander led her to the bedroom.

"Goodnight, Emily," he said, his tone polite but distant.

"Goodnight," she replied, feeling disappointed by the lack of warmth in his voice.

As she settled into the soft, comfortable bed, Emily felt a pang of regret. This was not the life she had imagined for herself, but it was a life she was now bound to. She closed her eyes, hoping to find solace in sleep, and drifted off into a fitful slumber.

The next morning, Emily awoke to a bustling city outside her window. She could hear the honking of horns and the murmur of voices in the distance. She stretched, feeling the silk sheets slip against her skin, and got up to take a shower.

As she washed herself, Emily couldn't help but think about her new life as Alexander's wife. It was going to be a challenge, but she was determined to make it work. She would be the best assistant he ever had, the perfect wife on every level.. Emily dressed in a sleek black pantsuit and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. Alexander was already seated at the table, poring over some papers.

"Good morning, Emily," he said without looking up.

"Good morning, Alexander," Emily replied, feeling a pang of disappointment at his lack of attention.

They ate in silence, except for the occasional clink of silverware against porcelain. Emily tried to think of something to say, but her mind was blank. She was still getting used to their arrangement, and didn't know how to bridge the gap between them.

Suddenly, Alexander pushed back his chair and stood up. "I have to leave for the board meeting. Make sure all the paperwork is in order before I get back."

Emily nodded, feeling a sense of relief at the thought of having something to focus on. She spent the next few hours checking and rechecking the documents, making sure everything was in order. When Alexander returned, she presented him with the file, feeling proud of her work.

Alexander took the file without a word, and Emily watched as he flipped through the pages. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he slammed the file shut.

"What is this?" he demanded, his tone sharp.

"I'm not sure what you mean," Emily said, feeling a sense of panic rising within her.

"This financial projection is off by 100,000 dollars," Alexander said, pointing to a page in the file. "This could cost the company millions."

Emily felt her heart drop. She had been so focused on getting everything in order that she had missed a crucial mistake. "I'm sorry, I must have missed that," she said, feeling tears prick at the corner of her eyes.

Alexander looked at her coldly. "Sorry doesn't cut it, Emily. This is unacceptable. I need someone I can trust to handle these things."

Emily felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. She had failed in her first task as Alexander's assistant, and knew she had let both him and herself down. She left the room, feeling defeated.

As she lay in bed that night, Emily couldn't help but wonder if she was cut out for this life. She had always been a hard worker, but she had never been under this much pressure before. She feared that she was in over her head, and that she would never be able to meet Alexander's expectations.

The next few weeks passed in a blur, with Emily working tirelessly to make up for her mistake. She stayed up late into the night, pouring over financial documents and reports. She spent her days running errands for Alexander, making sure everything was in order for his meetings and appointments.

Despite her efforts, Emily could feel Alexander's disappointment in her. He was less chatty at the dinner table, and seldom made eye contact. She felt herself growing more and more isolated, and began to question whether this life was worth all the sacrifice.

One day, a few months into their arrangement, Emily's phone rang. It was her mother, calling to check in on her.

"How are things going with Alexander?" her mother asked.

Emily sighed. "It's hard, Mom. I don't think I'm cut out for this life. I feel like I'm drowning in paperwork and expectations."

Her mother was quiet for a moment, before speaking softly. "Emily, I know it's hard. But sometimes, the things that are worth it are the hardest to attain. You

have to keep pushing through and remember why you started in the first place."

Emily felt a sense of comfort in her mother's words, and hung up the phone feeling more determined than ever to make this arrangement work. She returned to her work with renewed vigor, and began to notice subtle changes in Alexander's behavior towards her.

He started to compliment her more, praising her work ethic and attention to detail. He even went as far as to invite her to join him for lunch one day, something he had never done before. Emily felt a sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, things were looking up.

But that hope was short-lived. One night, as Emily was working late, she heard Alexander on the phone. She wasn't intentionally eavesdropping, but his voice was so loud and agitated that she couldn't help but overhear.

"Damn it, I told you to make sure the deal went through," he snarled into the phone.

Emily felt a sense of unease, and quietly closed her laptop, inching closer to the wall separating her from Alexander's office.

"I don't care what it takes, just get it done. And if you can't, find someone who can," he said, his voice dripping with venom.

Emily felt a pang of fear in her chest. This was not the man she had married, the man who had promised to make things "painless." This was a ruthless businessman, willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

As she lay in bed that night, Emily couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake. She had entered into this arrangement with the hopes of paying off her debts and supporting her family, but at what cost? Was the money worth the toll it was taking on her mental health and well-being?