Chapter 2

The day I met Julian Blackwood was the day I realized that my life, already slipping out of my hands, would now be entirely devoid of any control. I had braced myself for hostility, for cold indifference, but nothing could have prepared me for the storm of disdain and arrogance that was Julian Blackwood.

The car ride to his penthouse was silent except for the low hum of the engine. My father sat beside me, his face impassive, as though this wasn’t the moment he was handing me over to a man I barely knew. My hands rested on my lap, clasped tightly together to stop them from trembling. The city blurred past the window, tall buildings and bustling streets cloaked in the golden hue of the setting sun. It was beautiful, in a way. Mockingly beautiful, as if the world was celebrating my misery.

The car pulled up to the towering skyscraper that housed Julian’s residence, and my stomach twisted into knots. The driver opened the door for me, and my father stepped out first, his movements brisk and purposeful. I followed, my legs feeling like lead as I stared up at the gleaming structure before me. This was it. This was the moment my life changed forever.

We were escorted by a doorman into the elevator, which whisked us up to the penthouse floor. The silence was deafening, the tension thick enough to choke on. My father didn’t bother to offer me any words of encouragement, he never did. He had made his demands, and now it was up to me to fulfill them.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a spacious, modern living room bathed in warm, golden light from the setting sun. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, but I couldn’t bring myself to admire it. My attention was immediately drawn to the man standing near the bar, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

Julian Blackwood.

He turned to face us as we entered, and I felt the air leave my lungs. He was devastatingly handsome, with sharp, chiseled features and piercing green eyes that seemed to see straight through me. His dark hair was perfectly tousled, as if he’d just run his hands through it, and he wore a tailored suit that fit him like a second skin. But his beauty was marred by the cold, calculating expression on his face, and the way his lips curled into a smirk as he looked at me.

“So,” he drawled, his voice deep and smooth, yet laced with disdain. “This is the sacrificial lamb.”

My cheeks burned at his words, but I forced myself to stand tall, to meet his gaze without flinching. “Elena,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “My name is Elena.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Elena,” he repeated, as though tasting the word and finding it lacking. “Well, Elena, welcome to your new gilded cage.”

“Julian,” my father said sharply, his tone a warning.

Julian’s smirk widened as he turned his attention to my father. “Relax, Mr. Carter. I’m only stating the truth. She deserves to know what she’s getting into, doesn’t she?”

I felt a lump form in my throat, but I swallowed it down. “I know exactly what I’m getting into,” I said, surprising even myself with the firmness in my voice. “I’m not naive.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something, curiosity, perhaps? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual arrogance. He took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Good,” he said finally, setting the glass down on the bar with a soft clink. “Because I have no intention of pretending this is anything more than what it is, a business arrangement. Don’t expect love, or even friendship, from me. You’re here because our parents decided it was mutually beneficial. That’s all.”

His words were like a slap to the face, but I refused to let him see how much they hurt. I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms to keep myself grounded. “I never expected anything from you,” I said evenly. “But I would appreciate a little respect."

He laughed then, a low, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine. “Respect? Sweetheart, respect is earned, not given. And as far as I’m concerned, you haven’t done anything to earn mine.”

“Julian,” my father said again, his voice colder this time. “That’s enough.”

Julian shrugged, clearly unfazed by my father’s reprimand. “She wanted honesty,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “I’m just giving it to her.”

I wanted to scream, to tell him that I didn’t want his honesty. That I didn’t want any part of this twisted arrangement. But I knew it would be pointless. Julian Blackwood was a man who thrived on power and control, and he wasn’t about to give any of that up for me.

Instead, I took a deep breath and forced myself to speak calmly. “I may not have chosen this, but neither did you. So maybe we can try to make the best of it, instead of tearing each other down.”

He tilted his head, regarding me with an amused expression. “Make the best of it?” he repeated, as though the idea was laughable. “How very optimistic of you, Elena. But let me make one thing clear. I don’t do compromises. You can play the dutiful wife all you want, but don’t expect me to play the doting husband. I have my life, and you have yours. Let’s keep it that way.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but my father cut me off. “That’s enough,” he said firmly, his gaze shifting between the two of us. “This isn’t a negotiation. The arrangement has been made, and both of you will honor it. Do I make myself clear?”

Julian raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He simply picked up his glass and took another sip, his expression bored. “Crystal,” he said dryly.

I nodded, though my heart was racing. “Yes,” I said softly. “I understand.”

My father seemed satisfied with our responses, though the tension in the room was palpable. He turned to me then, his expression softening just slightly. “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder briefly before heading toward the elevator.

As the doors closed behind him, leaving Julian and me alone, I felt the weight of the situation settle over me like a heavy blanket. Julian didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at me. He simply turned and walked toward the windows, his back to me as he stared out at the city.

I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do, before finally gathering the courage to speak. “I don’t want to be your enemy,” I said quietly. “I just want to find a way to coexist.”

He didn’t turn around, but I saw his shoulders tense slightly. “Coexist?” he echoed, his tone mocking. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It can be, if we both try,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.

He turned then, his green eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me want to shrink away. “Don’t fool yourself, Elena,” he said coldly. “This isn’t a fairy tale. This is reality. And in reality, people like me don’t coexist with people like you. We survive. That’s it.”

And with that, he walked away, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the lavish penthouse, my heart heavy with the realization that this was only the beginning of a long, uphill battle.