Layla's voice, raw with emotion, finally trailed off, the silence in the opulent office punctuated only by the distant hum of the city. She watched Julian Black, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. He hadn't interrupted, hadn't offered a word of sympathy or disbelief. He'd simply listened, his gaze unwavering, his expression an inscrutable mask.
When she was finished, he steepled his fingers, his dark eyes fixed on her.
"You want…revenge, Ms. Hayes?" It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Layla said, the word stark and unwavering. "They humiliated me. In my own home. I want them to suffer the consequences."
A ghost of a smile touched the corner of his lips, a chillingly elegant curve. "A sentiment I understand perfectly."
She could still hear Brielle's moan,in her head, still see Ryan's panicked face. She wanted to scream,cry,break something— but not here.
No.
She needed to be cold and strategic.Layla's jaw clenched.
Layla leaned forward, emboldened by his implicit agreement. "You… you don't like Mark."
Why do you think that?"
"You hate him. I saw the way you looked at him during the Christmas party. He is a liability, and you know it."
Julian Black's gaze sharpened. "Mark is… a liability. His ambition outweighs his competence, and his… personal life," he paused, the word laced with distaste, "reflects a distinct lack of judgment."
"Then help me," Layla pleaded, the desperation in her voice undisguised. "Help me make him pay."
He rose from his chair, his tall frame dominating the space. He moved towards the window, the city lights reflecting in his dark eyes. For a moment, Layla thought he wouldn't answer. Then, he turned back to her, and what she saw in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't pity, or even anger. It was something colder, more calculating.
"I have a proposition for you, Ms. Hayes," he said, his voice a low, resonant purr. "A mutually beneficial arrangement."
Layla's breath hitched. "An arrangement?"
"A temporary one," he clarified, his gaze never leaving hers. "Thirty days."
"Thirty days?" she echoed, confused.
"You will pretend to be my… lover," he stated, the word hanging in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.
Layla stared at him, stunned. "Pretend to be your… what?"
"My lover," he repeated, his voice firm, brooking no argument. "A public relationship. Intimate. Convincing."
She blinked. "That's—"
"You will play the perfect partner"
Layla's mind reeled. This wasn't what she expected. "I… I don't understand. How would that…?"
"Mark is… impressionable," Julian said, a hint of steel in his voice. "He values my approval, my respect. Seeing you with me… it would undermine him. Professionally. Socially. It would sow seeds of doubt, create… complications."
"Complications?" Layla asked, her mind racing to catch up.
"He wouldn't be able to focus on his work. His judgment would be clouded. He would make mistakes." A predatory gleam entered Julian's eyes. "And I would make sure those mistakes were… noticed."
Layla began to see the twisted logic of his plan. A fake relationship with Julian Black, the most powerful man in Mark's world, would be the ultimate humiliation, a public declaration of her rejection. It would destroy Mark's ego, his reputation, and potentially, his career.
This was crazy.This was insane.
"And what do you get out of this?" Layla asked, her voice wary. There had to be more to it for him than just punishing a disloyal employee.
Julian Blackwood's smile widened, a flash of something dangerous and thrilling. "Control. Let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting to… expedite Mark's departure from Blackwood Enterprises. And," he paused, his gaze intensifying, "I find you… intriguing, Ms. Hayes."
Layla's heart skipped a beat. His words were laced with a seductive undercurrent that both terrified and fascinated her. This was insane. To agree to such a scheme… It was a deal with the devil.
Layla's pulse quickened. This was dangerous. Reckless. Risky.
"And in exchange?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"In exchange," Julian Black said, his voice dropping to a low, persuasive murmur, "I will ensure that Mark's betrayal has consequences. Severe consequences. His career… his future in this city… ends with a whisper, not a bang. And," he added, his eyes burning into hers, "you will have my full attention for thirty days."
Layla stared at him, her mind reeling. It was a Faustian bargain, a dangerous game with impossibly high stakes. But the thought of making Mark suffer, of reclaiming her power, was a temptation she couldn't entirely resist.
"Thirty days," she repeated, the words a question and a challenge.
"Thirty days, my rules" Julian Black confirmed, his smile widening. "Do we have a deal, Ms. Hayes?"
He extended his hand, a long-fingered, powerful hand that seemed to promise both retribution and something far more dangerous. Layla hesitated, her gaze fixed on his. This was madness. Utter madness.
And yet… she couldn't look away.