đź“– Bound by Fate, Tied by Love
🌹 Chapter 2: The Deal
Isabella stared at the thick envelope long after the mysterious billionaire had walked out. Her fingers trembled as she peeled it open, and her heart nearly stopped at the sight inside. Neat stacks of hundred-dollar bills—more money than she had ever seen in her life. Enough to clear the shop's overdue rent, pay utilities, and even buy new supplies.
But what terrified her more than the money was the offer that came with it.
Be my fiancée.
The words replayed in her head like an echo she couldn't silence.
"Ridiculous," she muttered to herself, pushing the envelope aside. "Completely insane."
She tried to continue arranging flowers, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Every rose looked like it was mocking her indecision.
Her chest tightened. Her mother had poured her soul into this shop, and Isabella had promised herself she wouldn't let it die. But she was drowning, and Adrian Cole had thrown her a lifeline—one tied with chains.
---
The next morning, Isabella walked into the shop and froze.
He was there.
Adrian Cole sat casually on one of the wooden stools, a fresh bouquet of lilies in his hand as though he had all the time in the world. His suit today was navy blue, his tie silver, his presence as commanding as ever.
"You—what are you doing here?" she demanded, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Waiting for your answer," he replied coolly, setting the bouquet down. "I assume you've opened the envelope."
Isabella glared. "Do you make a habit of stalking women?"
"I don't stalk," Adrian said, unbothered. "I pursue goals until I achieve them."
"You're unbelievable," she hissed, tossing her bag behind the counter. "Do you even hear yourself? You waltz in here, throw money in my face, and expect me to just… what? Play pretend like some desperate actress?"
His lips twitched in a faint smirk. "You say it like it's an insult. But yes. That's exactly what I expect."
Isabella's cheeks flushed with anger—and something else she didn't want to name. His confidence was maddening, but there was something magnetic about it too.
She folded her arms. "Why me? Out of all the women in this city, why drag a florist into your games?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice lowering. "Because you're not from my world. You don't run in high society circles. No one can accuse you of scheming for power because you don't even want it. You're… ordinary."
"Ordinary?" Isabella snapped. "Thanks for the compliment."
"It's not an insult." His gaze softened for a fraction of a second, though his tone remained even. "It's precisely what I need."
Isabella hesitated, caught off guard. She wanted to stay angry, but there was something vulnerable in his words, something that almost sounded like… trust.
Almost.
She shook her head. "You're still insane. I don't know you. I don't trust you. And I'm not for sale."
"You're not for sale," Adrian agreed, rising smoothly to his feet. He was taller than she remembered, his presence towering over her as he stepped closer. "But your shop is. Your dream is slipping away, and you can either let it die—or let me save it."
Her throat tightened.
Adrian leaned in just enough for her to catch the crisp scent of his cologne. "This isn't about money, Isabella. It's about survival. You need me as much as I need you."
She forced herself to take a step back, though her heart was racing. "What exactly do you expect me to do?"
He smiled faintly, like he had been waiting for that question. "Attend events with me. Hold my hand when the cameras flash. Look at me like you're in love. Simple."
"Simple?" she repeated in disbelief. "That's not simple. That's—"
"Acting," he interrupted smoothly. "And you'll be well compensated for your performance."
Her fists clenched. "So I'm just a paycheck to you?"
"No," Adrian said quietly, his gray eyes locking onto hers. "You're my solution."
Isabella's heart stumbled. She hated how his words slipped under her skin, how part of her wanted to believe there was more behind his cold mask.
She turned away, biting her lip. "And when this is over? What happens then?"
"Then we walk away," Adrian said matter-of-factly. "You keep your shop. I keep my business deal. Clean. Simple."
Her pulse thundered in her ears. On the surface, it was simple. But nothing about Adrian Cole felt clean or simple. He was a storm dressed in a suit, and she wasn't sure if stepping into his world would save her or destroy her.
"Think about it," Adrian said finally, adjusting his cufflinks. "But not for too long. I need an answer before the week ends."
And with that, he walked past her, his cologne lingering in the air like a promise and a warning all at once.
The bell above the door chimed as he left, leaving Isabella standing there, her heart in chaos.
She stared at the envelope on the counter again, her reflection faint in the shop window.
If she said yes, everything would change.
If she said no… everything would still change.
Either way, Adrian Cole had already altered the course of her life.
By closing time, Isabella hadn't touched the envelope again, but the thought gnawed at her. As she locked the shop doors, she glanced at the "For Rent" sign across the street. The landlord had warned her: One more late payment and you're out.