The Man Who Bought Silence
Lila Hart had never been inside a billionaire's office before, but she imagined it would feel exactly like this—cold, quiet, and suffocating.
The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, sunlight reflecting off glass buildings like sharp blades. Everything in the room screamed control: the polished desk, the minimalist furniture, the absence of anything personal.
And behind that desk sat Alexander Blackwood.
He didn't ask her to sit.
Lila stood there clutching her handbag, fingers digging into the worn leather strap, heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. He flipped through a thin file in his hands, eyes scanning the pages with detached interest, as though she were nothing more than numbers on paper.
"You're twenty-four," he said without looking up.
"Yes, sir."
"Unemployed for six months."
"Yes."
"Medical debt. Rent arrears. Dependent parent."
Each word landed like a quiet verdict.
"Yes," she whispered again.
Finally, he looked up.
His eyes were dark—sharp and unreadable. Not cruel. Worse. Indifferent.
"Do you know why you're here, Miss Hart?"
She shook her head, throat tight.
"I don't offer charity," Alexander continued calmly. "I offer solutions. And solutions always come at a cost."
He stood, tall and imposing, walking around the desk with unhurried confidence. Lila instinctively stepped back until her legs hit the edge of the chair behind her.
"You were recommended because you're… unremarkable," he said. "You won't attract scandal. You won't demand attention. And most importantly—you won't overestimate your importance."
Her cheeks burned, but she said nothing.
"I need a fiancée," he went on. "Public appearances. Dinners. Events. A stable image."
He placed a folder on the desk between them.
"This contract will last twelve months."
Lila stared at it, barely breathing.
"You will live where I tell you. Appear when I tell you. Speak when spoken to." His voice was steady, businesslike. "In return, I will cover all your expenses. Medical bills included."
Her heart skipped painfully.
"My mother—"
"Will receive the best care," he interrupted. "Immediately."
Silence swallowed the room.
"And if I say no?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Alexander's gaze hardened—not angry, just final.
"Then you leave. And your problems remain exactly where they are."
Her fingers trembled as she opened the folder.
The number at the bottom made her vision blur.
"This isn't… real," she whispered.
"It's very real," he replied. "And it's time-sensitive."
Lila swallowed, every instinct screaming fear.
But fear had already ruled her life.
She picked up the pen.
"I'll do it," she said softly.
Alexander watched her sign.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.