Your father, Mr. Max, had always been a man of pride. A businessman respected by many, known for his sharp mind and unwavering principles. But the past five days had been hell—his company had suffered a massive loss, one that threatened to ruin everything he had built. The weight of it had been crushing, and today, it had brought an unexpected visitor into your home.
Sage Blackwood. The name alone sent whispers through the country. Billionaire. Mafia boss. Cold. Ruthless. Scary. And impossibly handsome. A man who could make people fear him with a glance—or desire him with a smirk. And now… he was here. In your living room. Sitting opposite your father, legs crossed, his piercing eyes calculating every movement, every word.
Your father sat tensely on the couch, his hands gripping the armrests, while your mother lingered nearby, her presence calm but worried. She had always been the peacemaker, the one who tried to smooth over tense situations. But this… this was different. Even she looked unsettled as Sage leaned back slightly, a predatory calm radiating from him.
"I understand your company is in trouble," Sage said finally, his voice low and smooth, each word deliberate. "And I can help. I can make this loss disappear, save your business from ruin. But…" His eyes flicked to your father, sharp and unyielding. "There is a condition."
Your father swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the power imbalance in the room. "Name it," he said, voice tight.
Sage's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. "I want your daughter."
The words hung in the air like a threat wrapped in silk. Your mother's hand went instinctively to her chest, her eyes wide with shock. Your father's face paled, a mix of disbelief and outrage flashing across his features.
"What… what do you mean, you want…?" Your father's voice cracked as he tried to process the audacity of the man before him.
"I mean," Sage continued, his tone chillingly calm, "I will save your company, cover your losses, make sure everything is secure. But in return… I want to marry your daughter." His gaze was sharp, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore. "She will be mine."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Your father's mind raced, torn between the ruin of his company and the impossibility of the demand. Your mother's eyes darted to him, silently pleading, desperate for a solution, a way out. And all the while, you were upstairs, completely unaware, lost in your own world of sleep, while the fate of your life was being decided downstairs.
Sage's presence filled the room like a storm that hadn't yet broken, a force impossible to resist. Every detail about him—the sharp lines of his jaw, the controlled strength in his posture, the subtle authority in the way he spoke—screamed danger. And yet, beneath the threat, there was something unspoken, something darkly compelling, as if the promise of his power came with a shadow of protection… and perhaps, desire.
Your father finally exhaled, knowing he had no choice. The company, everything he had worked for, everything he loved, depended on this. He glanced at your mother, then back at Sage. "You… want my daughter?"
"Yes," Sage said simply, as though the answer needed no justification. "I want her. And you will give her to me."
And with that, the deal—terrifying, impossible, and utterly binding—was set in motion.