Chapter 2 THE PROPOSAL

ISABELLA'S POV:

"What the hell...?"

I stared at the words on the page.

MARRIAGE PROPOSAL - ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

Then I looked around the restaurant as if someone might be watching me.

Most of the tables were empty now. The last few guests were preparing to leave, and the waiters were busy clearing dishes.

No one seemed to care that my entire world had just tilted sideways.

I looked back at the contract.

Marriage.

Adrian Knight wanted me to marry him.

For one year.

I let out a breath that sounded dangerously close to a laugh.

This had to be a joke.

Maybe some kind of elaborate prank.

I turned the page.

My eyes scanned the words.

Term: One year.

I swallowed.

Compensation: Five million dollars.

My heart stopped.

Five million.

I read it again.

Five million dollars.

My fingers tightened around the paper.

There was no way.

I continued reading.

One marriage.

No love.

No expectations.

No promises.

I stared at the page.

Who in their right mind wrote a marriage contract like this?

I flipped to the next page.

There were more terms.

Separate rooms.

A public appearance schedule.

Confidentiality.

No interference in each other's personal affairs.

No emotional obligations.

And, most importantly, the marriage would end after one year.

I slowly lowered the papers.

This was insane.

I'd known Adrian Knight for only a short time.

I'd spoken to him properly for less than ten minutes.

And somehow, he'd already decided I was the woman he wanted to marry.

I glanced toward the restaurant entrance.

He was gone.

Of course he was.

He'd dropped a marriage contract in my hands and walked away like he'd simply asked me to bring him another cup of coffee.

"Unbelievable."

I shoved the papers back into the envelope.

I should return it.

Immediately.

I picked up my bag and headed toward the staff room.

I needed to change.

I needed to go home.

And most importantly, I needed to forget this ridiculous night had ever happened.

By the time I left the hotel, it was almost eleven thirty.

The night air was cooler than I'd expected.

I pulled my cardigan tighter around myself and started walking toward the pharmacy.

The envelope was still in my bag.

I had considered leaving it at the hotel.

I hadn't.

I didn't know why.

Maybe because five million dollars was difficult to ignore.

Especially when every bill in my life seemed determined to remind me that I didn't have enough money.

My father's medication.

The rent.

The electricity.

The repairs we still hadn't been able to afford around the house.

Five million dollars could solve all of it.

More than that.

It could change everything.

I stopped walking.

"No."

I shook my head.

I wasn't going to think about it.

There was no way I was marrying a stranger.

Especially not a man who had apparently researched my life before approaching me.

That alone should have been enough to scare me.

I continued walking.

But the number followed me.

Five million.

The next morning, I woke up before my alarm.

For a moment, I didn't remember why.

Then I saw the envelope sitting on my bedside table.

I groaned.

"Right."

The contract.

I sat up slowly.

My room was quiet.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting pale lines across the floor.

For a few seconds, I simply stared at the envelope.

Then my phone rang.

Dad.

I answered.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, sweetheart."

His voice sounded better today.

That made me smile.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"Did you take your medicine?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

He laughed softly.

"You sound like the parent."

"Someone has to be responsible."

There was a pause.

"Are you coming by today?"

"Yes. After I finish something."

"What something?"

I looked at the envelope.

"Work."

It wasn't exactly a lie.

I just didn't know how to explain that my work had somehow led to a billionaire offering me five million dollars to become his wife.

"I'll be there this afternoon," I said.

"Don't forget to eat."

"I won't."

"And Isabella?"

"Yes?"

"Don't worry about me too much."

I smiled faintly.

"That's impossible."

We said goodbye, and I ended the call.

I sat there for another minute.

Then I reached for the envelope.

I had made my decision.

I would go to Adrian Knight's office.

Not because I had agreed.

Not because I was considering marrying him.

I simply wanted answers.

And if he expected me to sign something without asking questions, he had chosen the wrong woman.

Knight Holdings occupied an entire glass building in the center of the city.

I stood outside the entrance for a moment, looking up.

I'd seen buildings like this in magazines.

I'd never imagined I'd actually walk into one.

I adjusted my handbag and stepped inside.

The lobby was enormous.

Marble floors.

Polished walls.

People moving quickly in expensive suits.

Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going.

I suddenly felt very aware of my simple blouse and skirt.

A receptionist looked up.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. I'm here to see Mr. Knight."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Yes."

She checked her computer.

"Name?"

"Isabella Hart."

Her fingers moved across the keyboard.

Then she looked up.

"Mr. Knight is expecting you."

Of course he was.

She handed me a visitor's badge and directed me toward the elevators.

When the doors opened on the executive floor, a man was standing nearby.

He looked to be around Adrian's age.

Tall.

Well-dressed.

Dark-haired.

But unlike Adrian, there was something much more relaxed about him.

He glanced at me.

Then at the badge around my neck.

Then back at me.

"You're Isabella."

I hesitated.

"Yes."

His mouth curved into a small smile.

"I'm Sebastian Cole."

He extended his hand.

"Sebastian is fine, but you can call me Seb."

I shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

His eyes briefly moved toward the closed office door behind him.

Then back to me.

"So you're the woman Adrian asked to come here."

There was something amused in his voice.

I frowned slightly.

"Yes."

Seb smiled.

"Interesting."

"What is?"

"Nothing."

I gave him a skeptical look.

He laughed softly.

"Don't worry. Adrian doesn't usually surprise me."

I wasn't sure what that meant.

Before I could ask, he continued.

"I'm his best friend, by the way."

I blinked.

"You're Adrian's best friend?"

"Unfortunately."

I couldn't help smiling.

He grinned.

"We've known each other for years. Long enough for me to know when he's about to do something completely unreasonable."

I glanced toward Adrian's office.

"And this is one of those times?"

Seb's smile widened.

"I'll let you decide that."

He seemed completely different from Adrian.

More approachable.

Less intimidating.

"Do you work with him?" I asked.

"Sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"Let's just say Adrian handles the serious business. I make sure he remembers there's a world outside his office."

I smiled.

"That sounds like a difficult job."

"You have no idea."

Before I could respond, the office door behind him opened.

Adrian stepped out.

His gaze moved from Seb to me.

Then back to Seb.

"What are you doing here?"

Seb shrugged.

"Visiting my best friend."

"You could have called."

"And miss the opportunity to annoy you in person?"

Adrian gave him a flat look.

Seb only smiled.

Then he turned toward me.

"Good luck, Isabella."

I frowned.

"Why are you saying that?"

"Because you're about to have a conversation with Adrian."

I almost laughed.

Adrian's expression darkened.

"Seb."

"I'm going."

Seb walked past him, still smiling.

I watched him disappear down the hallway.

Then I looked at Adrian.

"Your friend is interesting."

"He talks too much."

"I noticed."

Something almost resembling amusement crossed Adrian's face.

Almost.

He stepped aside.

"Come in."

I entered his office.

The room was exactly what I'd expected.

Large windows overlooking the city.

Dark furniture.

A massive desk.

Everything neat.

Everything controlled.

Just like him.

Adrian closed the door behind me.

I remained standing.

He gestured toward the chair.

"Sit."

I sat.

He took the seat across from me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then I placed the envelope on the table.

"I came to return this."

His eyes dropped to it.

"You read it."

"Yes."

"And?"

I stared at him.

"And I have questions."

"Ask."

I folded my hands in my lap.

"Why me?"

His expression didn't change.

"I told you yesterday."

"No. You told me you did your research."

"I did."

"That doesn't explain why you chose me."

He was quiet for a moment.

Then he said, "Because I need a wife."

I almost laughed.

"And apparently you decided a waitress you've seen a few times would be perfect."

"You're honest."

I frowned.

"That's your reason?"

"One of them."

"What are the others?"

He leaned back.

"You don't seek attention."

"I don't have time to seek attention."

"You're discreet."

"Because I value my privacy."

"You don't have a complicated personal life."

I stared at him.

"How would you know?"

"I know enough."

I didn't like that answer.

"That's unsettling."

"I understand."

"At least you admit it."

He looked at me for a moment.

Then he reached for the contract.

"I don't expect you to decide today."

I blinked.

"You don't?"

"No."

He pushed the envelope back toward me.

"Read everything carefully."

I looked down at the papers.

"Why me, Adrian?"

It was the first time I'd used his first name.

His eyes lifted to mine.

For the first time since I'd met him, he looked almost uncomfortable.

"I'll explain everything when you're ready."

"That sounds like you're hiding something."

"I am."

My stomach tightened.

"What?"

He held my gaze.

"Something that doesn't need to be part of the contract."

I stared at him.

There it was again.

That feeling.

That strange sense that Adrian Knight knew something about me that I didn't know about him.

I stood.

"I need time."

"You have it."

I picked up the envelope.

"I'll think about it."

"I expected you to."

I walked toward the door.

My hand was on the handle when his voice stopped me.

"Isabella."

I turned.

He looked at me.

"If you accept, your father will be taken care of."

My entire body went still.

"How do you know about my father?"

Adrian said nothing.

My grip tightened around the envelope.

"Adrian."

He looked away briefly.

Then back at me.

"I told you. I did my research."

I stared at him.

Suddenly, five million dollars didn't feel nearly as simple as it had last night.

I opened the door.

And walked out.

But one question followed me all the way down the hallway.

What exactly had Adrian Knight discovered about me?