Chapter 2 TWO BILLIONAIRES AND TWO PROBLEMS

"Fix your face."

Maya turned towards Zoe.

"What's wrong with my face?"

"You look like you're about to attend a funeral."

"Maybe I am. The funeral of my freedom."

Zoe rolled her eyes as she adjusted the dress the housekeeper had brought them.

They were standing in front of a full-length mirror, preparing to meet the two men they had only known through the pages of a novel.

Maya wore a beautiful champagne-coloured dress that fitted perfectly. Zoe had been given a soft blue dress with matching heels.

They looked expensive.

Unfortunately, neither felt comfortable.

"I still can't believe this is happening," Zoe muttered.

Maya adjusted her necklace.

"I can't believe we haven't asked how much this necklace costs."

"Can you please stop thinking about money for five minutes?"

"Impossible."

Zoe pointed at her.

"Listen carefully. We need to behave normally."

"Define normally."

"Don't insult anyone. Don't ask unnecessary questions. Don't tell them we're from another world."

Maya nodded seriously.

"Agreed."

"And please, for once, control your mouth."

"Of course."

A moment passed.

Maya raised her hand.

"One question."

"What?"

"Do you think Adrian is handsome in person?"

Zoe closed her eyes.

"Lord, give me patience."

A knock interrupted them.

The housekeeper entered.

"The gentlemen are waiting."

Maya took a deep breath.

"Let's go meet our financial problems."

Zoe followed her out.

---

The Blackwood mansion was even more impressive than the bedroom.

The staircase was decorated with beautiful paintings, the floors shone like glass, and the enormous living room looked like something from a luxury magazine.

Maya tried not to stare too much.

She failed.

"Zoe," she whispered.

"What?"

"If I die here, bury me in this mansion."

"Keep walking."

They reached the living room.

Two men were seated on opposite sofas.

Maya immediately recognized them.

Adrian Blackwood sat with one leg crossed over the other, reading something on his phone. He wore a black suit, and his expression suggested that he had never enjoyed a single day in his life.

Beside him was Ethan.

Unlike his brother, Ethan looked relaxed. He wore a white shirt with the sleeves folded to his elbows.

He noticed the girls first.

"Well, well. The brides have arrived."

Adrian didn't look up.

"You're late."

Maya checked the time.

They were exactly three minutes early.

She looked at Zoe.

Zoe gave her a warning expression.

Maya smiled politely.

"Good morning."

Adrian finally lifted his eyes.

His gaze moved briefly over her before returning to his phone.

"Sit."

Maya blinked.

Zoe gently pulled her towards the sofa.

They sat opposite the brothers.

Ethan smiled.

"I'm Ethan. And this is my brother Adrian, although I'm sure you've already heard about his wonderful personality."

Adrian gave him a cold look.

"Can you be quiet for five minutes?"

Ethan grinned.

"I've tried. It doesn't work."

Maya almost laughed.

She liked this one already.

Adrian placed his phone on the table.

"Let's get straight to the point. I don't believe in love, and I have no interest in pretending otherwise."

Maya nodded.

"That's fine."

He looked at her.

"Fine?"

"Yes. I wasn't planning to fall in love with you either."

Silence.

Ethan slowly turned towards his brother.

Then he burst out laughing.

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Excuse me?"

Maya smiled sweetly.

"I mean, we're both being honest. Isn't that what you want?"

Ethan leaned back, thoroughly entertained.

"I think I'm going to enjoy this."

Adrian ignored him.

"This marriage is an arrangement between our families. I expect respect, privacy and cooperation."

"Wonderful," Maya replied. "I expect the same things, plus good food."

Zoe covered her face.

She had known Maya for years.

Why did she always have to speak?

Ethan looked at Zoe.

"And what about you? Do you have any special expectations?"

Zoe smiled politely.

"Peace and quiet."

Ethan placed a hand on his chest.

"Then I'm afraid you've married the wrong family."

"We're not married yet," Zoe corrected.

"Good point. There's still time to escape."

Zoe almost smiled.

Almost.

Adrian stood up.

"The wedding arrangements have already been made. The ceremony will take place in two weeks."

Maya's head snapped up.

"Two weeks?"

"Yes."

"That's very fast."

"It's necessary."

Maya looked at Zoe.

Zoe looked at Maya.

Two weeks?

They hadn't even figured out how to return to their world, and now they had wedding dates.

Adrian picked up his phone.

"Your rooms have been prepared. You will both have separate bedrooms from your husbands."

Maya relaxed slightly.

"Good."

Adrian looked at her.

"Good?"

"Yes. I enjoy sleeping peacefully."

Ethan laughed again.

"Brother, I think she's already making herself comfortable."

Adrian ignored him.

"One more thing. I don't want unnecessary interference in my personal life."

Maya nodded.

"Don't worry. I have my own life to worry about."

"Then we understand each other."

"Perfect."

For the first time, Maya and Adrian seemed to agree on something.

Unfortunately, their agreement didn't last long.

---

After the meeting, a housekeeper escorted the girls towards the dining room.

Zoe leaned closer to Maya.

"Can you explain what just happened?"

"What?"

"You challenged Adrian Blackwood three times in less than ten minutes."

Maya shrugged.

"He started it."

"He told you to sit."

"And I sat."

"You argued about the wedding."

"I asked a question."

"You requested good food!"

Maya stopped walking.

"What's wrong with wanting good food?"

Zoe stared at her.

"Nothing. Just don't turn this marriage into a comedy show."

Maya smiled.

"Too late."

They entered the dining room.

A large breakfast had already been prepared.

Maya's eyes widened.

There were eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, toast, pastries and several dishes she couldn't identify.

She sat down immediately.

"Now this is what I'm talking about."

Zoe shook her head.

"At least pretend you have manners."

Maya picked up a pancake.

"I have manners. I'm just hungry."

They had barely started eating when Ethan entered.

"Good morning again."

Zoe looked up.

"Didn't we already say good morning?"

"Yes, but I thought I'd give you another chance to appreciate it."

Maya nearly choked on her juice.

Ethan took a seat opposite them.

"By the way, Adrian wants to know if Maya has always been this talkative."

Maya slowly lowered her fork.

"Tell Adrian that if he wants to know something about me, he can ask me himself."

Ethan smiled.

"I'll pass the message."

A few minutes later, Adrian entered.

He looked at the table, then at Maya.

"You're still eating?"

Maya glanced at her plate.

"Obviously."

"You've been here for twenty minutes."

"And the food is still here. What's your point?"

Ethan lowered his head, trying not to laugh.

Adrian pulled out a chair.

"My point is that we have a schedule."

Maya took another bite.

"Then you should follow it. I never agreed to starve."

Zoe quietly moved her glass away from Maya.

She didn't want to be involved when the argument exploded.

But surprisingly, Adrian said nothing.

He simply opened his tablet and began reading.

Ethan watched his brother for a moment before smiling at Maya.

"Congratulations."

Maya frowned.

"For what?"

"You're the first person I've seen make Adrian lose an argument before breakfast."

Maya smiled proudly.

"Thank you. I have many talents."

Zoe whispered, "Eating is definitely one of them."

---

Later that afternoon, Maya and Zoe returned to their bedroom.

Zoe closed the door and immediately turned around.

"We need a plan."

Maya was lying on the bed, examining the diamond bracelet she had found on the dressing table.

"What kind of plan?"

"A way out of this situation."

Maya sat up.

"Do you mean going home?"

"Obviously!"

Maya looked around the luxurious bedroom.

Then she looked at Zoe.

"Can we discuss that after lunch?"

Zoe threw a cushion at her.

"You're impossible!"

Maya laughed before becoming serious.

"Okay. But there's something we need to figure out first."

"What?"

Maya picked up the novel that was lying on the bedside table.

It was the same book they had been reading before everything happened.

She opened it to the first chapter.

Then she flipped through the pages.

Zoe sat beside her.

"What are you looking for?"

"The original story."

"And?"

Maya stopped at a particular page.

Her expression changed.

"What is it?" Zoe asked.

Maya slowly turned the book towards her.

There was a paragraph about the two original brides.

But something was wrong.

The names had changed.

Amelia and Sophia were no longer written there.

Instead, the page now read:

MAYA AND ZOE BLACKWOOD.

Zoe stared at the page.

"Why are our names in the book?"

Maya swallowed.

"I don't know."

Zoe took the novel from her.

Then she noticed something written at the bottom of the page.

A sentence neither of them remembered reading before.

THE STORY WILL NOT END UNTIL THE TWO BRIDES GET THEIR HAPPY ENDING.

Zoe slowly looked up.

"Maya..."

"I see it."

"Does that mean we can't leave?"

Maya didn't answer.

For the first time since arriving in the novel, she had no joke ready.

Then the bedroom door suddenly opened.

The housekeeper stood outside.

"Miss Maya, Mr. Adrian would like to see you in his office."

Maya closed the book.

"Now?"

"Yes. Immediately."

Zoe grabbed her arm.

"Good luck."

Maya sighed.

"Thank you. If I don't return, remember me as a woman who came for money, not love."

Zoe shook her head.

"Just go before he changes his mind and comes here himself."

Maya walked out.

She had no idea that Adrian was about to give her a condition that could change everything.

And this time, making jokes might not be enough.