Episode 1. The Proposal

The champagne flute felt like a weapon in Riri’s hand, its crystal edges digging into her palm. She stared at the shimmering liquid, its bubbles mocking her with their carefree dance.

“So, you’ll accept?” her mother’s voice, sharp as a diamond, sliced through the orchestrated chatter of the party.

Riri’s gaze remained fixed on the champagne, her throat tight with a mixture of rage and resignation. “What other choice do I have, Mother?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Her mother’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “You see, darling, sometimes even the most rebellious spirits have to bend to the inevitable.”

The inevitable. Marriage to Leon Blackwood, the ruthless CEO who’d built his empire on the backs of others. He was the definition of power and control, everything Riri had always rebelled against.

The man himself stood across the room, his gaze fixed on her with a chilling intensity. He was a statue carved from ice, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes like bottomless pits. His mere presence was enough to make her skin crawl.

“He’s a good man,” her mother continued, oblivious to Riri’s inner turmoil. “He’ll provide you with the stability you need, the security you crave.”

Security. Riri scoffed inwardly. Stability was the last thing she wanted. Her life was a whirlwind of adventure, and she’d spent years breaking free from the gilded cage her family had tried to keep her in. But now, with the family business on the verge of collapse, the only solution seemed to be a strategic union with Leon Blackwood.

“He’s a monster, Mother,” Riri muttered, her voice low and filled with bitterness. “Everyone knows it.”

“Don’t be foolish, Riri. Leon is a force to be reckoned with,” her mother said, her voice laced with a hint of fear. “He’ll take care of us. And he’ll provide you with the life you deserve.”

Riri’s grip tightened on the champagne flute, the crystal digging deeper into her palm. She looked at her mother, at the fear that flickered in her eyes, and realized the truth. This marriage wasn’t just about securing the family business, it was about survival. It was about escaping the jaws of financial ruin.

“I’ll do it,” she said, her voice cold and flat.

As the champagne glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the marble floor, Riri felt a sliver of hope flicker in the darkness. Maybe, just maybe, even a deal made out of desperation could bring something unexpected, something beautiful. She was about to be a pawn in a game of power, but perhaps she would be the one to call the shots in the end.

Leon Blackwood’s office was a stark reflection of the man himself: sleek, powerful, and utterly intimidating. Riri nervously adjusted her silk dress, the fabric clinging to her skin like a second skin.

The office was a symphony of steel and glass, with panoramic views of the city that stretched out like a miniature kingdom beneath them. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the faint whiff of power.

Leon himself sat behind a massive mahogany desk, a fortress of polished wood and leather. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, the only hint of color coming from the sapphire cufflinks that glinted on his starched white shirt.

He looked up as Riri entered, his gaze piercing her like a laser beam. It was a gaze that held no warmth, no invitation, only a calculating assessment.

“You’re late,” he stated, his voice deep and gravelly, the sound like sandpaper against her nerves.

“I apologize,” Riri replied, her voice a hesitant tremor. “Traffic was… difficult.”

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. “Traffic, or was it the last-minute attempt to avoid this meeting?”

Riri bristled at his words. She knew he was testing her, trying to gauge her strength. “Neither,” she retorted, her voice a little stronger now. “I simply wanted to enjoy the last moments of my freedom.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips, a fleeting gesture that made his face look almost human for a moment. Then, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“Freedom,” he echoed, the word laced with a sardonic inflection. “You seem to be quite attached to the concept. Perhaps you should reconsider its merits now.”

Riri met his gaze, her own eyes burning with a defiance that surprised even her. “Perhaps I will,” she said, her voice steady, the fear she’d felt earlier replaced by a steely resolve. “But not because of you.”

Leon leaned back in his chair, the movement a subtle shift in the balance of power. “Then I suggest you do reconsider,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Because you have a lot to lose.”

“I’m not afraid to lose anything, Mr. Blackwood,” Riri countered, her voice laced with a defiance she didn’t quite feel. “I’m here because I have to be. But I’m not here to be intimidated.”

He stared at her, his expression unreadable, the silence stretched between them like a taut wire. Finally, he spoke.

“Good,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless. “Because you’re going to need every bit of courage you can muster. This marriage is a business arrangement, Miss Thorne, and I intend to uphold my end of the bargain.”

His words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the reality of their situation. This was a marriage of convenience, a contract sealed with a signature. But there was a spark of something else in his eyes, a glint of something more. Something that made Riri wonder if this marriage, this forced alliance, might just be the beginning of something far more unpredictable.

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