THE DEAL

....MARRY HIM....

[Narration – Selena’s inner thoughts]

They say love is a choice.

But what if the choice is taken from you?

I never believed in fairy tales.

Not the kind with glass slippers, happy endings, or knights in shining armor.

Especially not ones wearing Armani suits.

My life was built on independence, ambition, and control.

Until two words shattered everything I thought I knew—

Marry him.

Charles: Marry him.

Two words. Just two. And they shattered everything.

Selena Carter stared at her father across the dining table. Her grip on the wine glass tightened.

Selena: Come again?

Charles: Leonard Knight. You’ll marry him. The alliance will benefit both our companies.

She laughed. Cold. Disbelieving.

Selena: This is a joke.

Charles: It’s not. KnightTech and Carter International, united. It’s the right move—for both families.

Selena: I’m not a business deal, Dad.

Charles: You’re the face of the brand. We need this.

Selena (bitter): So I’m just a pawn now?

Charles (calm): One year. That’s all. You marry, fulfill your duties, then walk away.

Her mother stayed silent beside him. Of course she did.

Selena: And if I say no?

Charles (cold): Then forget your inheritance. Your board seat. Everything.

Selena froze.

He wasn’t bluffing.

She had worked too hard to be taken seriously—not just as the Carter heiress, but as a businesswoman. Walking away now meant losing everything she had built.

And Leonard Knight?

Emotionless. Distant. The human embodiment of a locked vault. He wouldn’t care about this marriage. He’d treat it like a merger. Just like her father.

She could handle one year.

Selena (quietly): Fine. I’ll do it.

Charles: Good. We announce next week.

Selena: But I’m setting boundaries. No fake affection. No interference.

Charles: You can discuss that with him tomorrow. He already sent a message.

[Selena’s penthouse – later that night]

She stared out at the city lights, her heart pounding.

Leonard Knight. Mr. Ice King himself.

Her phone buzzed.

Leonard (text):

Tomorrow. 8PM. Hudson Lounge. We’ll discuss terms.

So formal. So him.

Selena tossed the phone on the couch.

Selena (muttering):

What have I gotten myself into?

She opened her laptop and searched his name.

CEO. Billionaire. No scandals. No relationships.

Perfect on paper. But that didn’t make him any less infuriating.

One year. Just twelve months of pretending.

She could survive that. Couldn’t she?

[Leonard’s office – late night]

He sat at his desk, reading through the marriage contract. His assistant entered.

Assistant:

Everything’s prepared. Press release, NDA, and… she’s already looking into your background.

Leonard smirked faintly.

Leonard:

She’s smart.

His phone lit up—Selena had seen his message.

No reply.

Typical.

She was going to be trouble.

But he could handle trouble.

Couldn’t he?

[Selena’s bedroom]

She entered, expecting silence. Instead, she saw a black box on her bed.

No note. No name.

She opened it slowly.

Inside—an elegant wedding planner.

The first page read:

“Mrs. Selena Knight.”

[Narration: Selena (inner thoughts)]

This isn’t love. It’s a transaction.

And I just signed the deal.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***