Olivia Brooks’s POV

The last place I thought I would be on a Tuesday morning was inside the penthouse office of Alexander Cole.

The ruthless billionaire everyone whispered about but when I got the call this morning from his PA that I had been chosen for a personal interview with him, I knew I had to be here.

The elevator ride to the fifty-ninth floor felt endless. My palms were sweaty, and no matter how many times I wiped them on my skirt, they stayed damp.

I told myself this was just another job interview, another chance but my stomach knew better.

Working in the Cole Empire was the change I needed to turn my life around.

When the doors opened, I froze.

This wasn’t an office. It was a kingdom. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls showed Manhattan spread out below, every skyscraper looking small compared to this one.

The air smelled of leather and cologne. Even the silence felt heavy as this was his personal space so his office was the only one located here.

A man who I assumed was the PA walked up to me.

"Olivia Brooks?" He asked.

"Yes." I replied trying to calm my fraying nerves.

"You called me this morning." I added.

"Yes I did." He answered even as his eyes assessed me.

I felt oddly exposed from the way he was looking at me and it took all my will power for me to stop myself from clutching my jacket tighter around my throat.

"You will do, come with me." He said with a mischievous smile on his face and started walking away.

I wanted to ask him what he meant by what he said but fear kept my mouth shut. I was not going to jeopardize my chance at a new beginning by asking too much questions and so with fear and hope, I followed him.

We turned into a corner and the PA opened the door and gestured for me to get in.

"Good luck." He said and left.

I entered the office and closed the door behind me.

I turned and then I saw him.

Alexander Cole sat behind a desk so large it could pass for a dining table. He didn’t look up right away, just flipped through papers with sharp precision.

His black suit was perfect, his tie straight, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass and he looked devastatingly handsome.

“Sit,” he said without looking at me.

His voice was cold and clipped, like I was already wasting his time.

I obeyed, clutching my bag in my lap. My hands trembled, so I gripped my bag tighter, hoping he wouldn’t see.

When he finally lifted his head, his grey eyes locked on me. Cold, stormy and unreadable.

In that moment, I understood why people called him ruthless.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” he said. “I need a wife. You need money. Let’s help each other.”

For a second, I thought I misheard. “I’m sorry… what?”

“Marry me,” he said flatly. “One year. Then we divorce. I’ll pay off your debts and give you five million dollars. No strings.”

My mouth went dry. “That’s… crazy.”

“Is it?” His eyes didn’t move from mine.

"I came here to get a job...." I tried explaining but he cut me off.

“You’re drowning. Hospital bills. Rent. Three jobs that barely cover food. Your brother Ethan’s treatments are already behind. Tell me, Miss Brooks… how much longer can you survive?”

The sound of my brother's name on his lips made me freeze.

My throat tightened. “How do you know about Ethan?”

His lips curved, but it wasn’t a smile. “I know everything about the people I choose.”

My chest felt heavy with pain.

Two years ago, I thought I had a future. A small apartment in Brooklyn. Some savings.

A dream of starting my own event-planning business. Then Ethan got sick.

Leukemia.

One word that destroyed everything.

I sold my car. Pawned my jewelry. Took every shift I could, until my body was exhausted. But it was never enough. The bills kept climbing.

Last week, I got an eviction notice. The hospital warned me Ethan’s chemo would be stopped if I didn’t pay soon.

I had never felt so helpless.

And now this man—the most powerful CEO in New York—was offering me salvation..... And damnation.

“What do you get out of this?” I asked softly.

“Stability,” he answered without hesitation. “The board doesn’t trust a bachelor to run this company forever. They want someone married. Someone settled. I don’t do relationships. I don’t do love. I need a wife for show. You’re desperate enough to play the role and perfect for it given your clean records.”

His words stung, but he spoke like he was listing numbers on a page.

He slid a folder across the desk. A contract. Printed on thick, expensive paper.

“You have twenty-four hours,” he said, already glancing at his watch. “Decide, or walk away.”

I stood slowly, clutching my bag so hard my knuckles went white.

Now I could understand why the PA wished me luck.

My chest ached as I walked out. I told myself I’d never say yes.

But deep down, I knew the truth. A deal with the devil might be the only way to save Ethan.

The cool wind hit me as I stepped outside. People rushed past on the sidewalk, laughing, confident, like they belonged here. Meanwhile, my world was falling apart.

On the subway home, his words echoed in my mind.

Marry me. One year. Five million dollars.

He said it like nothing. But for me, it was everything.

At my apartment, reality hit harder. The cracked walls. The broken heater. The pile of bills waiting on the counter. I picked up the hospital bill on top. The number blurred through my tears.

Was it really so wrong to say yes?

I dropped onto the couch, the paper shaking in my hands. My heart raced, my chest heavy, my mind spinning.

Because I already knew—this wasn’t a choice. It was the last lifeline I had.

I pressed my palms to my face and whispered, “If I say yes… my life will never be the same.”

My phone buzzed on the table and my hand shook as I grabbed it.

It was a message from an unknown number.

***