Warning: Mature contents. "I...I..." I bite my bottom lip, lost in thought-a bad habit I've developed over the years whenever words escape me. Stephan catches the gesture and smirks, moving back to sit across from me. "I'll give you 48 hours," he says. "120 hours," I counter, trying to sound firm. "72 hours," he responds coolly, "and if you fail, you'll face the consequences of my contract." "Yes... yes, sir," I manage, nodding. "72 hours," he warns again, his tone final. I open my mouth to argue, to push my luck just a little further, but suddenly, something covers my nose-a cloth pressed against my face, and then a sack is pulled tightly over my head. --- Dawn Hemlocks, a fashion design student, tries her hand at hacking and gets ensnared in a web that could cost her life. She negotiates her options and signs an unknown contract handed to her by the infamous, ruthless billionaire Stephan Klar. Will she break free or find herself entangled in a web of love, murder, and deceit?
Chapter 1 The deal
DAWN
I woke up that morning with the same determination that had carried me through the last two years of fashion school, survival. I didn't have time to worry about the chaos brewing in my bank account or the landlord's ever-increasing impatience.
I had a portfolio to complete, a class to get to, and dreams that didn't include being poor for the rest of my life. My younger brother depended on me to keep things together. If I broke, the whole house of cards would come crashing down.
I adjusted my bag over my shoulder, gripping the sketchpad containing my newest designs. The air outside was brisk, the kind that felt sharp against your skin, and I cursed myself for forgetting my scarf. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I fished it out, expecting a reminder from one of my professors. Instead, it was an email notification.
Account Overdrawn. Contact Your Bank Immediately.
I stopped dead on the sidewalk, a chill far colder than the November morning sweeping over me. My heart pounded as I stared at the message. That wasn't right. I'd been careful. I swiped open my banking app, only for my stomach to drop. My balance was negative. Negative five figures.
"Oh, no. No, no, no," I whispered, the blood draining from my face. My hands shook as I scanned through the transactions. All of them were foreign, random withdrawals from accounts I didn't recognize. It didn't make sense. Had someone hacked me?
I didn't get a chance to spiral any further. A black SUV screeched to a halt in front of me, its tinted windows gleaming under the pale morning sun. My first instinct was to back away, but before I could even process what was happening, the passenger door flew open, and two men in dark suits stepped out.
"Miss Hemlocks," one of them said, his voice sharp and mechanical. "Come with us."
I froze. "I-I don't know who you are. Get away from me!"
The other man didn't bother with words. He grabbed my arm, his grip like iron, and started pulling me toward the car. I screamed, my sketchpad clattering to the ground as I struggled against him. But it was useless. He was a wall of muscle, and I was nothing but a feather.
"Let me go! I didn't do anything!" I shouted, my voice trembling.
The man shoved me into the back seat and slammed the door. My heart pounded as the car peeled away from the curb. Panic clawed at my throat. I had no idea where they were taking me or why, but I knew it couldn't be good.
---
We arrived at a gleaming skyscraper in the heart of the city, its glass exterior reflecting the gray sky. The two men escorted me through a private entrance, bypassing the lobby entirely. My pulse quickened with every step. They ushered me into an elevator, and we rode in silence to one of the upper floors.
When the doors slid open, I was led into an office that screamed wealth and power. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline, and the air smelled faintly of leather and expensive cologne. Behind an enormous mahogany desk sat the man himself-Stephan Klar.
I recognized him immediately. Who wouldn't? He was one of the youngest billionaires in the country, a tech genius who had built an empire from the ground up. But the photos in magazines didn't do him justice. In person, he was intimidatingly handsome, with sharp cheekbones, piercing gray eyes, and a presence that made the room feel smaller.
"Sit," he said, his voice low and commanding.
I didn't move. "What is this? Why am I here?"
His eyes narrowed. "You know why you're here."
One of the men pushed me into the chair across from him, and I glared at Stephan, refusing to let him see how terrified I was. He leaned back in his chair, studying me like I was an insect he couldn't decide whether to squash.
"They tell me you're the one who hacked into my accounts," he said finally. "You stole from me."
"What?" I blinked, utterly confused. "No, I didn't-"
"Don't lie to me," he cut in, his tone icy. "I don't tolerate dishonesty, Miss Hemlocks."
"I'm not lying!" I protested. "I don't even know what you're talking about. I'm just a student-"
"A student who happens to be a hacker," he interrupted, leaning forward. "Do you think I don't know everything about you already? Dawn Hemlocks, twenty-one years old, fashion design student. Dead father, single mother. A brother you're practically raising on your own. You've got talent, I'll give you that, but you made a mistake when you thought you could steal from me."
"I didn't steal from you!" I cried, my voice breaking. "I-I was set up!"
"Enough," he snapped, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Do you know what I do to people who cross me?"
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. I didn't answer. What could I say? That I was sorry for something I hadn't done? That I was terrified out of my mind?
Stephan's phone rang, and he answered it without taking his eyes off me. "Yes, Grandmother," he said, his tone softening slightly. "No, I'm not interested in your matchmaking attempts. I don't care who they are." There was a pause, and his jaw tightened. "Fine. I'll think about it."
When he hung up, he looked at me again, something unreadable in his expression. "You're lucky," he said, his voice suddenly calm. "I was about to have you removed. But it seems you might be of some use to me."
I blinked. "What?"
He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I'll make you a deal. Marry me. For one year. Play the part of my devoted fiancée, and I'll let you live."
My stomach dropped. "What?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"You heard me," he said, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "One year. A contract marriage. Do what I say, and when it's over, you'll walk away alive, with enough money to take care of your family. Refuse..." He let the unspoken threat hang in the air.
I stared at him, my mind spinning. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real. But the cold look in his eyes told me otherwise. I had no choice.
"I..." My voice cracked. "I'll do it."
Stephan smiled, a wolfish grin that sent shivers down my spine. "Good. Let's get started."
Chapter 1 The deal
18/11/2024
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