Trapped in his Shadow

My fingers quivered slightly as I focused on the invitation and held the thick, creamy paper between them. The majesty of the gold letters mocked me in the dim light of my flat. Aiden and Selena Graves cordially invite you. It didn't make sense. I barely knew them, and yet here I was, carrying an invitation to the most exclusive wedding of the year.

"What's the point of you going?" Bella's voice drew me back to reality. She plopped down on the corner of my couch, munching on takeout, unconcerned about how crazy my situation was.

"I'm not," I muttered, tossing the card to the coffee table. "I don't really fit in there."

She gave a snort. "Aiden has invited you. That practically qualifies you for royalty."

Aiden Calloway. The billionaire. The man who had crossed paths with me through a series of unbelievable accidents and coincidences. No one meant anything to him, including me. The man was the embodiment of cold. But this did not explain the wedding invitation. It didn't explain why I'd been sucked into a world in which I was nothing more than a mere speck.

"You should go," Bella pressed. "Worst case, you get free champagne and feel like a queen for a day."

But I was not a queen. I was barely scraping by. Even though Aiden saved my job last month when my boss tried to fire me for accidentally spilling coffee on his shirt, I knew it was only a moment of weakness. The man was not capable of being kind. At least not the ones without strings attached.

I sighed and stood up, reaching for my coat. "I'm going for a walk," I mumbled. I was in need of air. I had to clear my mind.

The evening was colder than I had anticipated, with a biting chill in the wind that forced me to tighten my coat over my body. Manhattan's streets were alive with the hum of individuals who, unlike me, had their lives in order.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. When I took it out, I looked at the screen.

Aidan Calloway My heart pounded in my chest. Why is he calling me? I hadn't spoken to him since the incident at the office a few weeks ago, and it was barely a chat. He told my boss to give me another chance and then walked away like nothing had happened. Why did he call me now?

I answered hesitantly. "Hello?" "Miss Anna Carter," his deep voice filled the line, smooth and unaffected. "We need to speak. Meet me at the Plaza in fifteen minutes."

"The Plaza?" Wait, what now? I stammered and looked at my watch. It was already 8 p.m.

"Fifteen minutes," he said, and the queue went dead.

I stood there stunned, clutching my phone in shock. Why did Aiden Blackstone ask to see me? So, why now? And why, of all places, is it in the Plaza?

I hailed a cab despite my better sense.

When i arrived at The Plaza. Everything around me

Aiden was waiting in the private room, his posture and gaze sharp as they swept over me when I walked in. He was as imposing as I remembered-tall and broad-shouldered, with a tailored suit perfectly sculpted to his powerful frame. His dark hair was slicked back, and his grey eyes were cold and determined.

"Miss Anna Carter," he said smoothly, pointing to the place across from him.

I sat down, feeling every inch of my inadequacy beneath his look. "You wanted to see me?" My voice was barely heard.

"I have a proposition for you," he said, his voice as emotionless as ever.

I gave a frown. "A proposition?" He leaned forward slightly, his stare fixed on me. "I need a wife." My mouth dropped open. "What?" "It's quite simple. I need a wife, and you require funds.

"I don't-" "Your rent is late. Your credit card has hit its maximum limit. "You're barely making enough to buy groceries," he added, his voice sharp. "Miss Carter, I know everything about you. I wouldn't have picked you otherwise.

I felt a cold sense of humiliation pour over me, but I couldn't dispute that he was correct. I was drowning in debt and struggled to keep my head above water.

"This is insane," I mumbled. "You can't just offer someone a marriage because they're poor."

"I can, and I am." He sat back and observed me closely. "This isn't a legitimate marriage. It's a business deal. You marry me, remain with me for a year, and I'll pay you 10 million dollars at the end."

I felt as if the floor had collapsed beneath me. "Ten million dollars?"

He gave a nod. "In exchange, you will be my wife in name only. Attend events, smile for the camera, and act the part. You will live in my home and share my lifestyle. However, there will be no further relationship. There is no tenderness. There's no romance. It is merely a contract.

It was insane. Complete madness. "And what's in it for you?" I asked, my voice shaking. "My business is under scrutiny," he continued, his expression darkening. "Some people need to believe I'm settled." My wild days are behind me. A wife brings stability. You will bring stability. "So, I'm just a pawn in your game." He did not deny it. "Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement."

I glanced at him with my mind racing. It was insane. I suppose I should decline. I should leave here without looking back. However, the total cost is 10 million dollars. It was more money than I'd ever expected. It would wipe out my debts and give me a fresh start. It would change the course of my life.

Could I truly live with someone like Aiden Calloway? Cold, deliberate, and distancing?

"I'll give you some time to think," he said, rising. "However, do not spend too much time. I need a response by tomorrow. I didn't get much sleep that night. I tossed and turned, my thoughts obsessed by the offer. I couldn't get over how he treated me as if I were just another piece in his chess game. Nonetheless, the idea of a new life hung before me like a gleaming, unattainable prize.

The next morning, I was standing outside his office. The sleek, glass tower loomed above me, representing everything Aiden stood for: imposing and invincible. I nearly turned back, but something pushed me ahead.

When I walked into his office, Aiden was already seated behind his big desk, hands folded in front of him.

"You've made your decision," he said without asking any questions. "I'll do it," I answered gently.

"Good." He stood up and approached me, towering above me. "We'll figure out the paperwork. You'll be moving into my house this weekend. I swallowed hard, like if I'd made a deal with the devil."And one more thing," he whispered softly, leaning down with his face inches from mine. His gaze was fixated on me, cutting through every barrier I tried to construct around myself. "Remember, Miss Carter, that this is all business. Don't make the mistake of believing it could ever get better." I nodded, feeling the weight of his words come down on me like a stifling blanket.

As I turned to go, my heart hammering, Aiden's phone rang. He spoke without hesitation, in a strong and professional tone.

Then something happened. His face tensed, and his eyes darkened. "What do you mean?" His tone was strong and dangerous. Discover who did this. Now."

I came to a standstill at the entryway, a cold chill going down my spine.

Aiden tossed down the phone and glanced up, enraged. He didn't say anything, but the tension in the room grew, and I sensed something was really wrong.

"Miss Carter," he said, his voice low and controlled, "it appears that our arrangement might be more complicated than we anticipated."