Fake Love by Dawn Moonlight

Selene is looking at the incomplete canvas in front of her as she gently removes the final streak of paint from her fingertips. The tempest raging in her mind is reflected in swirls of deep blue and grey that bleed together in a chaotic symphony. Except for the distant hum of the city beyond her window, the studio was quiet. On the corner of her desk were piles of bills, unopened letters with demands she couldn't afford to meet. In addition to leaving a huge void in her life, her father's passing had also left her drowning in debts she was unaware of.

A sharp knock at the door startled her, interrupting her thoughts. Her heart pounded as she walked over, hesitating for just a moment before pulling it open. Two men in sleek black suits stood there, their presence too imposing for simple couriers. Their expressions were blank, their movements precise as if they were trained for more than simple delivery work. "Miss Whitmore," the taller of the two said, his voice deep and impersonal. "You are requested to accompany us immediately." Selene frowned. "Requested by who?" One of them reached into his coat and pulled out a pristine white envelope, sealed with a gold emblem, an insignia she recognized immediately. Blackwood Industries.

She shuddered as she read the word, "Blackwood". Damien Blackwood. In corporate circles, a man was whispered about with equal parts terror and reverence. At least she was unaware of a man with whom she had no business. Selene took the envelope after hesitating. Her stomach dropped when she opened it and read the words.

"You are now responsible for paying off your father's debt. This is your one chance to resolve it. Visit Blackwood Tower urgently."

~Damien Blackwood.

Furiously, Selene's fingers tightened around the page. She wasn't sure if she should be upset with Blackwoods or her father. This must have been an error of some sort. With clinched teeth, she declared, "I owe the Blackwoods nothing, especially Damien."

The two men exchanged a look before the shorter one spoke, his voice eerily calm.

"This is not an invitation, Miss Whitmore."

The silent threat in his words sent a chill through her. She could run. She could fight. But deep down, Selene knew the truth, there was no escaping the Blackwoods. Squaring her shoulders, she exhaled sharply and stepped outside.