The Doomed Encounter
8:00 a.m. — Granwood Restaurant.
Ethan arrived on time—not out of interest, but because his mother had bombarded him with calls since six in the morning. He stepped into the private lounge, immaculate in his black suit, carrying the same cold authority he used to sign million-dollar contracts.
The candidate was waiting. A brunette, with a nervous smile and a blue dress that flattered her curves. Ethan only glanced at her once and already knew the outcome.
“Good morning, Mr. Rhodes,” she said, trying to sound confident.
He responded with the barest nod, sitting down without offering his hand.
“Coffee?” he asked.
“Yes, please.”
The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable. Desperate to bridge it, she tried to start a conversation.
“Your mother told me you’re very dedicated to your company. It must be such a pride to run a corporation like Venus—”
Ethan looked up from his phone and cut her off sharply.
“This isn’t a job interview.”
Her cheeks flamed red.
“I’m sorry, I only meant—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He set his phone on the table, took a sip of coffee, and leaned back with a gesture that said it all: he wanted this over.
She tried one last time, her voice trembling.
“I believe we could get along, if you’d just give us—”
“No.” The word fell like a hammer. Ethan stood abruptly. “Thank you for your time, but this won’t work.”
And without another glance, he left, abandoning her in humiliation.
Back at Venus Corporate, the empire he ruled with ruthless efficiency, Ethan was intercepted the moment he stepped onto the 25th floor.
“Mr. Rhodes,” Clarisa, his assistant, rushed toward him. “The meeting with Singapore has been moved to four. The New York lawyers demand an urgent call. And the Dubai investors need confirmation on the project—”
Ethan rolled his eyes, striding past her.
“Handle it. I’ll speak only with Singapore and Dubai. The lawyers can wait.”
Clutching a thick folder to her chest, Clarisa struggled to keep up.
“And lunch?”
“Send food to my office.” His tone was clipped, commanding. “Something quick.”
The rest of the day dissolved into a storm of meetings, numbers, and negotiations. Ethan barely left his chair. For him, the world began and ended within the glass walls of Venus Corporate.
That night, another ambush awaited at home.
The dining room glowed with soft lights. A porcelain dinner set was perfectly arranged. And at the table sat another woman—blonde, elegant, with a smile that had clearly been practiced. On the sofa, Elena Rhodes observed them like a queen orchestrating her game.
“Ethan, this is Caroline. She’s here to have dinner with you.”
Dropping his keys onto the console, Ethan loosened his tie and didn’t even look at the guest.
“I’m not hungry.”
Caroline stood quickly, eager to please.
“Perhaps we could at least talk? Your mother told me so much about you—”
“I bet she did,” he murmured with icy irony. “So tell me… what is it that you want?”
“Just… to know you,” she replied softly, her confidence faltering.
Ethan poured himself a glass of whiskey, ignoring the carefully prepared dinner.
“Well, now you do.”
Her smile shattered. Elena’s glare was sharp as a dagger, but Ethan remained unbothered.
For three nights, Caroline persisted. She waited outside his office, called his phone, even brought him coffee. Ethan treated her with the same cold indifference until, finally, she broke.
“I tried, Mrs. Rhodes,” Caroline whispered, tears brimming as she embraced Elena. “Truly, I did. But your son… he’s impossible.”
Elena held her tightly, disappointment heavy in her heart. Ethan, meanwhile, barely lifted his gaze from his computer.
“I warned you. Don’t waste your time.”
Three days later, Elena returned to the marriage agency. Tired of her son’s arrogance, but not ready to surrender.
And then she saw her.
A young woman pushing through the crowd of polished, flawless candidates. Amber Collins.
Her beauty was undeniable—an angelic face, a figure worthy of a model. But unlike the others, there was something raw about her, something that spoke of survival. She wasn’t here to chase luxury. She was here out of desperation.
Her eyes were swollen from crying, her chest rising with uneven breaths. Just that morning, her father had beaten her, threatening to kill her if she didn’t bring home money for dinner.
The other women stared her down, mocking her modest attire. But Amber straightened her fringe, lifted her chin, and held on to the last fragment of dignity she had.
“Good afternoon,” she said, sitting among them. They ignored her, but Elena Rhodes didn’t.
To Elena, Amber was perfect. Beautiful, yes. But more importantly: a woman with no way out. A woman who wouldn’t dare refuse the kind of offer she was about to make.
Elena extended her hand, her smile deliberate.
“Hello. I’m Elena Rhodes.”
Amber hesitated before shaking it, wary but polite.
“Amber Collins, ma’am.”
“Shall we talk?”
Amber nodded, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
And Elena’s own eyes lit with satisfaction. She had no interest in Ethan falling in love. But she would make sure he produced an heir.
