Chapter 2

Elena

My spine went rigid in an instant, and a sense of dread rose inside me.

Slowly, I lifted my eyes and met Beckett‌'s—cloudy and greedy.

A wave of humiliation swept over me. I wanted to stand and slap him, but fear rooted me to the spot.

Beckett‌ reached out, yanked me against him, and clung to me tightly.

"My little darling, sorry to keep you waiting. You know how it is—a successful man like me is always getting tied up by business."

"I know you couldn't wait. Easy now. I'll make you feel good."

His hands roamed all over me, and the rotten stench coming off him made me want to gag.

I couldn't stand the disgrace another second, and I wrenched myself free of his grip.

Choking down my fear and grievance, I forced myself calm and glared at him.

"Mr. Beckett‌, I'm warning you. Lay another hand on me and I won't let it go!"

Beckett‌ wasn't the least bit frightened. Instead, he pulled out a handkerchief, dabbed at his gleaming bald head, and sneered.

"There's nothing I hate more than a woman who plays hard to get. This little act of yours is just to squeeze more money out of me. I've seen plenty of women like you."

With that, he seized my wrist. "Don't worry—make me happy, and of course I'll pay you. But first I need to inspect the goods."

He started dragging me toward the room. I clutched the doorframe and refused to let go, but he was far too strong; I had no way to resist. My fingers left a long scratch down the frame.

Just as I was being hauled into the abyss, a strong, powerful arm snatched me away from Beckett‌.

I looked up in a panic and met a pair of lovely, pale blue eyes.

A man in a well-tailored suit stood shielding me, his handsome face set with an untouchable severity.

Seeing me torn away, Beckett‌ stormed up to him, seething. But the moment he got a clear look at the man's face, his eyes flickered with alarm—though his mouth gave no ground.

"Elias? She's my date. She's just throwing a tantrum. Kindly stay out of our business."

I rushed to explain. "No! He forced me back toward the room—he was trying to rape me."

Beckett‌'s face changed at once, and he bared his teeth and roared at me. "What nonsense are you spouting? You were willing! You just wanted to milk me for money!"

Elias's face was cold, and the twitch along his jaw was proof enough of his anger.

"Mr. Beckett‌, as for whether this lady was willing, the hallway surveillance footage will make everything clear." Elias raised a hand and pointed at the camera in the corner of the corridor.

Beckett‌ frowned, his eyes darting about, and then he broke into an ingratiating smile. "I was only joking with Elena."

The words were barely out before he fled as if his heels were greased.

Watching Beckett‌'s retreating figure, I let out a deep breath.

"Are you all right? Would you like me to call the police?" Elias's voice was warm and gentle.

His decency left me flustered. Instinctively I smoothed my hair, but the red marks left on my neck from last night's coupling still filled me with shame.

I drew a deep breath and forced myself to stay composed.

"Not yet. Before I go to the police, I need to be sure of a few things. Only with evidence in hand can I make them pay."

If I called the police now, Beckett‌ and Charlotte would insist that what happened between us was ordinary consensual sex. Before that, I had to gather proof that Charlotte had offered me up to Beckett‌ as a sacrifice. Only then could I get justice for myself.

Looking into Elias's pale blue eyes, I thanked him sincerely. "Thank you for saving me just now. I'll do everything I can to repay your kindness. But I have somewhere I need to be, so I'll be going now…"

As I spoke, I gripped my briefcase tightly, ready to flee. But Elias blocked my way.

"Elena, can we talk?"

There was some inexplicable force about him—not menacing, more the aura of a man who had truly made his mark. That aura made me follow him back into the room almost without thinking.

Elias handed me a glass of ice water, walked to the window to make a phone call, then calmly came back and sat down across from me.

I, on the other hand, was on pins and needles. After all, this was where my shameful encounter with Beckett‌ had taken place the night before, and the room was still steeped in the traces of it. And now here I was, talking with another strange man. The thought sent shame crawling through my heart.

Elias spoke first. "I just contacted the hotel's security department. They'll pull all the footage of Beckett‌ entering and leaving the hotel—perhaps it can help you."

I doubt anyone knows how astonished I was in that moment. He had taken the initiative to obtain the surveillance footage for me—when a hotel of this caliber wouldn't have given a commoner like me the time of day.

Elias went on. "If you need help, my team will take care of everything for you."

Good heavens. He was nothing short of my savior. Set against Beckett‌'s slimy, dark nature, Elias's fine character was such that Beckett‌ wasn't worth so much as his fingernail.

Kind as he was, this was my revenge, and I wanted to see it through myself. So I turned him down.

"Thank you, sir. You've already helped me a great deal. I'm a lawyer, and I'd like to handle the rest on my own."

"And whenever you ask, I'll do everything I can to repay your kindness."

Elias's expression stayed calm, but I still caught something in his eyes—a trace of regret? Or some other feeling I couldn't name?

Then he changed course. "Perhaps you could do me a favor as well. Be my wife—help me fend off an arranged marriage in my family. You may not realize it, but I consider an arranged marriage the greatest murder of love there is. So, will you help me with this? As repayment?"

There was a sincerity in his eyes that I couldn't refuse.

My heart was pounding wildly, and I pressed my lips tightly together, afraid it might leap out of my throat.

"Mr. Elias, are you joking?"

"Elena, I know this is sudden. Perhaps it sounds more like a business arrangement. But I'll compensate you—in life and in work." He stared at me for a few seconds, his fingertips rubbing lightly together, and continued.

"I currently work in my family's company. If you agree to marry me, my family and I will become the firmest support at your back.

"And of course, if you ever have doubts, you can dissolve the marriage at any time. You'll receive a considerable sum in alimony."

I was stunned by this sudden "proposal." My mind raced to weigh every word Elias had said. His reasoning was flawless, and my wish to repay him seemed to play right into his hands. It all seemed as perfect as a con.

Elias appeared to see my worry. He produced a prenuptial agreement and laid it before me. "I've already had my lawyer draw up the contract. Your rights will be protected by law—I trust you can read it for yourself."

I took the prenuptial agreement, and my eyes went wide at once. Just as he'd said, all the control lay with me: if I filed for divorce, I would receive fifty million dollars in alimony.

"Mr. Elias, I only meant to return a favor. You needn't go to all this trouble…"

Elias gave a slight nod, a note of delight in his voice. "Elena, you agree?"

The truth was, I had no reason to refuse this "goodwill." My finances were on the verge of collapse, and Mr. Elias's offer could completely solve my present predicament. All it asked in return was that I help him deal with an arranged family marriage.

I had no reason to say no.

I picked up the pen and, with grave deliberation, signed my name.