THE BILLIONAIRE'S OBSESSION

Amelia Parker sat at the small, cluttered desk of her father's office, staring at the pile of bills in front of her. The numbers blurred as her eyes welled with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't afford to break down-not now, not when everything was slipping through her fingers.

Her father's company, once thriving, was now on the brink of bankruptcy. Years of hard work and sacrifice seemed about to come to nothing, and the weight of it pressed down on her chest like a heavy stone. Her father, the man who had built this company from the ground up, had passed away suddenly, leaving her with nothing but debts to inherit.

Amelia rubbed her temples, her mind racing for a solution. There was only one option left, but it was a path she never thought she would take.

"Amelia?" a voice called from the door.

She looked up to see her assistant, Sarah, standing in the doorway with a hesitant look on her face. Amelia's heart sank. She knew what Sarah was here to say.

"They're here," Sarah said softly.

Amelia nodded, rising to her feet. She had been expecting this meeting, but the reality of it still made her stomach twist with unease.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and followed Sarah out of the office. The conference room was just down the hall, and as they entered, the atmosphere shifted-cold, calculated, and charged with an air of impatience.

At the head of the table sat Alexander Blackwood, the billionaire who owned the company that had recently acquired her father's. He was tall, his dark suit fitting him perfectly, his sharp features framed by a chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her.

He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something-amusement, maybe? Or was it disdain? It was impossible to tell, but it made her pulse quicken.

"Miss Parker," he said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over her. "I trust you've had time to consider my offer?"

Amelia's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She had considered nothing but the implications of the proposal. Alexander's offer was simple: a marriage of convenience. He would forgive the company's debts in exchange for her hand in marriage. A cold, pragmatic deal. Nothing more.

"I've thought about it," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "But I need more time. This is-"

"Time isn't something you have, Miss Parker," Alexander interrupted, his tone firm. "Your father's company is on the verge of collapse, and you're out of options. This is the only way to save it. You'll marry me, and in return, I'll ensure the business survives. No more games."

The words hit her like a slap. She had known this moment was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made her stomach churn. She wasn't naive enough to think she could negotiate with someone like Alexander Blackwood, but she had hoped for a little more compassion-maybe even an ounce of understanding.

Instead, she was faced with a man who saw everything as a transaction. A man who didn't care about her feelings, her grief, or the legacy of her father.

"You don't understand," she said, her voice breaking despite her best efforts. "This is my father's life's work. I can't just-"

"I understand perfectly," Alexander said, his gaze hardening. "And you'll understand soon enough that this is your only way out. Sign the papers, and it's over. You'll be free. I'll take care of the rest."

Amelia swallowed, her mind racing. She had spent the last few days going over her options-none of them were good. This marriage, this contract, was her only choice. But could she really marry a man she barely knew, let alone one who saw her father's legacy as little more than a bargaining chip?

The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable. Finally, she nodded, her decision made. There was no other way.

"I'll sign," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander's lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good. We'll get the paperwork sorted."

As the meeting continued, Amelia's mind was elsewhere, her thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief. She had just agreed to marry a man she didn't trust, for the sake of saving a business that had always been her father's dream.

But as the deal was sealed, a sense of dread settled over her. What had she just signed up for? And more importantly, what was Alexander Blackwood really after?