SOLD TO THE CEO

Chapter 1: The Deal

Eliana Blake had never been one to believe in fairy tales, but today, as she stood at the top of the grand staircase in her family's crumbling estate, she couldn't shake the eerie feeling that her life had just taken a tragic turn straight out of one.

The air around her felt thick, heavy with the kind of tension that only desperation could create. The mansion, which once held memories of better times, now seemed suffocating. The walls were silent, but the whispers of debt and broken promises echoed in every corner.

Her father had promised her that everything would be fine. He'd said it over and over, with his usual charm, his usual lies. But the mounting debt was more than they could handle. The bank had already taken the house, and now, Eliana was left with nothing but the debts of a broken family and the promises of a future she could never have.

"Eliana," her father's voice pulled her from her thoughts. He stood in the doorway of the parlor, his face pale, sweat beading at his temples. The once proud man who had built an empire from the ground up now looked like a shadow of himself. "It's time."

She didn't need to ask what he meant. There was only one way out now.

The door to the parlor opened, and in stepped the man who would change her life forever. Desmond Blackwood.

At six foot four, with dark, perfectly tailored suits and eyes like the coldest storm, Desmond was a force of nature. His presence commanded the room, and for a moment, the world around her seemed to freeze. Every breath she took felt shallow, every heartbeat amplified in her chest.

He looked at her with those piercing eyes-cold, unfeeling, and calculating. There was no warmth in him, no sympathy. He wasn't here to rescue her. He was here to claim her.

She swallowed hard, trying to maintain composure, but everything inside her screamed to run. Yet, she couldn't. She was trapped in a gilded cage, and there was no escape.

"Eliana," Desmond's voice was smooth, dangerous, like the promise of a storm. "I trust you know why I'm here."

Her heart pounded in her chest. "I do," she whispered, forcing the words out despite the lump in her throat.

"You're aware of the deal your father made," Desmond continued, his gaze unwavering. "He's sold you to me, in exchange for his debts. I now own you, your family's future, and everything you were meant to inherit."

The words felt like a slap across her face, a truth too brutal to bear. Sold. She had been sold.

Desmond stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "Do not mistake this for charity, Eliana. You are mine now-body and soul. And I don't take kindly to resistance."

She wanted to shout, to tell him she wasn't some commodity to be traded. She wasn't his to own. But the words died in her throat, drowned by the weight of the situation.

Her father, trembling by the door, was a man who had always prided himself on his integrity-until that integrity crumbled under the weight of his debts. Now, he was nothing more than a hollow shell, a father who had sold his daughter to save himself.

"Do you understand?" Desmond's voice was like ice, each word cutting deeper than the last.

Eliana nodded stiffly, her body frozen with dread. She had no choice but to accept the cruel reality she had been thrust into.

Desmond's gaze softened for a fleeting moment, though the flicker of emotion vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. He stepped back and gave a small nod to the men behind him-two hulking figures who had been silent observers until now.

"Take her," he ordered.

The men moved, quick and efficient, grabbing Eliana by the arms and guiding her toward the door. Her limbs felt heavy, like they no longer belonged to her. She had become a mere pawn in someone else's game. She wasn't even allowed the dignity of walking out of her own home.

She glanced at her father one last time, but he was too afraid to meet her gaze. He had already betrayed her.

The door slammed shut behind her with a finality that shook her to the core.

---

The drive to Desmond Blackwood's estate was a blur. The car sped through the streets, the cityscape blurring past her like a distant memory. The man who had bought her future sat beside her in complete silence, his icy presence like a wall between them.

Eliana's mind raced. She had no idea where she was going, or what awaited her once they reached their destination. All she knew was that she was no longer in control of her own life.

She could feel Desmond's gaze on her, even though he didn't say a word. Every time she dared to glance at him, she was met with the same cold, impenetrable stare. He wasn't a man who tolerated weakness, and she had no intention of showing him any.

The moment they arrived at his mansion, Eliana felt a chill run down her spine. The estate was massive-cold stone walls, towering gates, and an aura of power that radiated from every inch of the property.

Desmond led her inside, and as she stepped into the grand foyer, she could feel the weight of her new reality crashing down on her. This place was not a home. It was a fortress, and she was its newest prisoner.

"Welcome to your new life, Eliana," Desmond's voice broke the silence as he motioned to the grand staircase before them. "Get used to it."

She wanted to fight. She wanted to scream, to lash out. But the words stuck in her throat. She had no power here. She was no longer a person-just a pawn in a game far too dangerous for her to understand.

"Follow me," Desmond ordered, already heading up the stairs.

With nowhere else to go, Eliana followed him, her heart sinking with each step.

The room he led her to was lavish, but it felt suffocating. The bed was enormous, the furniture expensive, and the view from the window nothing short of breathtaking. But all of it was meaningless. It was a gilded cage, and she was its captive.

Desmond turned to face her, his eyes narrowing. "You'll stay here until further notice. Don't try to escape. It will only make things worse."

She opened her mouth to protest, to tell him she wasn't afraid, but the words felt hollow. She wasn't in control anymore.

He turned, walking toward the door. "Sleep well, Eliana. Tomorrow, we begin."

And with that, he left her alone in the cold, silent room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Eliana sank onto the bed, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her face. This was her life now-sold to the CEO. She had no choice but to survive.

But she swore, in that moment, that she would find a way out. No matter what it took.