Clara, an ambitious young woman working in a small fashion company, finds herself on the verge of bankruptcy. As she desperately searches for a solution to save her business, she crosses paths with Alexandre, a charismatic and mysterious billionaire. During a chance meeting at a gala evening, Alexandre proposes a marriage contract to her: he needs a wife for reasons of social appearance and she needs funds to relaunch her career. At first, Clara hesitates, but the promises of financial support and the opportunity to live in a luxurious world encourage her to accept. Over time, their relationship evolves. What begins as a purely contractual arrangement turns into a passionate love story. However, secrets from Alexandre's past threaten to tear them apart. Clara must navigate her growing feelings and the complications their agreement brings. The novel deals with themes such as true love versus material interest, trust and the sacrifices one is willing to make to protect those they love.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
Clara's world collapsed before her eyes.
Sitting behind her desk cluttered with folders, she stared at her computer screen where cruel red letters appeared, the verdict of her accountant: ** "Critical situation: risk of imminent bankruptcy" **. His heart was hugging. She blinks several times, as if the simple fact of looking away could erase this harsh reality. But the figures did not lie. His business, his dream, the fruit of several years of sacrifices and white nights, was flowing.
She passed a trembling hand in her brown hair and let go of a long sigh. ** How had she got there? ** Did she still remember the day she had launched her clothing brand, full of hope and ambition. His creation workshop, nestled in a small street in Paris, had started modestly, but with real potential. Its unique designs, a subtle mixture of elegance and modernity, had quickly attracted a faithful clientele. But ruthless competition and the economic crisis had been right for its efforts.
She pushed her chair and got up with a nervous movement, traveling the room long and wide. Unpaid bills piled up on his desk as silent witnesses to his failure. She grabbed an envelope and tore it ragingly. A new formal notice. She clenched her fists. ** If she did not find a solution quickly, she should put the key under the door. **
- Mess...
His voice was shaking under emotion. Panic tied her stomach, but she tried to pull herself up. No, it was not over yet. There must have been a way. It was ** that there was a means.
She grabbed her phone and immediately called her accountant, Jean-Marc.
- Jean-Marc, tell me that there is a solution ...
A heavy silence preceded the response of the old man with a tired voice.
- Clara, I'm sorry. Debts accumulate, creditors become impatient, and sales are no longer enough to cover the charges ...
- I know, I know! she exclaimed, frustrated. But there must be something to do! A loan? Any help?
- I've already went around the possibilities, he sighed. You can always try a last appointment with your bank, but I don't want to give you false hopes ...
False hopes or not, she had no choice.
###
The next morning, Clara was sitting in an icy office of the ** Banque de France **, her fingers tense on her handbag. Faced with her, an advisor to the austere face traveled her file by shaking her head.
- Mademoiselle Morel, I'm going to be honest with you ...
Clara felt her breath blocked in her chest. She hated this sentence. Whenever a banker said it, the rest was still a disaster.
- Your business has accumulated too many debts in recent months. We cannot take such a significant risk by granting you an additional loan.
Clara opened her mouth, desperately looking for a distributed.
- I ... Listen, my creations please, I still have loyal customers, and I have innovative in mind projects that could relaunch the activity ... I just need a little more time ...
The banker crossed his fingers on the desk and stared at it with a neutral look.
- I understand your situation, but from a financial point of view, your company no longer offers enough guarantees.
- Can't make an effort? A longer reimbursement period?
- I'm sorry, Mademoiselle Morel.
These words resonated in his head as an irrevocable sentence. She felt a wave of despair overwhelm her.
She got up slowly, her gaze empty.
- Thank you anyway ...
She left the bank with a mechanical step. The cold wind of January whispered her face as she walked unexpectedly in the streets of Paris. She passed an illuminated showcase where a creator dress was exhibited. A deaf rage rose in her. ** Why did some succeed and not? Why was everything to be so complicated? **
She pushed a long sigh. The answer was obvious. ** Money. ** Those who succeeded had capital, investors, connections ... and she had only her ideas and her hard work. But obviously, that was no longer enough.
She jumped while feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket. Léa.
She hesitated for a second before winning.
- Hello ?
- Clara, where are you? I tried to call you several times!
- Sorry ... I went out to take the air.
Léa marked a silence, then resumed in a worried tone:
- It didn't go well, huh?
Clara let go of a bitter laugh.
- No. They refused me the loan. I'm fucked up, Léa.
- No, you are not fucked up, protested her friend with vigor. Listen to me, there is a ** solution **.
Clara arqua a eyebrow.
- What solution?
- Tonight there is a gala evening organized by the ** Duval & Co ** Foundation. This is where all the most influential investors find themselves. If someone can help you, it's there.
Clara sighed.
- Lea, I have neither the energy nor the desire to pretend to smile in a worldly evening.
- And what do you plan to do then? Wait until your creditors come to express you? You no longer have the luxury of moping, Clara. You have to act.
Clara remained silent. Her friend was right. If she wanted to save her business, she had to try everything for everything **.
- Okay, she finally gave in. But I have nothing to put myself ...
- Don't worry, I have the dress you need. I go get you in two hours.
Léa hung up before Clara could protest more.
She stayed for a few moments standing on the sidewalk, fixing the screen on her phone, hesitant. This gala was perhaps his last chance to find an investor ... or maybe just another disillusionment.
But she no longer had a choice.
Tonight, everything was going to be played.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
31/01/2025
Chapter 2 Chapitre 2
31/01/2025
Chapter 3 Chapitre 3
31/01/2025
Chapter 4 Chapitre 4
31/01/2025
Chapter 5 Chapitre 5
31/01/2025
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