Theresa Sinclair is drowning in debt, her company's future hanging by a thread. In a final, desperate attempt to save her life's work, she accepts a marriage proposal from Chris Callahan, a cold, ruthless billionaire known for his business acumen and his ruthless manipulation of people. The agreement? A contract marriage, no love, just business. In exchange, Chris promises to bail out her company, giving her the chance to rebuild everything she's lost. But the contract is more than what Theresa bargained for. As she navigates this emotionally detached marriage, she discovers that Chris has his own hidden agenda. She's not just a pawn in his plan she's part of a much bigger scheme. Secrets unfold, and betrayal cuts deeper than she ever imagined. When Chris's affair with a former lover is revealed, Theresa is blindsided, but the shock doesn't end there she's pregnant with his child. Now, she must decide whether she can forgive him and fight for the future she never expected or let it all burn in a marriage that was never meant to be.
Chapter 1 The Deal
The Deal
Theresa Sinclair sat in her office, the hum of the fluorescent lights above her a stark contrast to the panic rising in her chest. The once-thriving tech company she had built from the ground up was now a sinking ship, and despite her best efforts to keep it afloat, the numbers didn't lie. Debts were piling up. Investors were pulling back. Her employees were starting to whisper behind closed doors. She could already feel the weight of failure pressing down on her shoulders, threatening to crush her.
Her fingers tapped nervously on the edge of her desk as she glanced over the financial projections one more time. Every figure, every chart, seemed to mock her. She had always been proud of her ability to solve problems, to find solutions where others saw none. But this time? This time, she was running out of options.
The knock on the door was soft but firm. She didn't look up.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly, and she knew immediately who it was. Chris Callahan. Tall, dark-haired, and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his presence was as imposing as it was magnetic. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with that signature smirk she had grown used to over the past few months.
"Theresa," he said, his voice smooth like velvet, yet with an edge that made her stomach clench. "We need to talk."
She didn't respond immediately. She just stared at him, eyes narrowed, trying to read the cold, unreadable expression on his face. Chris Callahan wasn't a man who spoke without purpose, and every interaction with him felt like a carefully orchestrated performance. A businessman who didn't leave room for mistakes or surprises.
She had met him once, briefly, during a meeting with her major investor-an old acquaintance of his. Back then, she had seen him as nothing more than a shadow in the background. A billionaire who had no real stake in her world. Until now.
"What do you want, Chris?" she asked, her voice betraying the exhaustion that weighed on her.
Chris stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat. He moved with purpose, his every step calculated, his movements graceful yet lethal, like a predator in a suit.
"You're in trouble," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I've been keeping an eye on your company, and it's clear you're not going to make it through this alone."
Theresa clenched her jaw, fighting the surge of anger that threatened to surface. "I don't need your help, Callahan."
He chuckled, low and dark, the sound of it sending a chill down her spine. "Oh, but you do. You just haven't realized it yet." He paused, watching her with a piercing gaze. "You're not in a position to be picky, Theresa."
She felt her chest tighten. His words cut deeper than she was willing to admit. "What are you proposing?"
He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "A deal," he said, as though it was the simplest thing in the world. "A marriage. Yours and mine."
Her eyes widened, her heart racing in her chest. "A marriage? Are you out of your mind?" she spat. "I'm not some bargaining chip to be tossed around like this."
Chris didn't flinch. He stood there, unshaken by her reaction. "You don't have a choice. Your company is worth a fortune, but you're about to lose it. Unless you take my offer. I'll bail you out. All your debts, all your troubles. In exchange for one thing: a marriage of convenience."
Theresa felt a wave of nausea hit her stomach. She had heard of this kind of thing happening in business circles-the cold, calculated marriages between two parties with nothing more than money and ambition at stake. But this was different. It was Chris Callahan, the ruthless billionaire whose reputation for manipulation was as legendary as his business empire.
"You can't be serious," she whispered, her mind racing. "Why would you do that? What's in it for you?"
His lips curled into a tight smile, but his eyes remained cold. "I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I'm offering you a chance to save your company. If you don't, I'll have no choice but to take everything you've worked for. You know how I operate, Theresa. I don't make empty threats."
She took a step back, her mind spinning as the weight of his words settled on her. The idea of marrying Chris Callahan, a man she barely knew, felt like the ultimate betrayal. It felt like selling her soul. But what other choice did she have? Her business was slipping through her fingers, and time was running out.
"Why me?" she asked, almost pleading, the desperation creeping into her voice. "There are plenty of other companies you could help. Why mine?"
His gaze softened for the briefest moment, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "I've been watching you, Theresa. You have ambition. Drive. Something most people lack. But you're too proud to ask for help. I'm giving you a way out. You either accept the terms, or you lose everything. It's that simple."
She looked at him, the weight of his words pressing down on her. Could she trust him? Was it really just business, or was there more at play here? She didn't have the answers, but one thing was certain: she couldn't afford to ignore this offer. Her company was crumbling, and Chris Callahan was the only person who could save her.
"I'll need time to think about it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Chris smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Of course. But don't take too long, Theresa. You're running out of time."
He turned to leave, but before he could open the door, he glanced over his shoulder. "By the way... if you say yes, the contract is already prepared. No love. No emotion. Just business."
Theresa's heart pounded in her chest as the door closed behind him, leaving her alone in the silence of her office. She could hear her own breath, the rush of her heartbeat in her ears. The weight of the decision hung over her like a storm cloud. It wasn't just her future on the line anymore. It was everything she had worked for.
And now, it was up to her to decide: take the deal, or lose it all.
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