Lillian Blackwood

Derrick Blackwood stared out the panoramic window of his corner office, jaw clenched as he surveyed the Manhattan skyline. The sprawling city below was a constant reminder of all that was at stake, the legacy, the empire, the future of Blackwood Enterprises. And it was all slipping through his fingers.

He turned away from the view, sinking into the plush leather chair behind his desk. The air was thick with the weight of responsibility, a burden that had rested heavily on his shoulders since his father's passing two years prior. As the sole heir, the company's fate now lay squarely on him.

Derrick ran a hand through his neatly styled dark hair, his brow furrowed in concentration. The quarterly earnings report sat open on his desk, the numbers stark and unforgiving. Blackwood Enterprises was hemorrhaging money, the once-thriving conglomerate teetering on the edge of ruin.

If he didn't find a solution, and fast, his family's legacy would crumble, taking everything Derrick held dear down with it.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," Derrick called, straightening in his chair as his executive assistant, Olivia, stepped into the office.

"Mr. Blackwood, I have the updated cash flow projections you requested." She approached the desk, holding out a slim folder.

Derrick took it, flipping it open. His frown deepened as he scanned the figures. "This is worse than I thought," he muttered, jaw tightening. "We're bleeding out faster than I anticipated."

Olivia nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so, sir. At this rate, the company will be insolvent within six months."

The words landed like a sucker punch, Derrick's stomach twisting. He'd known the situation was dire, but hearing the stark reality spoken aloud made it all the more stark.

"There has to be a way to turn this around," he insisted, closing the folder and setting it aside. "Something, anything, that can save the company."

Olivia hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her leather portfolio. "Well, sir, there is one option you've been considering..."

Derrick's gaze sharpened. "The trust fund." Of course, that was the key. His grandfather had left him a sizable inheritance, but the funds were locked away, only accessible if Derrick met certain criteria. Criteria that, until now, had seemed unattainable.

"Yes. The trust fund stipulates that you must be married in order to access the full amount." Olivia paused, her expression cautious. "It's a substantial sum, more than enough to stabilize the company's finances."

Derrick let out a humorless laugh. "Married. As if I have time for that." He drummed his fingers on the desk, mind racing. The trust fund was his last hope, but the idea of getting married, of finding a suitable partner on such short notice...

"I realize it's an unorthodox requirement," Olivia said gently. "But desperate times call for desperate measures, as they say."

Derrick knew she was right. With Blackwood Enterprises on the brink of collapse, he couldn't afford to be picky. He needed to act, and act fast. The fate of his family's legacy depended on it.

"All right," he said, straightening in his chair. "Start compiling a list of potential candidates. I want to know every eligible bachelorette in this city who fits the trust fund's criteria."

Olivia nodded, already pulling a small notebook from her portfolio. "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. I'll get started right away."

As she hurried from the office, Derrick turned his gaze back to the cityscape outside his window. The glittering towers and bustling streets were a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within.

He had always prided himself on his control, his ability to navigate any obstacle with cool, calculating precision. But this - this was uncharted territory. Finding a wife, on demand, to save his family's company? It was absurd, the stuff of romantic comedies, not real life.