Chapter 1 - The Executive Floor
The elevator doors slid open to reveal a private floor made of dark mahogany and bulletproof glass.
Claire stepped out cautiously, her legs trembling violently with every single step she took.
She had never been allowed on the top floor during her entire employment at the company.
Marcus Kane stood perfectly still by a heavy oak door, looking exactly like a highly trained assassin.
He opened the door without saying a single word, gesturing silently for her to enter the office.
Adrian Vale was sitting behind a massive desk, staring intently at the shipping folder she had given him.
The city skyline of Baltimore loomed massively behind him through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
He gestured toward an expensive leather chair situated directly opposite him.
Claire sat down slowly, waiting nervously for the inevitable firing squad she knew was coming.
"You currently owe exactly forty-two thousand dollars to the Petrov syndicate," Adrian said calmly.
Claire felt the oxygen completely leave her lungs in a massive rush of pure panic.
She gripped the arms of the chair so tightly that her knuckles turned entirely white.
"I can genuinely explain everything that happened," she whispered nervously into the quiet room.
"Your former boyfriend, Jeremy Cross, borrowed that money to buy illegal narcotics, not real estate," Adrian continued.
He tossed a thick, highly detailed surveillance file onto the center of his pristine desk.
"He completely stole from the Petrovs, and now they are aggressively coming to collect his debt in your blood."
Claire stared at the terrifying photographs in the file in absolute, unadulterated horror.
"I did not know anything about his criminal activities or his dangerous associates," she pleaded desperately.
"I absolutely know you did not," Adrian replied, leaning forward into the bright sunlight.
"That is precisely why I am going to pay off your massive debt entirely today."
Claire blinked in absolute confusion, her exhausted mind totally unable to process his shocking words.
"Why would a powerful man like you do that for a simple administrative coordinator?" she asked softly.
Adrian stood up gracefully and walked slowly around the massive desk until he was standing right in front of her.
"Because in exactly one hour, you are going to publicly announce to the world that we are engaged to be married," he stated firmly.
"The ruthless Petrovs will never dare to touch the future wife of Adrian Vale."
Claire felt the massive room start to spin violently around her as the shocking proposition set in.
Before she could even attempt to formulate a response, the office doors flew open.
May you like
Marcus burst into the room with his heavy weapon completely drawn and ready to fire.
"Boss, the Petrov debt collectors are already heavily armed in the main lobby, and they are demanding her head," Marcus shouted urgently.
