Sienna's pulse pounded in her ears.
She wasn't engaged. She had never even met Damien Blackwood before tonight. And yet, here she was, standing beside him as he casually introduced her as his future wife.
She needed to get out of this mess. Fast.
As soon as the executives turned their attention elsewhere, she hissed under her breath, "Are you out of your mind? I am not your fiancée."
Damien's expression remained unreadable. "I know."
Her jaw dropped. "Then why—"
"Because I needed one," he said simply.
Sienna stared at him, completely baffled. "That's not an answer! You don't just claim a random woman as your fiancée!"
"Watch me," Damien said coolly, then steered her towards a more secluded corner of the lounge.
Sienna yanked her arm free. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm not part of it."
His eyes darkened, the air between them shifting. "You are now."
She scoffed. "Says who?"
He leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. "Sienna, I just saved myself from a business scandal that could cost billions. If you walk out now, the media will tear us apart. They'll call you a gold-digger, a fraud, and—most importantly—they'll find out the truth."
Sienna swallowed hard. "The truth being that I'm not actually engaged to you?"
"Exactly."
She crossed her arms. "So you expect me to just… go along with this? Pretend to be engaged to a man I don't even know?"
"Yes."
Her mouth fell open. "You're insane."
Damien sighed as if dealing with a stubborn child. "You want me to beg? Fine. But I doubt you'll do it out of the kindness of your heart." His gaze flickered over her, assessing. "You run a flower shop, don't you?"
Her stomach twisted. "How do you know that?"
"I do my research," he said smoothly. "I know your business is struggling. You're three months behind on rent, your landlord is threatening eviction, and your loan application was just denied last week."
Sienna's breath caught. How did he know all that?
He took a step closer, his voice low. "You help me, and I'll help you."
Her heart pounded. "Help me how?"
"I'll pay off your debts. Every single one. And I'll fund your shop for the next year. You'll have the freedom to expand, hire more staff—hell, even open a second location if you want." His gray eyes locked onto hers. "All you have to do is pretend to be my fiancée for three months."
Three months.
Her mind reeled. It was ridiculous. Outrageous. But also… tempting.
She had been drowning in debt for months. No matter how hard she worked, it never seemed to be enough. This deal—however insane—could change everything.
But at what cost?
Sienna took a shaky breath. "And after three months?"
"We 'break up.'" He shrugged. "I'll make sure the media believes it was mutual. You'll walk away with your business intact, and I'll have finalized my deal."
Her pulse pounded in her ears. "What's in it for you?"
Damien's expression hardened. "I need to secure an acquisition. Investors are hesitant because I'm 'too much of a lone wolf.' They want stability. A family man." His lips curled in distaste. "An engagement proves I'm settled, responsible. It gets them to trust me."
"And lying to them is better?" she shot back.
He smirked. "You'd be surprised how many billion-dollar deals are built on appearances."
Sienna wanted to say no. She wanted to walk out of this room and never see Damien Blackwood again.
But could she really afford to?
A year's worth of financial security. A chance to save her shop.
Was three months of pretending really so bad?
Damien watched her carefully. "Make your decision, Miss Carter. But I don't make the same offer twice."
Her throat felt dry. "I want a contract," she said finally.
His brows lifted slightly, almost as if he were impressed. "Done."
She took a deep breath. "Then I guess I'm your fiancée."