Bought by the billionaire

Karen:
My family is drowning in debt, and desperation leaves me with no choice. When billionaire Damien Steele offers me a deal that could save us, I know I should say no. But for me it’s not an option.

Damien:
I need a wife—fast. 

Without one, my inheritance slips through my fingers. 

Karen seems perfect: desperate, easy to control, and just greedy enough to play along. For me, this is a game. No strings, no feelings, just a transaction.

Or so I thought.

What starts as a cold bargain ignites into something neither of us expected. But the deeper I fall, the higher the stakes climb—and the price of this marriage may be more than either of us can afford.

“You won’t get a penny.”

I don’t assist my eighty-year-old father, who’s struggling to get out of his chair. His cane is enough. He glares at me, and something strong and fierce twists his features as he tries to get up. I stand at his desk with my hands in my black trousers pockets and watch his body fail him while his mind is still young.

I exhale a large breath. “You’re not making this easy on yourself.”

He’s finally standing and points the cane at me before slamming it back down on the wooden floor. “I don’t want easy, my boy. I’ve worked for everything I have. You just have to do one little thing, and it’s all yours.”

His billion-dollar empire.

That’s what he’s offering me. I want the company, and I want the money, I really do, but I have to marry within three days to inherit the lot. Is this meeting a test? My father holds my gaze, and I search for the deceit in his eyes. If I was left to my own devices, I would never marry.

“How do you expect me to find someone in three days?” 

He wobbles on the cane as he takes a step toward me. “That’s the deal. If you aren’t married in three days, there will be no inheritance.” His smile twists and shakes along with the rest of his body.

I have spent every waking hour of my time working for him, knowing one day his company would be mine. I just never thought it would come with strings attached.

“What about the girl?” my father cackles.

I rub my face. Removing the cane from him and watching him fall is an enticing thought right now. His death would end this stupidity, but maybe he put it somewhere in writing that I had to marry in order to receive my inheritance. He’s a sneaky bastard like that.

I need to keep calm. “What girl?”

His brown eyes lighten as they narrow at me. “You know what girl I’m talking about. The only girl you’ve ever shown an interest in.”

Karen. 

He’s talking about Karen. She’s a friend’s sister, money-hungry and easy. I haven’t seen Marcus, her brother, since he went off to college, and we went our separate ways.

“Karen?” Her name leaves a bad taste in my mouth. What feels worse is the gleeful smile in my father’s eyes.

“Yes, Karen. Ask her to marry you.” He taps the cane on the floor before walking past me.

He pauses when we’re shoulder to shoulder. “Three days. The conditions are in the envelope on my desk.” He leaves the room.

If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Karen will be easy to catch. Once she smells the money, she won’t just be my wife, but she’ll be in my bed as well. It’s a good thing she’s beautiful. It just sweetens this deal.

KAREN

No matter how many times I tally up the medical expenses, it keeps coming back with a number we can’t afford. My parents have already lost enough, and now I’m holding down three jobs. There aren’t enough hours in the day for a fourth job, but I need a fourth job to clear all the debt.

My eyes and throat burn. Damn Marcus. He’s so irresponsible. We thought that when he went to college, he would settle down, get an education, and a good job. Instead, he partied too hard and abused his body to the point we had to get him into rehab. We wanted the Marcus we once loved back.

I told my parents not to worry, that I would take care of it. At the time, I had no idea it would cost this much.

Leaving the table, I refill the kettle and put it on while watching the rain stream down the window. I could move back home. I shiver at the thought and wrap my black cardigan tighter around me. It wouldn’t be that bad. I’m barely here anyway. I’m always working. The ringing phone is a reminder that I need to get my house phone disconnected. It’s another bill I can’t afford right now.

“Hello.”

“Karen Watson, this is Damien.” The deep voice has my brows furrowing. I recognize it, but I’m not sure from where. Maybe this is about a job I applied for.

“Hi, Damien. What can I do for you?” The kettle boils, and I hope this conversation doesn’t last long, as my brain is demanding coffee.

“I have a proposal for you.” His self-assured voice is tickling at my brain, but I still can’t put a face to the name. “I need a wife, and I’m willing to pay a substantial amount.”

I exhale a short laugh. “I’ve gotten this offer in my emails, but never one by phone. So kudos to you on the fresh idea, but don’t call this number again.” I place the phone back on the receiver and enter the kitchen. The phone starts ringing again, and I ignore it as it continues to ring out. It’s odd that whoever is trying to scam me is this persistent, even when I called them out.

After the sixth time, my patience comes to an end. “Listen, buddy, quit calling. You are not going to scam me today. Okay? You got that?”

“It’s Damien Black. I was friends with Marcus.”

Heat enters my chest and makes a burning path up to my face. “Sorry, I had some guy calling and…” I trail off. “Never mind.” It takes my brain a second to realize that the voice of the first caller is the same one right now.

“My proposal was real. Are you interested?”

I sit down on the chair that’s positioned by the telephone. All the furnishings belonged to the previous owner.

“You were serious?”

“Yes. I need a wife in three days. I will pay you.”

Damien is every woman’s fantasy. That is until you got to know the arrogant jerk behind it.

“How much?” My face burns as my mouth spews the question. My self-respect just escaped through the half-open window in the hall.

I hear a half snort-laugh. “How much do you want, Karen?”

Gritting my teeth, I tell myself to slam the phone down and pull the cord from the wall. Instead, I throw out, “Fifty thousand.” It isn’t random. That’s how much debt I’m in with my brother’s rehab bills.

“Done.”

I hate how confident he sounds. I hate that I’m really considering this.

“I need all the terms before I can make a decision.” Am I really going to do this? This is madness.

“I think we should discuss this in person.”

I switch the phone to the other ear. I don’t want him in my home. “We will meet at your place. I’ll need the address.”

“Give me your address. I’ll have my driver pick you up.”

My hand curls around the phone. “That’s not necessary, Damien. Just give me the address, and I’ll make my own way there.”

He was always bossy, and normally, Damien got whatever Damien wanted. But we aren’t children anymore.

“I’m on Farrell’s Way—The Lair Hotel. The penthouse. Just tell them at reception that you’re there for me.”

Don’t do it, Karen. Just figure out something else.

That’s the logical part of my brain. But the weary part that has been keeping down three jobs and living on barely any sleep is begging me to take it. If I can clear Marcus’s debt, I can go back to living and not just existing.

“I’ll be there within the hour,” I say and drop the receiver before he can answer. I just needed to get the last word in. Call it a childish win.