The week following the charity gala passed in a blur of meetings, deadlines, and a valiant attempt to bury the memories of that fateful night deep within the recesses of my mind. But try as I might, I couldn't shake the phantom sensation of James's touch, the searing heat of his kisses, and the unnerving tenderness in his eyes as he bid me goodbye.

My muscles tensed and shook as I recalled the memory, sending my phone tumbling to the car's floor.

Shaking off the unwelcome thoughts, I strode into the office on Monday morning, my armour of tailored suits and steely determination firmly in place. I had a company to run, and I couldn't afford to be distracted by a moment of weakness.

But as I settled into my desk, a frown creased my brow. Glaring up at me from my calendar, there was a surprise board meeting scheduled for that very afternoon. There was no agenda or prior warning - just a cryptic summon that sent a trickle of unease down my spine.

"Matheo," I called out, my voice tight with concern. "Can you come in here for a moment?"

My assistant appeared in the doorway, his usually placid expression tinged with worry. "Yes, Ms. Hunter? Is everything alright?"

I gestured to the screen, the ominous meeting block seeming to mock me with its very presence. "Did you have any prior knowledge of this board meeting? It's not like them to spring something on me at the last minute."

Matheo frowned, shaking his head. "No, I'm afraid not. It was added to your schedule late last night, with no additional information provided."

I sighed, massaging my temples as a sinking suspicion took root. "It must be about the marriage thing...," I muttered, more to myself than to Matheo. "They're not going to let this go, are they?"

Matheo's expression turned sympathetic, and he hesitated before speaking. "If I may, Ms. Hunter... perhaps it would be prudent to prepare some alternative proposals? Something to show the board that there are other ways to demonstrate stability and growth potential."

I nodded, a flicker of determination igniting within me. "You're right, Matheo. I won't let them steamroll me into a decision that could impact the rest of my life. Start pulling together some projections and market analyses. When I walk into that boardroom, I want to be armed with every possible argument."

For the next several hours, Matheo and I worked tirelessly, crafting a comprehensive presentation showcasing Hunter Enterprises' strengths, future prospects, and potential avenues for expansion. By the time the board meeting rolled around, I felt confident and prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

But as I strode into the conference room, my head held high and my spine straight, I was met with a wall of impassive faces and an air of immovable resolve. The chairman, a silver-haired man with piercing eyes, wasted no time getting to the point.

"Ms. Hunter," he began, his tone clipped and businesslike. "We've called this meeting to follow up on our previous discussion regarding your marital status and its impact on the company's image."

I forced a polite smile, determined not to let my frustration show. "Yes, I anticipated as much. And while I understand the board's concerns, I believe there are alternative ways to demonstrate Hunter Enterprises' stability and reliability."

With a nod to Matheo, I launched into my carefully crafted presentation, detailing potential partnerships, CSR initiatives, and long-term growth strategies. But as I spoke, I could feel the room's energy shift, the board members' expressions growing increasingly sceptical and disinterested.

Finally, the chairman held up a hand, cutting me off mid-sentence. "Ms. Hunter," he sighed, a note of condescension creeping into his voice. "While your proposals are certainly admirable, they lack the immediate impact and symbolism of a strategic marriage. Partnerships and initiatives take time to cultivate. We need swift, decisive action to reassure stakeholders and the public."

I felt my stomach drop, a cold fury rising in my chest. "With all due respect," I bit out, my voice tightly controlled, "I fail to see how my personal life has any bearing on my ability to lead this company. I have proven myself time and again, and to reduce my worth to my marital status is frankly insulting."

The chairman's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished table. "Ms. Hunter, you must understand our position. The optics of an unmarried female CEO, particularly at your age, raise questions about stability and long-term commitment. A strategic marriage would go a long way in quelling those concerns."

I opened my mouth to protest, but another board member cut in, a sly smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "If it's a question of finding a suitable match, we've compiled a list of potential candidates. All from excellent families, with strong ties to the business community."

He slid a folder across the table, and I flipped it open with trembling fingers. There, staring up at me from glossy headshots, were the smiling faces of a dozen men - all of them, I realised with a sinking heart, connected to the very board members who now watched me with predatory interest.

"This is unacceptable," I snapped, my composure slipping as anger and betrayal coursed through my veins. "I will not be bought and sold like some prized broodmare, traded off to the highest bidder for appearances."

The chairman's expression hardened, and he steepled his fingers, his gaze boring into mine. "Ms. Hunter, I would advise you to think very carefully about your next move. The board has been more than patient, but our goodwill has its limits. You have one week to reconsider your position. If you continue to resist, we will have no choice but to take more drastic measures."

The implication hung heavy in the air, and I felt a cold knot of dread settle in my stomach. They wouldn't dare, would they? After everything I had sacrificed, all the blood, sweat, and tears I had poured into building Hunter Enterprises from the ground up?

But as I looked into the faces of the men who held my fate in their hands, I saw no hint of mercy or understanding. Only a ruthless determination to bend me to their will, no matter the cost.

With a curt nod, I gathered my papers and stood, my legs trembling beneath me. "I will take your ultimatum under advisement," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "If there's nothing else, I have work to attend to."

I didn't wait for a response, striding from the room with as much dignity as I could muster. But as the door swung shut behind me, I felt my resolve crumble, hot tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

Back in the sanctuary of my office, I collapsed into my chair, my head in my hands, as the weight of the board's threat crashed over me. How did it come to this? How had I allowed myself to be backed into a corner, my very livelihood dangling by a thread?

But even as despair threatened to overwhelm me, a flicker of defiance ignited in my chest. I had built an empire from nothing and had clawed my way to the top through sheer grit and determination. And I would be damned if I let a bunch of old men dictate the course of my life.

If they wanted to play games, then I would play - but by my own rules.

With a trembling hand, I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found the one name that sent a shiver down my spine: James Maeers.

He was the man who had tormented, humiliated, and broken me in ways I thought impossible. But he was also the one who had just recently seen me at my most vulnerable, who had held me in his arms and made me feel things I didn't know needed or desired, things I had long since stifled. The thought of reaching out to him made the tension return to my body, and my fingers trembled as I processed the next steps and their implications.

Before I could second-guess myself, I typed a message, my fingers flying over the screen.

I hit send before I could change my mind, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched the text bubble appear on the screen. There was no turning back now. I had set the wheels in motion and had taken the first step down a path that could either lead to my salvation or my ruin. My stomach churned as I stared at my phone; I felt a sickening force push something up within me, and before I could even move out of the office, I reached out to the bin next to my desk and emptied my stomach contents.

After the violent reaction, my body settled. A strange calm washing over me as I waited for James' reply. Because despite everything - the fear, the uncertainty, the knowledge that I was playing with fire - I knew one thing for sure.

I would not go down without a fight. And if that meant forging an alliance with the devil himself and revisiting my trauma and ghosts, then so be it.

After all, desperate times called for desperate measures. And I had never been one to back down from a challenge.

His reply came swiftly.

I felt the wicked smirk hidden behind his neatly written message, sending a shudder down my body. There was no turning back now.

✦﹒✦﹒✦

The ride to the hotel restaurant passed in a blur, my mind churning with a dizzying maelstrom of thoughts and emotions.

As much as it galled me to admit it, James was my last hope, my only chance at maintaining control over my company and future.

Katherine's revelation about James's own parental pressure to marry and clean up his playboy image echoed in my mind, along with the disturbing information I had uncovered about his father's shady financial dealings before James took over as CEO.

Armed with this knowledge and steeling myself, I stepped out of my McLaren and entered the opulent lobby with leaden feet, my stomach twisting into anxious knots.

The maitre d' greeted me with a deferential nod, guiding me through the plush carpeted hallways to the VIP room where James awaited. As I stepped inside, the heavy door swung shut behind me with a muted thud; I felt my breath catch in my throat.

There he sat, lounging in a wingback chair like a king holding court. The muted glow of the artfully placed lamps played over his chiselled features, throwing the sharp angles of his cheekbones and jaw into stark relief. Seeing him, all tousled hair and glinting eyes, sent an involuntary shiver racing down my spine.

As he rose to greet me, a lazy smirk playing about the corners of his mouth, I felt my heartbeat stutter and then accelerate, my traitorous body responding to his presence even as my mind whispered words of warning.

"Noreen," he practically purred, his velvety voice pitched low and intimate. "To what do I owe the distinct pleasure?"

His words, laden with sensual promise, sent heat rushing to my cheeks even as indignation flared white-hot in my chest. Bristling, I brushed past him and slid into my seat, determined not to let him get a rise out of me.

"Don't flatter yourself," I bit out, focusing with exaggerated interest on the menu as if the Chef's Specials held the universe's secrets. "I'm here to discuss business, nothing more."

James chuckled, the sound grating against my raw nerves like sandpaper. But mercifully, he refrained from pushing, instead settling into his own chair with effortless grace. Moments later, a waitress glided over to take our orders, leaving a bottle of full-bodied red wine in her wake before withdrawing discreetly.

Wasting no time, I poured myself a generous glass and tossed it back in one long swallow, the rich vintage burning a fiery path down my throat. The alcohol settled some of the restless anxiety humming beneath my skin. Liquid courage fortifying me, I slid a manila envelope across the snowy expanse of tablecloth separating us.

"Let's get married. Those are my terms."

James stared at me for a breath or two, his ocean eyes blown wide with shock. Then, an incredulous laugh burst from his chest, some of the suave veneer slipping to reveal genuine surprise beneath.

"Well, well. I know I'm good, but I didn't realize I was 'marry me' good. If a little necking has you this sprung, imagine what a real night together could do..."

"Enough!" I snapped, cutting off his cocky spiel with an irritated wave of my hand. "This isn't about that, about us. My board forces me to marry within the year as some ridiculous show of stability. And from what I hear, you're in a similar boat with your parents riding you to clean up your act. A marriage between us could solve both our problems."

James's eyes narrowed, a sudden sharpness entering his gaze. "And just what exactly have you heard about my situation?"

I met his stare unflinchingly, refusing to be cowed. "Enough to know you need this arrangement as much as I do. I found interesting discrepancies in your company's financials before you took the reins. I'm guessing dear old dad wasn't exactly playing by the rules?"

A muscle ticked in James's jaw, his expression hardening into something cold and remote. For a moment, I thought he might storm out, my blunt words pushing too far. But then, to my surprise, his shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly, a flicker of weary resignation crossing his face.

"Dear old dad, as you so eloquently said, nearly ran the family business into the ground chasing his vices. I've spent the last year cleaning up his messes and trying to right the ship. But you're right...a scandal now could undo everything I've worked for."

I knew all too well the pressures of trying to build something lasting in the shadow of flawed forebears. Reaching into the envelope, I withdrew the sheaf of papers outlining my proposal and slid them back to him.

"Then let me help. I have a team of forensic accountants who can sweep this under the rug and make sure your father's sins don't come back to haunt you. In exchange, you help me get my board off my back by playing the doting husband. Two years, in name only. We both walk away with what we need, no strings attached."

James picked up the contract, scanning the legalese with a sharp eye. "And the terms of this marriage?"

I tapped a finger against the relevant passage. "All assets remain separate. We split our time between our respective residences to keep up appearances. Shared public events, but our private lives remain our own. No romantic or sexual relationships with third parties. An amicable divorce once the agreed-upon time frame has elapsed. Simple, clean, mutually beneficial."

James was silent for a long moment, gaze intent on the papers in his hands. I could practically see the wheels turning behind his eyes, that formidable mind weighing pros and cons with ruthless efficiency. At last, he looked up, meeting my eyes with a penetrating stare.

"Why me? We both know there are easier ways for a woman with your resources to secure a temporary husband," he said simply, tossing the contract back onto the table between us. My heart plummeted, shock giving way to a sinking sense of dread.

I stood frozen, paralyzed by the directness of his inquiry, the penetrating weight of his gaze. A dozen glib responses, each more hollow than the last, sprang to mind. Ultimately, I settled for the most straightforward truth, my voice barely a murmur.

"Because I know you're the only one ruthless enough to understand the hardships I find myself in and the reasons behind such an agreement."

James's lips smirked, clearly satisfied with my answer, "OK, let's do it."

"Good. We'll announce our engagement at the tech summit next month. Until then, this stays strictly between us. I expect your discretion...and your signature by the end of the day tomorrow."

James rose to join me, a wolfish smile playing about his lips. "Oh, I'm nothing if not discreet. So long as you promise to wear that sinful red number from the gala to an event of my choosing. I want my peers pea green with envy when I put a ring on that elegant finger."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to leave.

✦﹒✦﹒✦

The days following my clandestine dinner with James passed in a blur of legal paperwork and tense negotiations. We hammered out the finer details of our arrangement, each concession feeling like a small piece of my soul bartered away. But in the end, we had a deal.

With the contract's ink barely dry, I called for a board meeting that Friday, steeling myself for the inevitable showdown. As I strode into the room, exuding confidence and resolve, I could feel their gazes boring into me, expectant.

"Gentlemen," I began, my voice clear and strong. "I've called you here today to announce that I've decided to acquiesce to your request. I will be getting married within the year, as per your stipulations for my continued leadership of Hunter Enterprises."

A murmur rippled through the room, surprise and grudging respect mingling on the lined faces of the men who had sought to control me. The chairman leaned forward, bushy brows furrowed over sharp eyes.

"I must say, Ms. Hunter, this is an unexpected development. Who is the lucky gentleman?

I smiled thinly, a hint of steel beneath the polished veneer. "All will be revealed in due time, sir. Suffice it to say, he has impeccable breeding and business acumen. Our union will bring the company a new era of growth and prosperity. That's all you need to know for now."

The chairman sat back, lips pursed in disapproval at my evasion. But he could hardly argue with results, and I had played my hand masterfully. They would have their wedding, their shiny new stability...but it would be on my terms.

"Very well," he conceded at last, shuffling his papers with an air of reluctant acceptance. "I look forward to meeting this mysterious man at the soonest opportunity."

"Surely," I demurred, already rising to take my leave. "If there's nothing else, gentlemen, I have a wedding to plan and a company to manage."

With that parting shot, I swept from the room, sighing in relief as the heavy oak doors swung shut behind me. One battlefield down, a hundred more to go. But for now, I would savour this small victory...and brace myself for the challenges ahead.