Emiliana's POV

I stared at the email in disbelief, my mind racing as i read the legal jargon for the hundredth time. My father's will had left me with two impossible options: either i married Isaac Matthew, a man i had never met and barely heard of, or the family business-the legacy of generations-would fall into the hands of a rival corporation. A marriage of convenience. It sounded ridiculous.

I hadn't spoken to my father in over a decade, not after his reckless decisions nearly cost me everything. Yet, now i was bound by his will and my desperate desire to protect what was left of the empire he had built. There was no time to question the logic behind it; the paperwork had to be signed, and the marriage had to happen in three days.

I heard a knock on my office door, not minding who it was. The door opens and i heard my mother sighed seeing my helpless reaction for this family crisis.

"Have you eaten yet?" she asked as she pats my back. I shake my head as an answer.

"I know you don't want this marriage Emi, but our company needs to merge to Del Casa to have their fundamental and financial support we need th-"

"Alam ko mom, nag iisip lang naman ako kung paano ko ito gagawin, I don't want this kind of marriage. They said they will only give me at least three days para pag isipan ang offer nila." I said sabay bumuntong hininga.

My mom only smiled at me, alam ko namang nahihirapan din siya sa sitwasyon namin ngayon di niya lang pinapakita kasi alam niya na iyon ang kahinaan namin.

Hindi naman pwedeng si Agatha ang ipakasal, she's only 16 years old, limang taon ang tanda ko sa batang iyon at ayokong masira ang kinabukasan niya dahil lamang sa problemang ito.

I check Isaac's background on my laptop. Kakaalis pa lamang ni mommy at may client meeting daw siya sa isa pa naming business, well he's kinda hot and looks arrogant.

Hindi niyo naman ako masisisi eh, i haven't met this guy nor heard of his name.

Isaac Matthew was a name that hovered over the city like a dark cloud. A self-made billionaire with an ironclad reputation for ruthlessness. I didn't believe in fairy tales, but this felt like a nightmare come true. Still, I had no choice. I needed to meet him, to ensure he wouldn't back out, and to somehow make peace with the situation.

I need to meet him now, for assurance lang naman baka kasi mag back out mas lalong ayoko non.

I sent an email to his secretary saying my regards and telling them that i want to meet him personally so we could settle this matter in private. After a minute or two, i received a reply saying an address and an exact time for him to be there.

I fix my things and also fix myself, i look at the mirror in front of me. I'm wearing my tubeless bodycon black dress partnered with my black blazzer and black stilettos. Inabot ko ang bag na dala saka isinuot ang sunglasses na nasa ulohan ko kanina.

Matapos ma double check na okay na ang aking suot ay agad na akong umalis at nag tungo sa parking lot ng opisina namin para mag tungo sa exclusive restaurant malapit lang din sa company building namin.

Nagdrive na ako papunta doon at ilang minuto lang ay agad akong nakarating.

Hindi ko parin tinatanggal ang sunglasses ko saka ako pumasok at nag tanong.

"Excuse me? Reservation for Mr. Isaac Matthew?" I asked, agad naman nila akong dinala sa lamesa. Umupo na ako at nag antay ng ilang minuto bago ko makita ang isang matangkad na lalaki.

I had imagined Isaac Matthew to be a monster. Someone cold, detached, and perhaps even cruel. But when he walked into the sleek, a fancy restaurant where we meet, my assumptions were challenged.

He was tall, with dark hair that contrasted sharply with the sharp angles of his face. His gaze was intense, but not unfriendly. Still, there was something about him-a quiet power-that unnerved me. I stood up as he's slowly approaching towards me, I extended my hand-gesture that was businesslike, yet not entirely dismissive.

"Miss Montgomery," he said, his voice low and steady, "I assume we're both here because we don't have much of a choice."

My throat went dry as i shook his hand. I had expected arrogance, but his words were measured, almost like he was trying to maintain control of the situation without giving away too much.

"I don't know what my father was thinking," I said, my voice were tight. "But I'm here. So let's get this over with."

Isaac lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's not just about getting it over with. This is an agreement. We're partners in this, whether you like it or not."

I felt my chest tighten at the word partners. I wasn't sure i could trust him, but what choice did i have?