Bound By Fortune

Chapter 3 : The Wedding Deal

Alina Shaw stared at the thick stack of papers in front of her, the words blurring together as her mind raced. She had known this moment was coming, but the reality of it was more suffocating than she had anticipated. The pre-nuptial agreement-cold, impersonal, and painfully detailed-lay on the table, representing the binding contract she and Leon Grayson were about to enter.

Leon sat across from her in the private conference room, his expression as unreadable as ever. His dark blue suit was perfectly tailored, a stark contrast to the icy demeanor he projected. He was every bit the tech mogul she had expected-calculated, precise, and utterly detached. There was no warmth in his gaze, no hint of the man behind the business persona.

Alina picked up the pen that lay beside the documents, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. The terms of the agreement were clear: they would keep their personal lives entirely separate, maintain a professional facade in public, and after a set number of years, they would revisit the terms of their marriage to determine if it should continue.

"Is this really necessary?" Alina asked, her voice betraying a hint of the frustration she felt.

Leon's gaze met hers, cool and unwavering. "It's essential. We both know this marriage isn't about love. It's a business arrangement, and the agreement ensures that we both understand our roles."

Alina felt a pang of anger. "You make it sound like we're signing a merger contract, not a marriage license."

"In many ways, we are," Leon replied calmly. "This is about securing the future of our families and our companies. Emotions have no place in that equation."

Alina clenched her jaw, forcing herself to remain composed. She wasn't naive; she understood the stakes involved. But the way Leon spoke, as if their lives could be boiled down to bullet points on a legal document, made her feel small, insignificant.

"Fine," she said, her tone sharper than she intended. "Let's just get this over with."

She signed her name on the dotted line, her hand steady despite the turmoil within her. Leon followed suit, his signature fluid and practiced, as if he had done this a hundred times before. When he was done, he placed the pen down and looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"We'll have the wedding in a month," he said, as if they were discussing nothing more than the scheduling of a board meeting. "It'll be a grand event, as expected, but we'll keep it short. After that, we'll maintain appearances as needed."

Alina nodded, her mind still processing the enormity of what they had just done. "And after the wedding? What then?"

"We go on with our lives," Leon replied. "As agreed, we'll present a united front in public, but beyond that, you're free to live as you choose."

Alina swallowed hard, the reality of the situation settling in. This was her life now-a life bound by rules, agreements, and the expectations of others. But she wasn't going to let it break her. She had always been strong, and she would find a way to navigate this new reality on her own terms.

"Very well," she said, standing up and gathering her things. "I'll see you at the wedding, then."

Leon gave a curt nod, and without another word, Alina turned and left the room. As she walked down the long corridor of Shaw Enterprises, she felt a mixture of anger and determination. She might be bound by this marriage, but she wasn't going to let it define her. If Leon Grayson thought he could dictate the terms of their relationship, he had another thing coming.