Chapter 2

Summer's POV

The penthouse suite of the Grand Hyatt.

I pushed the door open, and the rich, heavy scent of expensive Cuban tobacco hit me instantly.

Adrian Mercer was sitting on the leather sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, casually holding a glowing cigar between his long fingers.

He wore a tailored black dress shirt, the top buttons undone to reveal a sharp, rugged collarbone.

His dark, piercing eyes locked onto me, heavy with an overwhelming, suffocating pressure.

"Why are you here?" his voice was smooth, devoid of any emotion.

I walked over and sat directly across from him, cutting straight to the chase. "I want to marry you."

Adrian's hand paused. A dangerous, unreadable glint flashed in the depths of his dark eyes.

He leaned forward, his towering, dominant presence instantly wrapping around me like a trap.

"Summer, do you even know what you're saying?" He pinched my chin, forcing me to look up into his dark gaze. "You're using me just to get back at Ethan?"

"Yes," I admitted, staring right back into his eyes without flinching. "Ethan controls the lifeblood of my company, and I'm backed into a corner. In all of New York, you are the only one who can crush him. I need your power, and you..."

I paused, my voice growing steady. "You need a shield to stop your family from forcing you into an arranged marriage. We both get what we want."

Adrian stared at me for what felt like an eternity. Then, a low, dark chuckle escaped his lips.

The sound was deep, but it carried a chill that made my spine tingle.

"Mutual benefit?" He let go of my chin and leaned back into the sofa. "Summer, you think too highly of yourself. Why should I ruin my own nephew for you?"

"Because I can help you land the South Side waterfront property," I threw down my ultimate card. In my past life, that land was Adrian's biggest obsession. He had planned for three years to get it, only for Ethan to steal it at the last minute through dirty tricks.

Adrian's gaze turned instantly sharp.

"Deal." He crushed his cigar in the ashtray and stood up. "Tomorrow morning at ten. Bring your papers. Meet me at City Hall."

When I walked out of the hotel, my legs were shaking.

Negotiating with Adrian Mercer was like playing with fire. But I had no other choice.

The next morning, the moment I stepped out of my apartment building, a swarm of paparazzi surrounded me.

"Miss Sterling! Is it true you tried to end your life to force Ethan Mercer into marriage last night?"

"Miss Sterling, Ethan Mercer has officially declared his love for Chloe Vance. Do you have any comments?"

"Miss Sterling, isn't this desperate chase getting a bit pathetic?"

Flashing lights blinded me, cameras shoving into my face.

Just past the crowd, a black Maybach sat parked.

The window rolled down, revealing Ethan sitting inside. He watched the media tear me apart with a smug, mocking smirk.

He wanted to ruin my reputation. He wanted me to realize that without him, Summer Sterling was absolutely nothing.

I glared at the reporters, ready to snap, when a sleek, custom Rolls-Royce roared up, parking directly in front of the Maybach and cutting off the crowd.

The door swung open, and Adrian Mercer stepped out, looking deadly handsome in a bespoke black suit.

The entire street went dead silent.

Adrian walked straight over to me, took off his suit jacket, and wrapped it gently around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest.

His icy gaze swept over the stunned reporters. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a death threat. "Who gave you permission to lay a finger on Adrian Mercer's fiancée?"