The Beauty Tamer: Forever Bound

Calanthe's heart was racing as she followed the stranger into the luxurious car. The soft leather seats enveloped her, and the subtle scent of expensive cologne wafted through the air.

"Where are we going?," Calanthe asked.

The stranger smiled, "Some place private," he replied with a low and husky voice. "My client prefers discretion."

Calanthe's mind was reeling with questions, but before she could ask any of them, the car pulled up to a sleek, modern building. The stranger stepped out and Calanthe followed, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

They walked through the building's opulent lobby, and the stranger led her to a private elevator. The doors slid open, revealing a spacious room with a stunning view of the city.

A figure stood at the window, gazing out at the glittering lights. As Calanthe entered, the figure turned and she was surprised.

It was Kairos Blackwood, the enigmatic CEO of Blackwood Industries. Calanthe had heard whispers about his ruthless business tactics and his reputation for being untouchable.

"Welcome, Calanthe," Kairos said, his voice low and smooth. "I've been waiting for you."

Calanthe's heart pounded in her chest, but she stood her ground, trying to appear confident. "What do you want from me, Mr. Blackwood?" she asked.

Kairos smiled, with amusement. "Please call me Kairos," he said. "And as for what I want...le just say I'm willing to make you an offer you can't refuse."

Calanthe's instincts screamed at her to cautious, but a part of her was curious. What could Kairos Blackwood possibly want from me?

"Anhaa, Tell me more," Calanthe said trying to sound calm.

Kairos's smile grew wider, and he began to pace across the room. "You are very straight at your point, and I like that." he said. "I have a proposition for you, Calanthe." "One that requires a certain...skill set."

Calanthe narrowed her eyes, trying to understand what Kairos was getting at. "What kind of skill set?" she asked with a firm voice.

Kairos stopped pacing and turned to face her. His eyes locked onto hers and Calanthe felt unease with that look that Kairos sent her.

"I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend," Kairos said, his voice acting serious. "For a month."

Calanthe's eyes widened in a shock, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut.

"What? That's impossible." she exclaimed, trying to process Kairos's words.

Kairos smiled with amusement. "It will become possible after listening to my proposal." he said. "I'll pay you a million dollars." "And I'll make sure you're taken care of."

Calanthe's mind was stuck, she tried to comprehend the magnitude of Kairos's proposal. A million dollars was a life-changing amount of money, but at what cost?

"What do I have to do?" Calanthe asked trying to sound calm.

Kairos's smile grew wider, and he took a step closer to her. "You'll have to pretend to be in love with me," he said, his voice husky. "In public, at least."

Calanthe's heart was racing, and she felt like she was trapped in a nightmare. But a part of her was tempted by the promise of a better life and the thrill of the unknown.

"What do you say, Calanthe?" Kairos asked, his eyes locked onto hers. "Will you be my fake girlfriend?"

Calanthe looked down, thinking of what to reply. She was weighing the pros and cons of Kairos's proposal. A million dollars was a life-changing amount of money, one that could solve all her financial problems and secure her future.

But at what cost?

She thought about her friends, her family and her reputation. What would they think if they found out she was pretending to be Kairos's girlfriend?

And then there was the issue of Kairos himself. She had heard rumours about his ruthless business tactics and his reputation for being untouchable.

Could she really trust him?

"I need time to think," Calanthe said finally, trying to sound firm.

Kairos's smile faltered for a moment, but then he nodded. "I expected as much," he said. "You have 24 hours to make a decision. After that, the offer is off the table."

Calanthe nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had 24 hours to think, to weigh her options, and to make a decision.

As she turned to leave, Kairos's voice stopped her. "Calanthe?"

She turned back to face him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes?"

Kairos's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Calanthe felt like she was drowning in their depths. "Remember, this is a business proposition," he said, his voice low. "Don't get too caught up in the fantasy."

Calanthe's face burned with embarrassment, but she nodded, trying to appear calm. "I'll remember," she said.

As she walked out of the building, Calanthe couldn't shake off the feeling that she was making a deal with the devil himself.

Little did she know, her life was about to change in ways she never could have imagined.

Calanthe walked back to her small apartment, her mind racing with thoughts. She couldn't believe what Kairos had proposed. Pretending to be his girlfriend for a million dollars? It seemed too good to be true.

As she entered her apartment, Calanthe was greeted by the familiar sight of her cozy living room. She flopped down onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh.

What was she going to do?

She thought about all the pros and cons, weighing her options carefully. On one hand, the money would solve all her financial problems and secure her future. On the other hand, she would have to pretend to be in love with Kairos, a man she barely knew.

As she sat there, lost in thought, Calanthe's phone buzzed. It was a text from her best friend, Remi.

"Hey girl, how's it going?" Remi asked.

Calanthe hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should confide in Remi about Kairos's proposal. But something held her back.

"It's going...,"Calanthe replied, trying to sound casual. "Just got out of work."

Remi sent a string of emojis, and Calanthe couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll call you later," Calanthe said, feeling relieved and refreshed.

She hung up her phone but she realized that she had a lot to think about. She had 24 hours to make a decision, and she knew that whatever she chose, her life would never be the same again.

With a sense of trepidation, Calanthe stood up and walked over to her bedroom window. She stared out into the night, wondering what the future held.

Little did she know, her decision would set off a chain of events that would change her life forever.