CONTRACTED TO BEAR THE CEO'S HEIR

Silence

Mrs. Reeve tilted her head."That remains to be seen."

The president resumed pacing slowly behind the table,fingers locked behind his back. "You are now engaged to my son. Not because you were chosen- but because there's no cleaner way to contain this disaster. For now."

He stopped directly in front of Elara.

"You'll deliver a child within a year," he said bluntly.

The room stilled.

Elara's face barely shifted,but her lips parted slightly as if to respond-only to close again. The truth was,she had already accepted this when she signed the contract. A child was not a gift in this arrangement-it was a condition.

"Yes,sir," she said softly.

The president studied her a moment longer. He seemed disappointed she hadn't trembled.

Then he turned to Killian.

"There is a board meeting this afternoon. I want the engagement formally presented-documents prepared,signed,sealed."

Killian gave a tight nod."Understood."

Without another word,the president turned on his heel and exited the room,his presence still looming behind him like a closing door.

Mrs. Reeve lingered.

She approached Elara with the slow grace of someone who had learned long ago how to poison with a smile.

"You look composed," she said gently.

"That's good. Composure is the last thing you'll be able to control in a marriage like this."

Elara said nothing.

Mrs. Reeve's smile curved.

"I do wonder," she continued,"how long you'll keep it up."

She left without waiting for a reply.

The doors closed.

Silence again.

But this time,it was different. Dense. Claustrophobic.

Elara remained standing,though her knees begged her to sit. Her fingers trembled,barely,so she folded them tighter. Across from her,Killian looked out the window,his face unreadable. The proud CEO's son- now chained to a woman he hadn't even chosen to love.

He didn't look at her. And she didn't ask why.

A knock came- soft,professional. A junior assistant stepped in, holding a folder.

"The engagement document," she said,bowing slightly. "To be signed and handed over in the board meeting at two."

Elara took it.

Her name was already printed neatly beside Killian's on the final page.

She stared at it for a moment.

Neither said a word as the assistant left,and the silence returned once more- no longer awkward,but final.

They were bound now.

Not by love. Not even by scandal.

But by command.