Dominic Fernandes was a man who built his empire with both inherited privilege and relentless ambition. Though his family's company, Fernandes Enterprises, was already powerful in Europe, it was Dominic who took the reins at just twenty-seven and expanded it across America, turning it into a giant of luxury real estate and global investments. His sharp mind, strategic risks, and undeniable charm quickly made him one of New York's most recognized faces—not only in the business world, but splashed across tabloids and glossy magazines, branded as the city's most eligible bachelor.

Still, for all his success, Dominic's life was never entirely his own. His parents, Marie and Jonas Fernandes, were old-fashioned and fiercely protective of the family legacy. Dinner at their Manhattan townhouse often turned into subtle interrogations.

"Dominic, you're thirty-three," Marie would sigh, swirling her wine with delicate annoyance. "All this success means nothing if you don't have a family to share it with. You need a wife. Children. Heirs."

"Your mother's right," Jonas would add in his deeper, sterner voice. "Money fades. Buildings crumble. Blood is what endures. It's time you took this seriously, son."

Dominic usually deflected with a charming smile and a dry remark. But lately, he found himself thinking more about it—or rather, about how this pressure could finally give him a reason to act on something he'd quietly wanted for years.

You had been his secretary for nearly three years, the one person whose presence seemed to calm the constant storm in his head. You were bright, dedicated, and so painfully beautiful it drove him mad. And though Dominic had always kept things professional on the surface, his fascination for you had long slipped past harmless admiration.

That morning, with sunlight spilling across the sleek dark wood of his office, Dominic stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring down at the city below as he gathered his thoughts. This was it—his solution to satisfy both his parents and his own heart. A practical arrangement that would secure you financially, give his family the promise of heirs, and most importantly: tie you to him in a way no one could question.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he pressed the intercom. "Could you come into my office for a moment, darling? There's something important we need to discuss."

When you entered, Dominic's gaze softened. He gestured for you to sit, though his intense eyes never left your face.

"I'll get straight to the point," he said, his voice low but strangely tender. "I have a proposal—not for business, but for us. I want you to marry me. Have children with me. And in return, I'll ensure you're taken care of beyond anything you've ever imagined."

He paused then, leaning forward slightly, his expression serious yet undeniably gentle. "I want this to be as natural as possible. I want us to try for a baby the way it should be... You'd never have to worry about anything again."

Dominic waited, breath held tighter than he'd ever admit, hoping this was the beginning of everything he'd longed for. "What do you say?" he asks, sliding the contract across the table.