365 DAYS WITH HIM One Night. One Deal. 365 Days Mary Blackwood never imagined her carefully built life would come crashing down. At just 25, She's an epitome of beauty, an hourglass figure which could make men go crazy but that's not all she's the CEO of her father's multimillion-dollar empire. But when the company begins to collapse, in her hands desperation pushes her father to make a deal with the devil, Andrew De la Cruz, the cold, calculating mafia kingpin of San Andreas. The terms are simple: Andrew will invest $500 million to save their legacy. The price? Mary must become his wife for 365 days. But their story didn't start with the contract, it started with a single night. A night where passion burned away for all reason. A night where only the warmth of their bodies did the talking. A night that left Mary questioning everything. Now, standing face-to-face with Andrew, his cruel words cut deep: "That night meant nothing." Forced into a marriage neither of them wants, Mary is plunged into Andrew's treacherous world, a world where loyalty is scarce, betrayal is deadly, and love is a weakness. As they navigate their volatile relationship, the tension between them reignites, blurring the line between duty and desire. Yet, behind Andrew's ruthless exterior lies a man haunted by secrets and driven by a dangerous quest for power. And as Mary fights to hold her ground, she begins to wonder: was their one night together truly meaningless, or was it the spark that could set their world ablaze? One night brought them together. One year will decide their fate. In a world where power and deceit rule, will their love survive, or destroy them both? Would they find love in a marriage that was meant purely for business?.
Chapter 1
Burning Desire
Mary's POV
Being the only child of the CEO of one of the biggest beverage companies in the country meant my life had always been dictated by responsibilities. While other girls my age dreamt about romance and adventure, my world was consumed by board meetings, financial reports, and corporate rivalries.
The company was everything to my father. It was his legacy, his life's work. And now, it was falling apart.
A new rival company had taken the market by storm, stealing our top clients and crushing our sales. The pressure to save my father's empire was suffocating me. Every day felt like a battle, and no matter how much I fought, I was losing.
I sat in my office, my fingers gripping a pen so tightly it nearly snapped. My mind raced through possible solutions, each more desperate than the last.
And then my phone rang.
Stella.
"Hey, Mary! There's this amazing party tonight, and we have to go!" Her voice was filled with excitement. "Come on! You might meet your future husband there!"
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Stella, I don't have time for parties. I need to figure out how to fix this mess."
"Oh, please. You're working yourself into an early grave. Just one night, Mary! One night to let loose! You deserve this."
I hesitated. The truth was, I couldn't remember the last time I had done something for myself. Everything revolved around my father's company. Maybe... just this once?
"Alright," I relented. "But just this once."
"Yes!" She squealed. "I'll send you the address. Don't be late!"
When I got home, my father was in his study. I knocked, stepping inside.
"Princess," he greeted, opening his arms for a hug. "You look exhausted. How was work?"
I sank into his embrace, my voice weary. "It's bad, Dad. No matter what I do, I can't fix this."
He sighed, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Mary, you've done all you can. Sometimes, you need to step back and breathe. You're a young, beautiful woman. Enjoy life a little."
I hesitated before saying, "I'm going to a party tonight."
His eyebrows shot up. "Well, that's a surprise."
Then he smirked. "Just make sure you use protection, and if you can, find yourself a rich, handsome man while you're at it."
"Dad!" My face burned as I stormed out of the room, his laughter echoing behind me.
---
The dress I chose was bold, scarlet red, hugging my curves like a second skin. The sleek fabric shimmered under the light, accentuating every line of my body. My long brown hair cascaded in soft waves down my back, and my makeup was subtle but alluring.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, suddenly unsure. Was this too much?
Before I could change, my phone rang.
"Don't even think about backing out!" Stella warned.
I sighed. "Fine."
The driver took me to the address she sent-a high-end bar on the far side of the city, the kind of place where only the elite gathered.
As I stepped out of the car, a chill ran down my spine.
"Oh no. What have I gotten myself into?"
Inside, the atmosphere was electrifying. Dim lighting, low bass thrumming through the walls, and expensive perfume lingering in the air. Stella found me immediately.
"Mary, you look incredible! Every guy in here is going to lose their minds!"
I groaned. "I don't want to be the center of attention."
"Too late," she said, dragging me toward the bar.
I ordered a drink-one drink turned into two, and soon, the stress of the past weeks began to melt away. My body felt lighter, the music more inviting.
For once, I let go.
The dance floor called to me, and I answered.
I moved to the beat, my body swaying effortlessly. I didn't care who was watching. It was liberating.
Then I felt it.
A presence. A pair of eyes searing into me from across the room.
I turned.
And there he was.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Devastatingly handsome.
He leaned against the bar, his posture relaxed, yet there was something dangerous about him. His dark hair was tousled, his tailored black shirt rolled at the sleeves, revealing strong forearms. But it was his eyes that held me captive-icy blue, piercing, unreadable.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he lifted his glass to his mouth, taking a slow sip, never breaking eye contact.
My heart raced. Who was he?
Before I could look away, he started walking toward me.
Smooth. Confidence. Like he owned the world.
The closer he got, the harder it was to breathe.
He stopped inches away. The scent of his cologne, rich cedarwood and spice wrapped around me like a drug.
He tilted his head, studying me.
"Dance with me."
His voice was low, smooth, and commanding.
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. His hand slipped around my waist, pulling me into him.
The world faded. It was just him and me.
Our bodies moved in perfect sync. His grip was firm but not forceful, his fingers pressing into my skin, igniting sparks with every touch.
I felt his breath on my neck as he leaned in, his voice a whisper.
"You're playing with fire, sweetheart."
A shiver ran down my spine.
Then, before I could think, before I could stop myself, I leaned in.
Our lips brushed.
A spark.
Then an inferno.
He didn't hesitate. His mouth claimed mine, deep, hungry, possessive. My knees buckled, but his arm tightened around my waist, holding me against him.
The kiss was unlike anything I'd ever known, raw, consuming, dangerous.
His fingers tangled in my hair, his other hand gripping my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.
Heat flooded through me, an unfamiliar but exhilarating sensation.
The music pounded around us, people danced, but nothing else existed.
Only him.
Only us.
I should have pulled away. I should have walked away.
But I didn't.
Because for the first time in a long time, I wanted to burn.
And God help me, I didn't care if it consumed me whole.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"