Corporate Vows

Mila Morgan strode through the glass corridors of Morgan Enterprises Tower, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floors. The towering skyscraper, a symbol of her power and dominance in the corporate world, glittered under the morning sun. Every employee she passed offered quick nods of acknowledgment, their gazes dropping in deference. This was her empire, built with ruthless efficiency and sheer brilliance.

Fresh off the close of a massive acquisition deal, Mila was in her element—cool, calculated, and always two steps ahead of her competitors. She entered her private elevator, the doors sliding shut with a soft hiss as it carried her upward, away from the buzzing lower floors. Her penthouse office awaited her at the top, a sprawling modern space with panoramic views of Manhattan. The office itself was minimalist—sleek glass furniture, abstract art, and a few personal touches, but nothing superfluous. It screamed one thing: power.

The moment she stepped into the office, the buzz of her phone signaled that Penny Townsend, her COO and best friend, was on her way in. Penny rarely brought problems without solutions, but the look on her face as she entered told Mila that something serious was coming. Penny's grim expression clashed with the view of the sparkling city skyline behind her.

Without preamble, Penny placed a thick, leather-bound file on Mila's desk. "We need to talk," she said, her voice unusually tense.

Mila raised a brow, taking a seat behind her massive desk. She flipped open the folder, her sharp eyes scanning the document inside. It took mere seconds for her to understand what it was. A merger proposal—not just any merger, though. This one was with Hawthorne Industries, her most formidable competitor, and the terms came with a catch she hadn't anticipated.

Mila's lips thinned as she read further. "Marriage?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "An arranged marriage?"

Her eyes flicked up to meet Penny's. "Is this a joke?"

Penny shook her head, knowing better than to sugarcoat the situation. "Unfortunately, it's not. Both families are pushing for it. It's part of some ancient business tradition, tying the two companies together through marriage. They think it'll secure the merger long-term."

Mila leaned back in her chair, flipping the document closed with a snap. The idea of marriage itself didn't bother her—it was the fact that it was being forced upon her as part of a business deal. Worse still, the other party was Drake Hawthorne, the arrogant, infuriating CEO of Hawthorne Industries. He was her equal in ruthlessness and intelligence, but they had never been allies. Every time they crossed paths, there was a cold war brewing beneath the surface.

"I'm supposed to marry Drake Hawthorne?" Mila's voice was a dangerous whisper. "They expect me to bind my empire to him? I run Morgan Enterprises. I'm not some pawn in a marriage scheme."

Penny tried to keep her tone neutral, but even she knew the absurdity of the situation. "I know how it sounds, but this merger would make us untouchable, Mila. It could benefit both companies. Hawthorne Industries is the only real competition we have left."

Mila's jaw tightened, her mind racing. She could see the strategic advantage, but the thought of marrying Drake—of being tied to him for life—was infuriating. They'd spent years trying to outmaneuver each other, and now their families wanted to force them together as though that would magically make their problems disappear. Drake Hawthorne wasn't just a rival—he was a threat, one she'd been preparing to neutralize for months. Marriage wasn't part of her plan.

Her lips curled into a smirk, cold and calculating. "If they think they can control me with a marriage, they're going to be in for a rude awakening."

Penny gave her a tentative smile, but the tension in the room lingered. Mila wasn't the type to follow anyone else's script, and this wouldn't be any different. She would find a way to flip this proposal on its head, and Drake Hawthorne would regret ever thinking he could tie his fate to hers.