Bought Wife

My name is Alice John. I’m 26 years old, a lingerie designer, and I sell my designs online. Some time ago, my mother fell ill and I had to find an extra source of income to support her and my brother. A few days ago, I was fired from the job that provided that extra income. I was coming home in the rain, feeling disappointed, thinking about what I would do the next day. I had to look for a job—I couldn’t tell my mother I had been fired. As I sat on the steps outside my house, a neighbor who always passed by stopped, got out of his car, and walked toward me with an umbrella. “Hey, girl, what are you doing out in the rain? You’ll get sick,” said Jorge—my neighbor—as he greeted me. “I know, but I just couldn’t wait any longer to get home,” I replied. “You’re already here, and you’re still getting wet,” he said. “I don’t want to go inside and tell my mom I got fired. I have to buy expensive medications, and my brother is finishing medical school—which I also pay for.” “Girl, I can see you’ve got problems.” “Now do you see why I don’t want to go in?” I said, as if it weren’t obvious. “You might already have a job, if you’re interested,” he stated. “What kind of job? Offer me anything and I’ll do it!” I replied eagerly, not knowing what it was about. “It’s not just any job, miss. You’d have to be willing. But I can assure you that neither your mother nor your brother will lack anything.” “Tell me what it’s about, Mr. Jorge.” “Look, Alice, the man I work for needs a wife, and I think you’re the right person.” “A wife? But that’s like selling myself!” I replied, overwhelmed by the proposal. “I don’t see it that way, Alice. Everything’s under contract—with clauses,” clarified Mr. Jorge, trying to make it sound like a regular job. “Mr. Jorge, thank you very much, but I can’t take that job. I’m sorry. I’ll go inside now,” I said, firmly rejecting his offer. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me. Take care—I hope everything works out,” he replied. I went into my house, knowing I had to face my problems. As I walked to my room, I heard my mom and brother talking. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Sweetheart, you’re soaked!” said my mother, Morelia. “Don’t worry, Mom. Just tell me—what’s going on?” I insisted. “It’s nothing, sis. But by the way, Mom’s out of the most important pills from her treatment,” replied my brother, Rafael. “Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll buy them tomorrow,” I said, anxious—without a clue how I would do it. “Oh, honey, you carry such a heavy burden in this house,” my mom said, full of sorrow. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll finish my degree soon and I’ll be able to work. Oh, and Alice—the last semester is due this Friday, and it costs twice as much as usual,” my brother warned, adding to my stress. “Twice as much?!” I exclaimed. “Yeah, it’s the last semester. Then comes graduation, and that’s even more expensive,” he said. “Okay. I’m going to take a shower and rest,” I said, cutting the growing list of concerns, trying to hide my frustration. I went to my room, feeling the weight even heavier. I looked at the photo on my phone’s wallpaper. I felt like talking to my platonic love—the great Nick Harrison, the most important man in the country. He always listened to me in silence… probably because he was just a picture. The next morning, I got up very, very early and waited for my neighbor outside his house. “Alice! Looks like you’ve made a decision,” he said in surprise when he saw me. “Mr. Jorge, I don’t want you to think badly of me, but the truth is… I need the money,” I said, deeply embarrassed to accept the offer he’d made the night before. “Come with me. Let’s not dwell on this,” he said. I got into Jorge’s car. On the way, I thought about asking him to drop me off at a corner so I could run away. But I kept remembering my mom needed her medicine, and my brother had to finish school. “We’re here, Alice!” Jorge announced enthusiastically. “What do you mean we’re here, Mr. Jorge?” “This is the place where you’ll meet the man who’ll help solve your money problems—and whom you’ll help in return.” I couldn’t believe it. We were at the company of the most important man in the country—my platonic love. I hoped I’d get the chance to see him. By the way, the company was an international bank. We entered the office, and I followed Jorge. Suddenly, we stopped at a door, and he walked in. “Nick?” said Mr. Jorge. Did he just say Nick? THE Nick? I asked myself. Nick turned around—he had been facing away from us. “Good morning,” I greeted him, embarrassed. “Who is she?” Nick asked immediately. “She’s your future wife!” Jorge announced, with that annoyingly cheerful tone of his. How could he make this sound so casual? “So, you finally found one,” Nick said, and Jorge nodded. “Alice, this is Nick Harrison. Nick, this is Alice…” Jorge introduced us. “I’m Alice John,” I said, trying to introduce myself, but damn—I was so nervous. “Okay. So, did you explain to her what this job involves?” Nick asked, speaking to Jorge as if I weren’t even in the room. “Not entirely, sir,” Jorge explained. “Alright. I can tell she cares about money. I trust that if you brought her, she’s trustworthy,” Nick said arrogantly. “You’re right,” Jorge confirmed. Of course I cared about money—but not for the reasons Nick assumed. “Miss, these are the rules of our marriage contract,” Nick said bluntly, wasting no time. “Rule number one: Do not ask about the reason for our marriage. Rule number two: Never speak to me about love. Rule number three: In public, we will be the perfect couple.” “I understand perfectly, sir,” I replied seriously. “One more thing—you’ll have to move into my mansion, but without your family. Just you,” Nick warned. “I understand, sir. Sorry to ask, but what about the financial compensation?” I asked. “Ah, finally the part you really wanted to get to. You’ll be paid $50,000 a week,” he said in a rude, arrogant tone. What the hell? He was hiring me for this—it was obvious I’d ask about the payment! “$50,000?!” I asked, shocked. “Do you think that’s not enough?” Nick replied. “No, sir. It’s a lot of money,” I clarified. “Miss, once the contract is ready, I’ll personally go to your house to deliver it. I need to meet the family of my future fake wife,” he added, completely ignoring my astonishment at the massive amount he’d just offered.