The Billionaire’s Holiday Contract

"Hello, my name is Tasha Cole," I greeted the elegant woman standing before me. "My name is Vanessa Cartier, but you can call me Lady Vee. How may I help you?" Her sharp gaze pierced through me, and before I could respond, she continued, "Have you come here to sell your body in exchange for money?" "Not exactly," I stammered. "My best friend referred me to you. She said you might be able to help me." "What kind of help are you looking for? Does this look like a charity organization?" Lady Vee asked, her tone cold and direct. I swallowed hard and said, "I need money for my stepbrother’s hospital bills. The doctor is demanding an amount I simply can’t afford." Lady Vee leaned back in her chair, her eyes assessing me. Then she gestured toward a shelf stacked with folders. "There are piles of wealthy men’s files over there. Pick one and make your choice," Lady Vee said, gesturing toward the shelves in her office. I walked cautiously toward the shelves, my heart racing as I scanned the neatly arranged files. One file caught my eye, the name Caspian Wolfe boldly printed across the front. A photograph clipped to the file showed a strikingly handsome man with piercing eyes. I hesitated for a moment, then picked it up. Lady Vee’s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Ah, Caspian Wolfe. A billionaire in need of a fake wife and a child," she said. "Here’s the deal—he’s looking for a woman to marry him, but only on paper. The arrangement will last for one year, and during that time, you’ll give him a baby. All of this is so he can claim his inheritance from his father." Her words hit me like a thunderclap. A fake marriage? A child? This wasn’t just a deal, it was a life-altering gamble. I thought to myself, Is this really happening? I felt a chill run down my spine. "A fake marriage and a baby? For just a year? That’s too much. What happens after the contract ends? He’ll just throw me away?" "Listen," she said firmly, "he’s offering $200,000 for this deal. Sign the contract, or someone else will. The choice is yours." Should I leave this or sign it? How could I possibly get pregnant with a fake husband? This feels wrong on so many levels, I thought to myself. I turned toward the door, ready to leave her office, but then Ryder’s face flashed in my mind—pale, weak, and clinging to life. He’s all I have left in this world, and I couldn’t bear to lose him. With a heavy sigh, I swallowed my doubts and fears. If this was the price to save him, so be it. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” I whispered to myself as I walked back to the shelves, grabbed the file, and signed my name with trembling hands. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the file again, wrote down my name and number, and signed the contract. "You’ve made the right decision, Tasha," Lady Vee said, handing me an envelope. Inside was $2,000—just an advance. My hands trembled as I stared at the money. It was more than I’d ever seen in my life. I rushed to the hospital, clutching the envelope like it was my lifeline. When I entered Ryder’s room, his face was even paler than before. He was losing hope. "I’m so tired, Tasha," he whispered. "This tumor is killing me, and we both know we can’t afford the treatment." "Don’t say that," I said, tears brimming in my eyes. "I’ll do anything to make you better, Ryder. Christmas is around the corner, and I want you to be healthy enough to celebrate it with me. I promise you’ll bounce back." I held his hand tighter, willing him to feel the strength in my words, the unwavering determination I had to keep him alive. He needed to believe, just like I did, that everything would turn out okay. I excused myself and went to see the doctor. "Hello, Tasha." "Hello, Dr. Gabby," I replied, my heart pounding as I prepared for what he might say. "You know I can’t continue your brother’s treatment without the required payment," he said with a look of regret. "I understand how difficult it must be to raise $50, but without it, we can’t proceed." "Doctor, please treat him," I said, pulling the money from my bag. "Here is the $50 for his treatment." Dr. Gabby stared at the money, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you manage to raise this?" he asked, clearly shocked. "You’re such a good sister, Tasha." I gave him a faint smile, not wanting to explain the sacrifices I had made. "Please, just make sure he gets better," I said softly, praying I had done enough. The moment I left the doctor’s office, I headed back to Ryder’s room. I didn’t tell him how I got the money or that I’d already paid for his treatment. Ryder and I had no one else. His parents—my adoptive parents—had died years ago, leaving me to care for him. I had sworn to do whatever it took to keep him alive, and now that promise had led me to make a deal with a stranger. I stood up, leaned down to kiss his forehead, and whispered, "Stay strong, Ryder. I’ll be back soon." As I headed toward the lobby, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from my best friend, Camilla. "Come straight to my house. We have a party to attend tonight." A sigh escaped my lips. Camilla’s party lifestyle always baffled me. She was so carefree, yet still single and endlessly entertaining. Smiling at her text, I headed for her house, hoping the night would provide a brief escape from the storm brewing inside me. But deep down, I knew this was just the beginning. Something about signing that contract had awakened a dangerous ripple in my life, one I wasn’t sure I could control.