Chapter 4 -A Deal With The Devil
1132 Words
Leaving the hotel building, Aria couldn't take it anymore, she sat at a corner crying her eyes out.
“Why is the universe against me, what have I done to myself, why me?”
First she lost her business partner, her friend, her client base and now she has ended up marrying someone she knows nothing about.
Taking out her phone from her purse, she called her best friend
“Hello, Aria are you okay?” Maya asked over the phone.
“Why me Maya, everything just seems to be against me?”
“C'mon Aria don't say that, where are you” Maya asked
“Outside the hotel close to the club”
“Okayyy, I will be right there, don't move okay” Maya said
Aria just nodded, ending the call, she sat on the ground waiting for Maya
Few minutes later, a car drove right in front of her. Aria entered and it's drove off.
Meanwhile a tall figure had been observing Aria all along. It was Liam Kingsley.
“I'm sorry Aria, but this is the only way” he thought
Aria was laying on the bed in an hotel room
“Aria this isn't the end of the world okay, just see it as a good opportunity coming your way”. Maya said while handing her a glass of water.
“This guy is wealthy, you could use him to start afresh, don't you think”. Maya pointed out “Like you said just for three months, after that you will be free”
“Take this opportunity and start for a new life for yourself”
“So you are saying I should live in a fake marriage” Aria asked
“Do it for the money Aria. Okay let me ask you, what plans do you have other than this? How do you plan on reviving your business and ensuring your mother's dream don't fade out”
Aria was silence, she didn't have any plan, and this was the only opportunity she had right now
Sitting close to her Maya said “You are not alone in this okay, I am always here for you to the end”.
“C'mon don't cry again, you will be meeting him in some hours time, I don't want you looking all miserable, cheer up baby girl. And show him who the real boss is”. Maya chuckled
Aria hugged her right for a while crying her eyes out. Her friend was right, she don't want to show him her vulnerable side.
Three hours later, Aria sat in an ultra modern conference room. White glass, sleek glass, no warmth just like Liam Kingsley.
Sitting across her was Liam Kingsley and his legal advisor, some stiff man in a charcoal suit named Grant. His Secretary Alex also sat beside him, he was wearing a smile.
Grant handed the document over to Aria, he kept a stern look.
Aria flipped the contract and noticed some phrases.
“Public appearances shall be required not less than twice weekly”
“Physical attraction in public should be well coordinated”
“No romance or s****l reactions with outside parties during the contract period”.
Aria blinked twice at the last one “Seriously, no dating?”
“It would ruin the plan,” Liam said, not looking up from his phone.
“I am not use to my love life being determined by a stranger” She muttered
Grant didn't leave a smirk “This contract ensures the stability of Mr. Kingsley image and business. Refusal to adhere would attract serious punishment Mrs. Kingsley”
Aria rolled her eyes “And what do I get in return for this”
Liam finally looked up, locking eyes with her “$250,000”.
Aria almost choked “Excuse me”
“Upfront” he added “$250,000” “at the end of the contract and a full funding to restart your business if you want”.
Aria sat very still “$500,000, that's a lot” She thought. That money could erase her debts, save her business and even help her get her mother's dream back on its feet.
This was the only lifeline opportunity she had.
Aria sighed “Where should I sign?”
Grant assisted her with the signing of the document and left taking the contract with him.
The room was a dead silence
“This is it right, you have gotten what you want. So… what now?” Aria asked breaking the silence
“Now”, he said smoothly “we make it believable”.
Leaving the office, Aria closed the door behind her. Liam sat still for a while in silence.
Later that evening after bidding her friend goodbye, Aria packed her few things, together with Liam they went to his penthouse.
Aria's jaw dropped the second she came out of the elevator.
This wasn't just a penthouse, it was a glass palace. Two floors of modern luxury, floor to ceiling windows, a skyline view and furniture that probably cost more than her entire apartment building.
“You live here alone” She whispered
Liam shrugged, dropping his briefcase “Mostly, you will take the guest room. It's got a full bath, closet and private balcony”
“Do I also get a personal chef” Aria asked
Liam smirked “Only if you behave well”
She shot him a dare look, dropping her bag on the couch ‘Let get something straight Kingsley, “I'm not going to play the job of a full time housewife, I don't cook, I don't clean and I definitely don't call anyone babe”.
He stepped closer giving her a dead stare “Good, I don't want a wife I want an actress. The better you are at pretending the faster we're both free”.
“Got it”, she said sharply, “fake marriage, less interaction”.
Liam walking towards the stairs “and no falling in love”.
Aria snorted “You're safe billionaire”.
Later that night, Aria stood on her new balcony, staring at the stars, wondering how the hell her life spiraled so fast.
Meanwhile, inside the penthouse, Liam sat on his desk flipping through a file- Aria's file
Holding some notes containing some few photos, a full background check on Aria.
He stared at a picture of her a year ago, she was standing with her mom, smiling in front of their old event office.
He traced a finger over the photo and whispered, “I'm sorry about your mother”
Liam didn't just accidentally marry Aria Blake. He'd known exactly who she was the moment he met her.
- Writer
