Contracted To The Ruthless CEO

CHAPTER 1

LAUREL

“You’re absurd if you think I’d marry you for a million, Mr Calister” I scoffed “Scratch that, I wouldn’t marry you for ten”

“And let your brother die?” He asked, raising a brow “We both know he doesn’t have up to a week” He stared at me, hands in his pockets, his eyes unfazed by my words, mostly because he had words of his own.

He was saying the plain truth: Lester wouldn’t last long. I knew that, yet I just couldn’t bring myself to sign his shitty contract.

“I’ll work some way out....”

“He has six days, Campbell, six. This is an offer of a lifetime, you’d be an i***t not to take it” he scoffed.

“Miss Laurel” I heard from behind me, a nurse had made her way towards me, perplexity etched on her face, sweat dripping down her cheeks “We..the doctor said the deposit has to be made..”

“But you promised Shirley, that you’d help..” I said with a strangled voice, my chest tightening underneath my blouse.

“I tried but..the hospital can’t cover for this. I’m sorry” she apologized, squeezing my arm a bit before rushing off when I held her hand and turned to him with tears in my eyes.

“Fine. I accept it” I said, with a stern expression, he handed me a document and scribbled something on a piece of paper, handing it over to Nurse Shirley “Hand me a pen!” I demanded.

“Begin his treatment” he handed the piece of paper to her, and she looked up to see my face and I nodded with approval before signing off the paper in front of me before letting her sprint towards the receptionist.

“That’s half the sum, should be enough for this part of his treatment” he took the pen from my hand abruptly “When this works, you get the second half, understood?” His chiseled jaw was grinding against his skin.

“Understood, stalker” I answered.

“You’re meant to be thanking me, not calling me names” he quipped “After all, I just saved your brother’s life”

“At the expense of mine” I walked closer to him, my eyes holding his gaze above me “Don’t think you’re doing me a favor” I pointed at his chest, his light blue eyes holding mine and for a second, the antiseptic wasn’t the only thing heavy in the air.

“But I am, Campbell, I mean, for that amount..”

“I lose a year of my life to a man who’s stalking me and toying with me no less” I scoffed “It’s not a vacation, it’s strictly business, don’t forget that” I turned to get a seat and have my eyes scan the documents properly.

“It is business, which is why if this fails, you owe me half a million and a daily interest of a hundred and fifty dollars” he explained, emphasizing the word ‘daily’

“A 150 dollars..no kidding” I mocked and then turned to the document, there it was sitting downwards in the document “The interest is 150 dollars a day? How are you any different from thugs?!”

“I wear a suit and can have a million ready in a minute” he answered.

“And what’s this?” I pointed out a line that caught my eye “I’m not living with you. When you first brought this up, this wasn’t in it” I stated.

“Well, circumstances change. They want to see a woman in my quarters, so shall it be”

“No..no, and this?” I paused “I’m not kissing those cursed lips of yours, I don’t know where they’ve been”

He let out a soft chuckle “In better places than your face. Look, for people to think it’s real, you have to keep aside whatever grudge you have with kissing..or else you’re not a good kisser, you can confide in me” he teased.

“I’m a better kisser than you know but I sure as hell am not letting you kiss me on the lips and no touching me, except we’re in range of eyes” I raised a brow “Deal?”

“I don’t want your lips on me either” he stood up, his hand stretched towards me for a handshake “Deal, here’s the ring, for proof” he put a ring right next to me with an expressionless face. He sure was one tough man to read.

I stood up to shake his hand when he pulled me in, placing his arm around my waist.

“What are you doing?!” I exclaimed, struggling to get his grip off me but his arm wouldn’t budge. My body was so close to him that I could feel his chest heave against mine, his face inches away from me.

“In the future, you’ll have to get used to this” he whispered, shoving me away from him.

“Don’t you ever do that again without my permission!” I warned, storming out of the hallway, Lester needed me tonight, I wasn’t going to let a snobbish man try to ruin it for me.

After making sure the dialysis had begun, I made my way home. It had already been two days; I had no sleep, barely any food, and my body felt dirty and tired, I needed to be home but the moment I caught sight of the front door, I turned back to the hospital, better be dirty than six feet under.

“Hey, what is it..” Annie mumbled over the phone, she was still asleep, as usual.

“I’m heading over to your place” I whispered, hurriedly making my way to the roads where I could wave down a cab.

“Why..what’s wrong?”

“Those loan sharks are at my apartment again..please Annie, I need a place to sleep” I pleaded.

“Definitely..please, come on over” she said “I’ll have a bath waiting”

It was bad enough that I felt like a charity case, now I have to hide in the shadows from loan thugs because of that bastard ex of mine.

Wait till I get you Tristen

The next morning, I hustled my way to work. Being an outcast in the accounting department meant being the first to arrive, or else face the wrath of the gossips, and I wasn’t ready for the second one, but it was already too late; I had arrived later than those spineless ladies.

“Did you hear about the new CEO?” A lady asked when we entered the elevator, her arm locked with the other as they giggled behind me.

“I hear he’s a real charmer..wonder if I’d have a shot?” The other retorted. I didn’t dare turn to look at them but I also couldn’t care less about the new CEO. Mr Calister died with an heir, big deal. I wished I were an heir to something too.

“I hear he’s addressing the accounting department this morning..” the first whispered.

“Isn’t that her department..lucky” she snickered. I knew they were talking about me, I had history, one I wasn’t sure I could erase so easily but I didn’t let it bother me. All I needed now, was money.

The moment the elevator chimed open, I rushed out to my office where my manager glared daggers into me.

With a light nod and greeting, I walked through the doors to see a crowd of people huddled in one spot, their eyes gleaming when there was a round of applause and a man making his way towards the podium.

And in that moment, I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole because I couldn’t believe my eyes, I mean, it couldn’t be, yet, my mouth was agape and my heart was hammering against my chest.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen” he addressed the crowd in his low baritone that made me quiver, that perfectly fitted suit, light blue eyes, and nicely trimmed hair couldn’t be mistaken, it was him, it was my soon-to-be husband addressing my department as CEO.