The CEO's 30-Day Contract Wife

The Board Save

Recap in two lines. Last night her room flooded and she found a hidden box with a child's silver ring and a photo of a girl named Sophia who looks exactly like Ethan.

Ethan broke down in her arms and said if my father knows you found that box he will make you disappear before morning.

Olivia did not sleep. She sat on couch wrapped in blanket, Sophia's little ring hidden in palm. Ethan sat on floor opposite her, face pale.

You should sleep, she whispered at three in morning.

I do not sleep, he said quietly. Not since she died.

Do you want to talk about her, Olivia asked.

No, he said, then looked at her, eyes red. Yes. But not tonight. Tonight my father will call.

Your father has sensors in your house, Olivia said shocked.

My father has sensors in my life, Ethan said bitterly.

His phone rang. Richard Blackwood. Ethan declined.

Come, he said hand reaching for hers. Maintenance fixed your room but you will sleep in my room tonight. I will sleep on floor.

Rule number two says no sharing bed, Olivia whispered but took his hand.

I know rules I wrote them, he said.

Morning came at seven. Ethan's phone buzzed nonstop. Twenty missed calls from board. One message from lawyer emergency board meeting nine am today bring your wife they have contract copy Vanessa will be there.

Olivia woke on his huge bed wearing dry clothes Rosa left. Ethan was already dressed in dark suit face cold but eyes soft.

They know, he said quietly. About contract. My father leaked it. Vanessa will testify you are fake. They will vote to remove me as chief executive officer today at nine.

What do we do.

We go, he said. You wear something that makes you look like Blackwood wife not Queens waitress and you let me talk.

No, Olivia said standing fierce. I am tired of people talking about me like I am not in room. Yesterday Vanessa said I am rental. Today your father says I am fake. I am not fake Ethan. I signed paper but I make your eggs and I know your sister's name and you held my hand.

You are magnificent when angry, he whispered.

I am trying to be your wife even if only thirty days, she said voice shaking. So I will go but I will talk.

Then we will lose together, he said and held out hand.

Nine am fifty eighth floor boardroom. Glass table ten old men in suits Richard Blackwood at head tall and cold and Vanessa Hart at his right in white dress holding thick envelope.

Ah the contract wife arrives, Richard said voice like ice looking at Olivia. How charming.

Olivia felt face burn but lifted chin. She wore simple black dress Rosa lent.

Sit, Richard said pointing to two chairs at far end.

Ethan pulled out chair for Olivia hand on her back.

Father, Ethan said coldly. This is my wife Olivia Carter Blackwood. Be respectful.

Your wife, Vanessa laughed sweetly opening envelope pulling out contract. Or your one hundred thousand dollar employee. Gentlemen I have proof. One hundred thousand dollars for thirty days. Fifty thousand before fifty thousand after. She is from Queens waitress mother needs eighty seven thousand dollars for surgery perfect gold digger story.

Board murmured staring at Olivia like dirt.

Is this true Ethan, one old man asked. Did you fabricate marriage to unlock two billion dollar inheritance. That is fraud.

It is not fraud, Ethan started.

It is true, Olivia said loudly standing before he could lie. Everyone stared.

It is true I signed that paper, she said voice shaking but clear. I needed eighty seven thousand dollars for my mother's heart surgery. My mother was dying in Queens hospital. I had eviction notice on my door. I was fired for spilling coffee on your chief executive officer. He offered one hundred thousand dollars to be his wife for thirty days. I said yes. Because I love my mother more than pride.

Silence heavy.

But what is also true, she continued fierce now, is that I stayed. I stayed when his ex fiancee has key to his house. I stayed when his room flooded and I found out he has sister no one talks about. So call me gold digger if you want but I am gold digger who knows your company is losing ten million dollars because marketing is boring and only talks to rich men.

Richard laughed coldly. Boring. You think you know marketing little girl from Queens.

I know Queens, Olivia said stepping to whiteboard grabbing marker. You sell luxury apartments for two billion dollars but ads show only white couples in tuxedos drinking champagne in penthouse. No one in Queens can relate. You ignore eighty percent of New York. What if campaign is called From Queens To Manhattan real women real stories subway to penthouse not champagne but coffee at six am not tuxedo but work dress real New York not fake Manhattan. You will get ten million dollars in first week I promise.

Board stared shocked then one man whispered That is brilliant.

Vanessa stood furious.

This is ridiculous she is waitress she is fake Richard tell them.

Sit down Vanessa, Richard snapped but eyes on Olivia calculating.

Ethan stood slowly eyes never leaving Olivia chest full of pride and jealousy.

My wife, he said quietly then louder possessive and proud stepping beside her hand on her waist pulling her close. My wife just earned you ten million dollars with one idea. My wife from Queens. My contract wife who burns eggs and knows every subway line. So vote to remove me if you want but you remove her idea too.

He turned to Vanessa eyes black.

And you, he said coldly. You entered my house with stolen key you kissed me without consent you paid my wife's best friend fifty thousand dollars to betray her you leaked contract you think that makes you Blackwood wife material. You will never be Blackwood. Olivia is Blackwood. Even for thirty days she is more Blackwood than you ever were.

Vanessa's face twisted.

You will regret this Ethan, she hissed.

She grabbed envelope and stormed out door slamming.

Silence again then Richard Blackwood stood slowly tall and walked to Olivia.

Olivia held breath scared Ethan's hand tight on waist.

Ten million dollars you say, he said quietly to Olivia no smile.

At least, Olivia whispered chin up.

If you fail I will make sure you never work in New York again little Queens girl, Richard said softly.

If I succeed you will call me Olivia not little Queens girl, Olivia said back equally soft but fierce.

Meeting adjourned, Richard said. We will test your Queens idea. You have seven days. If you earn ten million you stay as chief executive officer wife contract or not. If you fail both of you leave King Holdings forever.

Board members left quickly.

Only Olivia and Ethan remained alone.

Ethan turned her around hands on waist eyes blazing with pride and jealousy that broke rule number one.

You were magnificent, he whispered forehead touching hers breath fast. My jealous little wife from Queens who just saved my company.

What, she whispered breathless.

It makes me want to break every rule I ever wrote and kiss you in this boardroom where everyone can see, he said voice rough possessive jealous of every man who ever looked at her and proud that she was his.

Then why do you not, Olivia whispered eyes on his lips.

Because if I kiss you now Olivia I will not stop at one kiss, he whispered.

Before she could answer his phone buzzed then hers buzzed same time same unknown number.

Olivia opened it shaking hand and face went white.

Photo of small silver ring Sophia's ring now lying on Richard Blackwood's desk next to photo of Sophia age fifteen.

Text under it nice find contract wife my daughter Sophia died because of your husband if you tell anyone I will make sure your mother never leaves hospital bring ring to my office tonight alone or I send this photo to New York Post.

Olivia dropped phone ring falling from palm onto glass table with loud clang and whispered.

Ethan your father has Sophia's ring how did he get it from our flooded room.