THE CONTRACT BETWEEN US

Chapter 2: His Condition

Amelia's POV

I read the first page three times.

Then a fourth.

The word was still there.

Marriage.

I looked across the private meeting room at Alexander Sterling.

"You cannot be serious."

He sat opposite me, completely calm.

"I am."

I pushed the contract toward him.

"This is insane."

"It is practical."

"Marriage isn't practical."

"For us, it is."

I stared at him.

I couldn't understand how a person could sit there and discuss marriage as if he were negotiating the purchase of a building.

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

"There you go again."

His expression didn't change.

"You need the money."

"I need a business solution."

"I am offering one."

"By marrying me?"

"Yes."

I stood and began pacing.

My hands were shaking, and I hated that he could probably see it.

"What happens if I refuse?"

"Your company continues toward bankruptcy."

The words hit harder than I wanted them to.

I stopped.

Alexander watched me carefully.

"I am not threatening you."

"It feels like a threat."

"It's an offer."

"A terrible one."

"Perhaps."

I turned toward him.

"Why me?"

For the first time, he didn't answer immediately.

His eyes stayed on mine.

The silence made me even more suspicious.

"Why do you need to marry me?" I asked again.

He looked away for a moment.

"Because the agreement benefits both families."

"My family isn't benefiting if I have to marry a stranger."

"You will retain control of Carter Holdings."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You remain CEO."

I looked back at the contract.

"Your company clears our debt?"

"Yes."

"I remain in charge?"

"Yes."

"And after the marriage ends?"

"Three years."

I stared at him.

"Three years?"

He nodded.

"After three years, the agreement ends. You walk away with your company."

I picked up the contract again.

It sounded almost too easy.

"What do you get?"

"Strategic control of several assets."

"Which ones?"

"I'll explain later."

"No."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"I want to know now."

He studied me for a moment before leaning forward.

"There is a property your father refused to sell."

My stomach tightened.

"The East River property?"

"Yes."

I immediately shook my head.

"My father never wanted to sell it."

"I know."

"Then why do you want it?"

"Because I have plans for it."

"Of course you do."

I turned another page.

There were pages of conditions.

Public appearances.

Joint business events.

Confidentiality.

Three years.

No outside interference.

Everything was written in cold, precise language.

"You really planned all this."

"I don't make decisions without planning."

I looked at him.

"And if I say no?"

"Then I leave."

His answer was surprisingly simple.

No pressure.

No anger.

That somehow made the decision harder.

I thought about my father's company.

His employees.

The people who depended on it.

Everything he'd built.

My throat tightened.

"You said you knew enough about me."

"Yes."

"Then you should know I won't be an obedient wife."

Something almost like amusement appeared in his eyes.

"I wasn't looking for one."

I frowned.

"I won't let you control my life."

"I don't intend to."

"I won't give up my career."

"You won't."

"I won't pretend to love you."

His expression became unreadable.

"I don't expect love."

Silence settled between us.

This was supposed to be simple.

A business arrangement.

Three years.

Then freedom.

So why did something inside me feel like I was standing at the edge of something I couldn't understand?

I took a deep breath.

"I need time."

"You have until tomorrow."

I looked up.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"That's barely any time."

"Your company doesn't have much time either."

I hated that he was right.

I gathered the papers.

Before leaving, I turned back.

"One more thing."

"What?"

"If I agree, you don't get to treat me like I'm part of a business deal every second of the day."

He looked at me for several seconds.

"I won't."

I wasn't sure whether I believed him.

I walked toward the door.

"Amelia."

I stopped.

His voice sounded different.

"Think carefully before you sign."

I turned.

"Are you trying to convince me not to?"

"No."

"Then what?"

His eyes held mine.

"Just make sure you're choosing this for the right reason."

I left without answering.

That night, I sat alone in my apartment with the contract on the table.

I read every page.

The more I read, the more questions I had.

Why had Alexander chosen me?

Why was he so interested in the East River property?

And what did he mean when he said there were things about my father's business that I didn't know?

I picked up my phone.

His number was already saved.

I stared at it for several seconds before calling.

He answered almost immediately.

"Have you decided?"

Straight to the point.

"Yes."

Silence.

"And?"

I swallowed.

"I'll do it."

Another pause.

"Are you sure?"

The question surprised me.

"Yes."

"Good."

"That's all you have to say?"

"What would you like me to say?"

I almost laughed.

"Nothing."

"Then we'll meet tomorrow."

"Alexander."

"Yes?"

"There's something I want added to the contract."

"What?"

"I keep control of my personal life."

"Agreed."

"No public humiliation."

"Agreed."

"And if either of us wants to end the marriage early?"

His voice became quieter.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"The circumstances."

I frowned.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I can give you."

I leaned back.

There was something about his voice that made me uneasy.

"Fine."

He was silent again.

Then he said, "Get some sleep, Amelia."

My eyebrows rose.

"Excuse me?"

"You sound exhausted."

Before I could respond, the call ended.

I stared at my phone.

For some reason, those four words bothered me more than his entire proposal.

Get some sleep.

It sounded almost caring.

I shook my head.

I was imagining things.

This was business.

Nothing more.

The next morning, I signed the contract.

My hand trembled slightly as I wrote my name.

Amelia Carter.

Alexander signed immediately afterward.

He looked at the document.

Then at me.

"It's done."

I nodded.

My life had just changed.

But I didn't know how much.

That evening, I returned home to find a black car waiting outside.

Alexander stood beside it.

"What are you doing here?"

"We're married now."

I stared at him.

"We haven't had the wedding."

"Legally, the paperwork was completed this afternoon."

My mouth fell open.

"You already arranged that?"

"Yes."

He opened the car door.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Home."

I looked at the car.

Then at him.

"Your home?"

"Our home."

The words felt strange.

I got inside.

As the car pulled away, I looked through the window at the city disappearing behind me.

I had no idea what waited ahead.

But somewhere deep inside, I had the feeling that signing that contract had been the easiest part.

.............