🌸signed for his name🌺

The house

The car pulled through tall iron gates at 9pm.

Lola sat in the backseat with one small bag on her lap. The driver hadn’t spoken to her the entire ride.

In front of her was a house bigger than any building she had ever seen. Glass and white stone. Lights on every floor. A fountain in the driveway.

“Welcome to Mr. Sterling’s residence,” Mrs. Cole said as she opened the door for her.

Inside, the house was cold. Not temperature cold. Just empty. Marble floors. High ceilings. No pictures on the walls.

“Your room is on the second floor,” Mrs. Cole said. “Mr. Sterling’s room is on the third. You are not to go there.”

Lola nodded. Her feet echoed as she walked up the stairs.

The bedroom was huge. King size bed. Walk-in closet. Bathroom bigger than her old kitchen.

But it didn’t feel like hers.

There was a knock. A maid brought in dinner on a tray.

“Mr. Sterling says you should rest. The wedding is tomorrow at 10am.”

Tomorrow.

Lola sat on the bed and called the hospital.

“Your father’s surgery went well,” the nurse said. “He’s stable.”

Tears fell before she could stop them. She did it. She saved him.

Then another knock.

The door opened and Elijah stood there. Still in his suit from the office.

He looked around her room once.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked. His voice was flat.

“Yes,” Lola lied.

“Good. Tomorrow we sign the marriage certificate in front of 20 guests. You will wear the dress that was delivered this afternoon. You will smile. You will act like you love me.”

He paused at the door.

“And Miss Adeyemi? Do not forget the rules.”

Then he left and closed the door.

Lola looked at the huge bed. The huge room. The huge contract she signed.

She had the money.

She had saved her father.

So why did she feel like she was the one in prison?

Downstairs, Elijah poured himself a drink and stared out the window.

Six months. That was all.

No feelings. No complications.

He just had to make sure he believed that too.