My ex husband's baby

The contract night

The lawyer arrived at 8:00PM sharp.

Ava heard the heels first. Clicking on marble. Precise. Expensive.

Then the voice. “Mr. Cole. The documents are ready.”

Ava was in the kitchen. Trying to make Leo some plain rice. His fever was down to 37.8 but he was still weak. Still clingy.

Damian appeared in the doorway. Suit. No tie. Sleeves rolled up.

He looked like he’d been in meetings all day and hated every second of it.

“Leave it,” he said. Nodded at the pot. “We need to talk.”

Ava wiped her hands on a towel. “Is it about Leo? The doctor said—”

“It’s about the contract,” Damian cut in. “The real one.”

Her stomach dropped.

In the living room, a woman in her 40s sat with a leather briefcase. Glasses. Sharp bob.

She stood when they entered. “Ms. Ava Cole. I’m Mrs. Bello. Corporate lawyer for Cole Industries.”

*Cole.*

The name hit different when it was attached to hers.

Damian sat. Didn’t offer Ava a seat.

“Show her,” he said.

Mrs. Bello opened the briefcase. Pulled out a thick stack of papers.

“Marriage Certificate. Prenuptial Agreement. NDA. Image Rights Contract.”

Ava stared at them. “I thought... I thought we were just pretending.”

Damian leaned forward. Elbows on knees. “We are. But pretending costs money.

My board needs to see a legal marriage. Bank accounts merged. Public appearances.

Otherwise the merger with Reyes Group falls apart.”

“And if I say no?” Ava asked. Voice small.

Damian’s eyes flashed. “Then Leo doesn’t get the doctors. The medicine. The house.

And you go back to owing ₦180,000 to a hospital that won’t wait.”

It wasn’t a threat. It was a fact.

Ava sat down. The couch was cold. “What do I have to do?”

Mrs. Bello slid the first paper over. “Sign here. Marriage Certificate. Effective immediately.

6 month term. Renewable.”

Ava picked up the pen. Her hand shook.

Damian watched her. “Second page. Prenup. You get ₦2,000,000 per month. House. Car. Healthcare for you and Leo.

In return, you attend 2 events per month. No dating other men. No talking to press.”

₦2,000,000. Per month.

More than she’d made in a year.

Ava signed. Ava Cole.

Next: NDA. “You cannot disclose the nature of this marriage. To anyone.

Breach = ₦50,000,000 penalty.”

She signed.

Last page. Image Rights. “We own all photos of you during the contract period.

For marketing.”

Ava hesitated. Looked up at Damian. “And you? What do you have to do?”

Damian’s jaw ticked. He picked up the pen. Signed 4 times without reading.

“I pay,” he said. “I protect. For 6 months.”

Mrs. Bello collected the papers. “Congratulations. You’re legally married.”

The word *married* echoed in the room.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bello,” Damian said. “That will be all.”

When the door closed, it was just them.

Silence.

Ava stood up. “I should check on Leo.”

“Wait.” Damian’s voice stopped her.

He walked to the bar. Poured two glasses of whiskey. Didn’t drink his.

Pushed one to her.

“You did good,” he said.

Ava took the glass. Didn’t drink. “I feel like I sold myself.”

Damian’s eyes darkened. “You didn’t. You saved your son.

There’s a difference.”

He stood. Walked to the window. Lagos lights below. “I haven’t done this in 10 years.

Let someone in.”

Ava didn’t answer.

Damian turned back to her. “The rules. Starting tonight.”

“Rules?”

“1. You sleep in the west wing. My floor.

2. You eat with me. Dinner. 8PM.

3. You come to the gala on Friday. As my wife.”

Ava nodded. “Okay.”

“And 4.” Damian stepped closer. Too close. She could smell whiskey and cedar. “No more secrets.

I need to know everything about Leo. His meds. His doctor. His schedule.”

Ava’s throat tightened. “Why do you care so much?”

Damian didn’t answer. He reached out. Brushed a strand of hair from her face.

His fingers lingered.

“Because you’re mine now,” he said quietly. “For 6 months.”

The words should’ve scared her. They didn’t.

They made her feel safe. And that was the most dangerous part.

Damian pulled his hand back. “Go check on him. I’ll have food sent up.”

Ava walked away. At the stairs she looked back.

Damian was still standing there. Glass in hand. Watching her.

---

11:34PM.

A knock on her door.

Ava opened it. Damian. In a black robe. Hair wet from shower.

“The nurse said Leo’s asleep,” he said. “Can I come in?”

Ava stepped aside.

Damian looked around the room. King bed. Her small bag on the chair. Leo’s toys on the floor.

He sat on the edge of the bed. Careful. Like the bed might break.

“Tomorrow,” he said. “We go to the bank. Open a joint account.

Then to the registry for photos. For the board.”

Ava sat beside him. Not touching. “Okay.”

Damian sighed. “I’m sorry. For how this started.”

Ava looked at him. “Are you?”

“Yes.” He met her eyes. “I didn’t think I’d... care.”

The air shifted.

Damian stood abruptly. “Get some sleep. Big day tomorrow, Mrs. Cole.”

He walked to the door.

“Damian,” Ava said.

He stopped.

“Thank you. For tonight.”

Damian didn’t turn around. “Don’t thank me. Just sign the next chapter.”

Then he was gone.

Ava sat in the dark. Her finger traced where he’d signed her name.

Ava Cole.

Wife.

For 6 months.

And for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she wanted it to end.