Chapter 5: The contract
1393 Words
The rain had stopped by morning.
Grey clouds still hung over the city, but the streets below Ashford Tower bustled with their usual energy.
Aria stood on the opposite side of the road, staring up at the tallest building in the financial district.
The massive silver letters at the top reflected the morning sun.
ASHFORD GROUP.
She tightened her grip on her handbag.
Inside it were two things.
Her father’s flash drive.
And Damien Ashford’s business card.
She had spent the entire night thinking.
About her mother.
About the threatening phone call.
About Victor Ashford.
About her father’s final words.
“Don’t trust… Victor…”
If she wanted answers…
There was only one place left to look.
Taking a deep breath, she crossed the street.
⸻
The reception area of Ashford Tower was breathtaking.
Marble floors gleamed beneath enormous crystal chandeliers.
Employees hurried through the lobby carrying tablets and documents while security guards stood at every entrance.
Aria suddenly felt painfully underdressed.
A receptionist smiled politely.
“Good morning, miss. Do you have an appointment?”
“Yes.”
“With whom?”
She hesitated.
“Mr Damien Ashford.”
The receptionist’s smile faded slightly.
“One moment.”
She made a quick phone call before looking back at Aria.
“Mr Ashford is expecting you.”
Several curious employees turned to look as Aria stepped into the private executive lift.
Whispers followed her.
“Who is she?”
“She came through the CEO’s private entrance?”
“Is she a client?”
“No… I’ve never seen her before.”
The lift doors closed.
Silence.
⸻
The executive floor occupied the entire top level of the building.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline.
A young woman dressed in an elegant cream suit approached her.
“Miss Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Evelyn Carter, Mr Ashford’s executive secretary.”
She offered a warm smile.
“This way, please.”
Unlike everyone else, Evelyn didn’t look surprised to see her.
She led Aria through a long corridor before stopping outside two enormous black doors.
She knocked once.
“Mr Ashford.”
“Come in.”
⸻
Damien stood beside the window, his hands tucked into his trouser pockets.
The morning sunlight outlined his tall figure.
Without turning around, he spoke.
“You came.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything.”
“No.”
He finally faced her.
“But you’re considering it.”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she walked to the desk.
A thick black folder rested neatly in the centre.
Damien gently pushed it toward her.
“The contract.”
Aria slowly opened it.
The first page read:
CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE AGREEMENT
She looked up.
“You really had this prepared.”
“I had my lawyers draft it yesterday.”
“You were confident I’d come.”
“I was confident you’d choose your mother.”
His words stung because they were true.
She looked back down at the document.
The agreement was surprisingly detailed.
Clause One
The marriage would remain legally valid for exactly one year.
Clause Two
Both parties would publicly present themselves as a loving husband and wife.
No public arguments.
No interviews revealing the truth.
No disclosure of the contract.
Clause Three
Aria would move into Damien’s penthouse immediately after the wedding.
Clause Four
Damien would cover every medical expense related to her mother’s treatment.
He would also clear all of Aria’s outstanding debts.
Clause Five
At the end of one year, either party could request a divorce with no financial obligation to the other.
Aria continued reading.
Then she frowned.
“There are no… personal conditions.”
Damien raised an eyebrow.
“What kind of conditions?”
She looked slightly embarrassed.
“Sharing a room.”
He understood immediately.
“You’ll have your own bedroom.”
She blinked.
“And…”
“No one will force you into anything.”
His voice remained calm.
“I don’t believe in buying affection.”
Something about his answer caught her off guard.
She had expected arrogance.
Control.
Possessiveness.
Instead…
He simply sounded respectful.
Damien folded his arms.
“There is one condition I haven’t written.”
“What is it?”
“You must trust me.”
Aria almost laughed.
“That’s impossible.”
“I know.”
“But eventually…”
His grey eyes met hers.
“…I hope it won’t be.”
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
⸻
Minutes later…
A lawyer entered the office carrying several additional documents.
“Good morning, Mr Ashford.”
He nodded respectfully before placing the papers on the desk.
“I’ve brought the legal certificates.”
Aria glanced at him.
“So this is real.”
“It has always been real.”
The lawyer adjusted his glasses.
“The marriage licence has been prepared.”
Her eyes widened.
“You already filed the paperwork?”
“It isn’t valid without your signature,” Damien answered.
“You planned everything.”
“I plan everything.”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“You really are impossible.”
For the first time…
The corner of Damien’s mouth lifted into a faint smile.
“So I’ve been told.”
⸻
After the lawyer left, silence settled over the office once again.
Aria walked toward the window.
The city stretched endlessly below.
Somewhere out there…
Her father’s killer was living freely.
Her mother was lying in a hospital bed.
Debt collectors were waiting for her.
And Victor Ashford was hiding behind a respectable smile.
Slowly, she reached into her handbag and touched the silver flash drive.
Dad…
If this is the only way to find the truth…
Then forgive me.
She turned back toward Damien.
“I have one condition.”
He nodded.
“Name it.”
“I work for Ashford Group.”
His expression remained unreadable.
“As what?”
“I don’t want to stay locked inside your penthouse pretending to be your wife.”
She met his eyes without hesitation.
“I want access to the company.”
Damien studied her for several seconds.
“You want to investigate.”
“I want answers.”
“I thought you might.”
He walked back to his desk.
“Very well.”
He picked up a second folder.
“Starting next week…”
“…you’ll become my executive assistant.”
Aria’s heart skipped a beat.
The position would give her access to executives.
Meetings.
Confidential files.
Departments throughout the company.
Exactly what she needed.
She kept her face expressionless.
“Thank you.”
Inside, however, another thought echoed.
Victor Ashford…
I’m coming for you.
⸻
Damien uncapped a silver fountain pen and placed it gently beside the contract.
“This is your final chance.”
“If you walk out now…”
“I’ll never contact you again.”
Aria looked down at the document.
One signature.
That was all it would take.
One signature to save her mother.
One signature to enter the Ashford family.
One signature to uncover the truth behind her father’s death.
She took a slow breath.
Then another.
Finally…
She picked up the pen.
Without another word…
She signed her name.
Aria Bennett.
Damien watched silently before signing beneath hers.
Damien Ashford.
The contract was complete.
Damien closed the folder.
“Congratulations, Mrs Ashford.”
Aria looked up.
The words felt unreal.
Mrs Ashford.
She wasn’t marrying for love.
She wasn’t marrying for money.
She was marrying for the truth.
Just then, Damien’s phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression hardened.
“What is it?” Aria asked.
He looked toward the window.
“My grandfather.”
“He wants to meet his future granddaughter-in-law.”
Damien slipped the phone into his pocket.
“And if he approves…”
He turned to face her.
“…our wedding will be held in three days.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
“Three days?”
Before Damien could answer, the office door burst open.
Evelyn rushed inside, her face pale.
“Mr Ashford…”
She struggled to catch her breath.
“Every major news outlet is reporting that you’re getting married.”
Damien frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
“No one was supposed to know.”
Evelyn swallowed nervously.
“They already know the bride’s name.”
She looked directly at Aria.
“And reporters are gathering outside the building.”
- Writer
