One Night, One Contract

The reveal

Vanessa

My heart sank to the deepest part of my stomach.

Standing in front of me in the hotel lobby where I had spent days checking in guests and answering phone calls with a practiced smile was him.

The mystery man who had given me one of the best nights of my life, and whom I thought I was never going to see again. The memory of his touch still lingered on my skin.

"Miss Carson... we need to talk." He said, his voice void of emotions but there was a faint hint of recognition that flickered in his eyes.

"See me in my office. Now." He ordered and turned to walk away without waiting for a reply.

My mouth, I just realized, is agape.

"What have you done this time to piss the boss off?" Anna asked sarcastically.

That snapped me out of my daze, as I turned to her.

"What do you mean the boss... who's the boss?"

"Well, if only you had paid attention to what I was saying earlier, this wouldn't have been news to you." She sassed and I frowned.

"That is Alexander Devonte, the son of Leonardo Devonte and the heir to the Devonte fortune. Our new boss." My mouth went dry.

I slept with my boss!! I yelled internally, freaking out.

"How the hell is this possible?" I whispered to myself.

"What did you say?" Anna asked, and I shook my head and mumbled, "Nothing."

Maybe he didn't recognize me. Maybe I looked different in my uniform. Maybe—

"Anna. Mr Devonte just called asking to see you in his office." Anna coveyed.

"He sounded pissed. You had better go now."

Immediately, she said that I scrambled up to go, and I nearly stumbled over my own two feet. So many thoughts went through my mind all at once.

I prayed a silent prayer, pleading to the big man up there that I don't get fired over this.

The first time in my life that I had decided to let loose and have a one-night stand, it was with my boss!? Wow, just how lucky I am.

The quietness of the elevator as the hall indicator blinked the number of the floors as it went up added to my anxiety, which I tried to keep at bay, but failed miserably at it.

I stood outside his office, took a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves before lifting my shaky, sweaty hands, to knock on the door.

I heard a muffled 'Come in' and I entered his office. Before now I had never been in the CEO's office. I had only heard stories of the glass office with the skyline view and a desk that cost more than my entire year's salary.

As I walked in, he was seated behind his desk typing away on his computer. I took the moment to get a good look at him, and I had to say he looked extremely sexy when he was focused on work.

This man looked like a walking Greek god.

My eyes landed on his exposed and veiny forearms as his sleeves were rolled up and I swallowed nervously.

The click-click sound from his computer as he typed faster galvanized me into the memory of last night when these same long and well-manicured fingers were inside me giving me the pleasure of my life.

I felt hot and cold at the same time, and the sound of him clearing his throat snapped me back to reality. What the hell was wrong with me?

All I seemed to be doing today was reminiscing about last night.

"Are you done staring?" He asked smugly.

His eyes hinted that he knew what I was thinking about. In that moment, I wanted to crawl under a rock somewhere and die.

My face turned red in embarrassment, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

"I didn't peg you as the type to sneak out before sunrise, Miss Carson." He said casually, his eyes fixated on me.

I stiffened. There it was.

So he knew who I was after all.

"I didn't think I'd see you again." I finally brought myself to respond. "We didn't exchange names, remember?"

He tsked. "Maybe you knew who I was and then deliberately seduced me into f*****g you last night." He stood up from his seat and came to stand next to me.

"Who sent you? Was it Bernice? Or my father?" He seethed, as his eyes narrowed at me.

I'm stunned by his utterance.

"Are you calling me a w***e?" I asked, perplexed.

He looked at me coldly, and a chill ran down my spine.

"If you aren't, how come you jumped into my bed so easily?"

I couldn't even hide my anger at this point. I had to clench my fists to restrain myself from slapping this man. My boss.... That's who he is. I reminded myself as I took in a deep breath.

"Well, for the record, I had no idea who you were last night, and secondly, I don't go around sleeping with strangers. Last night was a mistake." I spat.

"And if that's all you called me here for, I would love to go back to my work now, sir."

I turned to take my leave.

"A mistake!?." He growled.

He clenched his jaw. "It didn't seem that way when you were moaning loudly under me."

A gasp escaped my lips. And before I had a chance to respond.

"For your information, I am Alexander Devonte, the new CEO of Devonte Hotels." A smug smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Your boss."

He walked back behind the desk like he owned the place.

And he damn well did.

"I'm not in the habit of mixing business and.... pleasure." He said distastefully as he sat down.

"Neither am I." I replied quickly.

Too quickly.

And he eyed me like I was dirt on the floor.

"Well, I'll skip the introduction on myself because I'm sure you have my employee file at your disposal, you can easily look it up." I said not backing down.

He chuckled drily.

It sounded smooth. Raw, velvet, and very sexy. Everything this man does is so sexy.

But I would never tell him that. It would further boost his already inflated ego, also I was very angry at this whole situation.

"As a matter of fact, I had you investigated once I saw that you worked here. And I know your petty little dream is to own a hotel someday. Well, I've got an offer for you." He stated, as he stood up and turned to face the glass wall overlooking the city skyline.

I frowned tilting my head, as I wondered what offer he could have for me.

"My father left me the company—with conditions. I need to get married before the board votes on the final transition of power, which is in one month. Or everything — this office, the hotel, the legacy, goes to my step sisters."

I blinked, confused. "What does this have to do with me?"

"I need you to be my wife, Vanessa. You're the best option I could find in such a short while." He said as he turned to face me.

"Marry me. For one year. In exchange, I'll pay you very well. And I'll give you access to the mentorship, training, and resources you will need to one day build your hotel."

I stared at him, stunned speechless.

"You want me to marry you? Like a fake marriage?" I asked bewildered.

"Yes."

"And if I don't?"

"Then be prepared to lose your job." He replied nonchalantly.

"Can I at least take some time to think about this?" I asked, as tears began welling up in my eyes.

"Of course you can. You have until lunch tomorrow."

A lump formed in my throat and my heart constricted as I tried to hold back my tears. I wasn't going to cry. Not in front of him.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the luxury of time right now." He answered dismissively.

Immediately I stepped out of his office, and the tears came pouring down like a torrent. Marrying him meant giving up my freedom for a year and I couldn't afford to lose my job. I had type 1 diabetes and my medications cost a lot and I still hadn't finished paying off my student loans.