One Night, One Contract

The terms

Vanessa

At 12:18, I was already seated across from Alexander in his office, my hands resting on my lap, clenched tightly to hide the tremble.

What sort of a life is this? The first time I decided to let loose and do whatever I wanted, I got stuck with marrying a man I didn't love and who I'm sure doesn't even have an iota of feeling for me.

I had cried myself to sleep last night, I kept blaming myself. This isn't the kind of life I wanted. I wanted love, kindness, and fulfillment. I am a 25-year-old orphan. My parents died in a car crash when I was 15, and I grew up with an abusive aunt who didn't care about me. She kicked me out of her house as soon as I turned 18.

And then I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I nearly didn't graduate from college, I did all sorts of part-time jobs to see myself through college, I lived paycheck to paycheck because managing my illness wasn't easy, and my insurance didn't cover a lot of my medical bills, coupled with my student loans which were being deducted from my account monthly.

Truth be told, I was hanging by a thread with all these expenses and I couldn't afford to end up jobless.

Although I didn't have to explain to anyone why I was getting married to my billionaire boss all of a sudden. Except Anna of course who is like my only friend. I honestly didn't care what people thought about me.

So I made up my mind, if the universe wasn't going to give me the love and happiness I wanted I might as well take the money and establishment it sent my way.

I deserved some rest and reward, and maybe this was my reward for being good. For all the hardships I've faced. So I accepted Alexander's offer. I know I shouldn't but I had to, because I needed this just as much as he did.

Alexander slid a sleek folder across the desk.

"That's the contract. Review it and tell me what you think. But I'm sure you'll find the terms are.... generous."

I opened the folder and read through it carefully.

I finally finished reading the contract and looked up to find him staring at me. I quickly shifted my gaze and stared at the glowing city skyline behind him, biting my bottom lip nervously. He was extremely intimidating, I had no idea how I had managed to have s*x with him that night.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"So let me get this straight, you will pay me two million dollars and we will only be married on paper for one year, attend social functions, and act like a loving couple outside, and then that's it?"

He nodded. "Plus full mentorship and funding to help you start up your hotel."

There had to be a catch because the offer was too good to be true. After all, I had heard from Anna, how cold and ruthless he was.

"Are we going to be sleeping together?" I asked slowly.

"You aren't obligated to have s*x with me, if that's what you mean." He replied.

"Except you want to."

A flicker of something raw flashed through his eyes, but his voice stayed calm as he continued.

"We only have to live together for a year, and you'll be given a room of your own, of course. We are only expected to smile and act madly in love for the cameras and general public, and probably kiss if necessary."

Alexander leaned back in his chair.

"The marriage has to look legitimate."

My thoughts were spiraling. This was very dangerous. Not just legally, or emotionally, but personally. Because the more time I spend near him, the more impossible it would be to keep my heart out of it.

I stood up abruptly and walked to the window as my gaze swept the hotel sign glowing far below. I suddenly remembered being a teenager, riding the subway just to stand in the lobby of The Devonte Grand hotel and imagine my name on a brass plaque one day.

This hotel was the last place my parents took me to before their accident and I remembered telling them that I wanted to own a hotel like this someday and I could still picture their smiling faces as clear as day.

"You're giving me something I've always dreamed of." I mumbled quietly. "But at what cost?"

Alexander stood, too. "Nothing you can't afford. You're smart, Vanessa. You know what this is. A business arrangement. You would benefit from this as much as I would, too, and at the end of the day, everyone goes their way."

I turned to face him with a sigh. "You make it sound so easy."

"It can be." He said, meeting my eyes. "If we stick to the contract."

There was a stretched silence between us.

As much as I wanted to I couldn't refuse and risk losing my job.

But then this was about my future. My name, in front of my hotel. A chance to build something that mattered to me. In life, you have to win some and lose some.

I took a deep breath, reached for the pen on his desk, and signed the contract.

"I hope you're ready, Mr Devonte." I said, my voice firm and steady. "Because you just married your receptionist."

He smiled smugly. "And you just became Mrs. Devonte."

"How do we handle family and friends?" I asked.

"Well, leave my family to me, I'll take care of them. I'm sure you can handle yours."

"Well, I'm an orphan, so there isn't much to handle. I have an aunt. But she's been out of the picture for seven years now. I just need to come up with something to tell Anna. She's my only friend and the other receptionist who works with me. You met her yesterday at the reception." I clarified.

Something flashed in his eyes, I don't know what it was. It was gone before I had the time to decipher it.

He cleared his throat.

"Well, here's how we will go about this. You will have to quit your job as the receptionist, for now, until we figure out something more suitable for you. Then in one month, we will be attending a ball hosted by my father for my inauguration. And that's where you will be formally meeting my family and be introduced as my wife."

"Why one month?" I asked.

"Well, we are going to be getting our marriage certificate and taking a couple of wedding photos to make it seem believable, because I want them to think that we had a private wedding somewhere." He explained.

"Well, then, see you in one month, Mr. Devonte." I said as I stood up.

"See you in one month, Mrs Devonte." He sneered.

It had become official. I was now Mrs Devonte. Everything still felt like a movie or some fantasy romance novel. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

My life was about to change and I wasn't yet sure if this change would be for the better or the worse.