A MUTUAL AGREEMENT

MEETING HER

“Why the hell would she hang up on me?” Davis muttered rhetorically. “She didn’t even let me finish what I was saying. Such a rude lady!” he growled, pacing his room in frustration.

He stomped over to his bed and kicked it angrily, only to hurt himself in the process.

“Ouch! What the—!” he hissed, grabbing his leg and wincing in pain.

Meanwhile, Crystal wasn’t faring any better.

“I’ll show Dad that he has no control over me anymore. I just hate his guts!” she yelled, flinging objects across her room. Living alone meant that after she’d scattered her belongings, she’d eventually have to put them back in order herself.

In moments like this, she missed Mrs. Brenda—her favorite nanny who had always helped calm her down. Since her mother passed away, Mrs. Brenda had become more than a maid to her; she was a maternal figure Crystal leaned on for comfort.

After venting her frustrations by disarranging the room to her satisfaction, Crystal collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep.

When she woke up, she immediately called Zero. He picked up on the first ring.

“Yes, ma’am. Good evening?”

“Zero, book a VIP reservation at my eatery,” she instructed in her businesslike tone.

“Noted, ma’am,” Zero responded promptly. Crystal ended the call without another word.

Her thoughts drifted back to her father’s words—they had felt like a warning. Would he really force me to marry Maximo? Over my dead body! she thought bitterly.

To distract herself, she prepared a quick meal of instant noodles and scrambled eggs before retiring for the night.

The next day, Crystal woke up feeling refreshed. By 7:00 a.m., she was already at her company. As the CEO, she believed in leading by example.

Later, she called Zero to confirm the reservation had been made. Reassured by his response, she relaxed.

By 3:00 p.m., Crystal was seated at the reserved table, waiting for Davis.

Davis, meanwhile, had gone to visit his mother and almost forgot about the appointment. Realizing his mistake, he hurried to the eatery.

By the time he arrived, it was already 3:20 p.m. At the entrance, a security guard stopped him to confirm his details. Davis answered politely, explaining he was here for an appointment.

The guard escorted him to the reserved table. From afar, Davis spotted the woman waiting for him, and for a moment, his world stopped. His heart pounded in his chest, so loud he could hear it.

The lady’s aura was striking—dominant and commanding. She radiated a presence that said she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Crystal noticed Davis staring and locked eyes with him, her expression unwavering and defiant. Davis felt a whirlwind of emotions but couldn’t tell if she felt the same.

As the guard led him to the table, Davis muttered a quick “thank you” before taking a seat. He extended a hand for a handshake, smiling nervously.

“You’re thirty minutes late, Mr. Davis,” Crystal remarked, her tone sharp. It wasn’t a question—it was a statement.

“I’m sorry,” Davis replied awkwardly, withdrawing his hand. “I was at the hospital visiting my mom.”

“Let’s get down to business,” Crystal said briskly. “The reason you’re here is strictly professional. I know about your mother’s condition, and I can help you financially. But there’s one condition.”

“And what’s the condition, if I may ask?” Davis inquired, anxiety creeping into his voice.

“Agree to be my contracted husband for a year,” Crystal said firmly, her gaze unwavering.

Davis blinked, stunned. “Can you give me time to think about it?”

“You have until the end of today,” Crystal replied coolly. “Tomorrow, you bring the signed documents back to my company.”

She stood and adjusted her tailored office wear. “Make the right decision, Mr. Davis. Your mother’s chance of survival depends on the choice you make today.”

With that, she signaled Zero, who promptly approached.

“Hand him the documents,” Crystal instructed. Zero obeyed, placing the papers in Davis’s hands. Then, the two left, leaving Davis alone with his thoughts.

Davis sat in stunned silence, staring at the papers in his hands. His mind was spinning. The beautiful, commanding woman he had met today—Crystal—had thrown his life into chaos.

He couldn’t ignore how stunning she was or how her presence had affected him. But now, he had to decide: Could he truly be her contracted husband for a year?.